Almost a Fifth of People are Cutting Costs on their Christmas Dinner this Year

Christmas is one time of the year when it’s very easy to spend beyond your budget. However, almost a fifth of Brits plan to cut costs on their Christmas dinner ingredients, a recent study has revealed.

19% of people are spending less on their Christmas dinner this year, research by discount voucher code site MyVoucherCodes has revealed. It’s those aged 25 to 34 cutting back the most, with 32% spending less on a roast with all the trimmings closely followed by those aged 35 to 44 (29%).

When asked which areas people are planning to spend less on this Christmas, 32% of people said going out, the same amount are saving on gifts and 29% said they’re tightening the purses on dinner. It’s Londoners who are cutting back the most on socialising though, with 40% saying they will be spending less on going out this Christmas.

Overall, 17% of Brits will spend less this Christmas, and of those, the average save is £155.10.

Reasons for this include increased cost of living (60%), less disposable income due to reduced earnings or hours worked (31%) and a desire to save more or reduce debt (30%).

Sarah-Jane Outten, shopping expert at MyVoucherCodes commented on the findings. She said, “Christmas Day dinner is such an important part of the day for so many people, but the cost can add up. With almost a fifth of people cutting the costs on their meals this year, it shows that people are worried. No matter what your meal looks like there are ways to save money.”

 
Sarah-Jane has put together some tips to help you cut the cost of your dinner:

Plan a Menu 

Sit down and work out how many people you are cooking for and how many courses you want to cook. Finding your recipes and having a good plan will mean you know exactly what you need to buy and stop you from spending more than you need to. 

 Use Your Freezer Wisely 

Not everything has to be bought in the days before Christmas and kept in the fridge – opting for frozen vegetables or pigs in blankets is a great way to cut costs and means you can buy something when they are on offer. Festive cheeses, bread and meat can all be kept in the freezer although it’s always a good idea to check the instructions on the back for the defrosting instructions. 

 Cook From Scratch 

Making your Christmas dishes from scratch is a really easy way to save money on your festive feast. From stuffing to roast potatoes, and gravy to Yorkshire puddings, no matter what your Christmas dinner looks like, putting your chef hat on is a fab (and fun) way to save a bit of cash. 

 Keep an Eye Out for Misshapen Veg 

Check out the misshapen veg section in your supermarket. They might not look the same, but once peeled, chopped and cooked in the oven, no one will know the difference! 

 Don’t Buy More Than You Need

While a whole turkey might seem like a good idea at the time, it’s not for everyone. Christmas dinner doesn’t look the same for everyone – opt for a gammon or beef roast if you’d prefer. 

Look Out For Offers 

Slowly getting your Christmas shopping done when you see offers is a great way to not only save money but also to spread the cost.