Nine Christmas food bargains to buy NOW – Aldi’s gravy is ‘as tasty as Bisto’
As much as we love spending time with our families and feeling the joy in the air, Christmas is also the time of year when we spend more than we would like.
With decorations to decorate the house, a Christmas tree to decorate with baubles and gifts to buy for loved ones, the holidays can indeed be quite a shock to your wallet.
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And we do indeed spend a lot – according to research by StatistaAverage per head spending over last year’s Christmas period was expected to range from just under £700 in the North East to around £973 in London.
The costs will skyrocket even more if you host the Christmas dinner and don’t politely invite guests to bring side dishes or a cheeky drink.
Luckily, money-conscious shopper Kathryn Leech has come to our rescue and shares her nine best bargains you need to buy now to get the feast ready on time – without spending a fortune.
Cheapest pigs in blankets
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Next up, another big favorite for all meat lovers: pigs in blankets.
According to Kathryn, who regularly shares her cheap purchases and money-saving tips on the platform, most supermarkets sell this British classic all year round.
”Asda currently has the cheapest pack of 12 for £2.40, although it would be worth looking for a multibuy deal where you can get 3 for 2 festive meals, which most supermarkets do every year, both in the fresh and frozen sections,” she told Fabulous.
I’m going cold turkey
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Fellow foodies will know that you usually won’t find fresh turkeys in the supermarket until the big day of the year approaches.
However, if you’ve already checked out the local store, you’ve probably seen frozen turkeys – which is a great way to get ahead and be prepared.
These differ in price depending on weight. Tesco currently has all their frozen turkeys at Clubcard prices, with a medium for £17 (£20 without Clubcard) and a large for £21 (£25 without Clubcard).”
Fill yourself
The money-conscious shopper shared her top finds in the major supermarkets and said: ”To me, stuffing and turkey is an elite combination!
”You can buy a 170g box of sage and onion filling at Tesco and Sainsbury’s for just 45 cents.
“Sainsbury’s also does a larger box with 340 grams for just 90 cents.”
Drown in gravy
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Once the plate is full with all the meat and roasted vegetables, it’s time to go wild with the gravy – and according to Kathryn you can find gravy granules at Tesco for as little as 50p for a 200g container.
The shopper added: ”Aldi Quixo’s gravy granules, however, cost £1.09 for 300g and are rated very highly by customers, with many saying it is just as good as Bisto.”
Step up your spice game
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Homemade is always better – but if you don’t feel like preparing the festive base, or simply don’t have the time, Kathryn said you can get a jar of cranberry sauce for just 55p from Aldi, Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s.
Meanwhile, if you’re a mint sauce type, the cheapest jar is available from Tesco for just 53p per 175g.
Extra tips to reduce costs this Christmas
● You can pre-order or reserve turkeys online
● Check the supermarket apps for current offers
● Reserve a Christmas delivery time in advance
● Tesco has a section on their website for ‘online exclusives’ that you won’t find in store
● Make sure you have the loyalty card with you everywhere you shop
● You can order food parcels from the supermarket online as a simple gift.
The proof is in the pudding
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The hearty feast is over and now it’s time to devour a delicious Christmas pudding with mulled wine while watching Home Alone for the twentieth time.
Following her research, Kathryn discovered that popular discount supermarket Aldi is offering the cheapest Christmas pudding at just 89p per 100g, £1.99 for 400g or £3.79 for 800g.
If you’re looking for ‘free from’ treats, the money-conscious shopper recommended heading to Sainsbury’s – and those who’ve given up on booze should race to Tesco and Morrisons for the alcohol-free versions of the classic.
Let’s get this party started
”All supermarkets offer festive meals around Christmas. You can usually get a multibuy deal on different things such as sausage rolls, mini pizzas, spring rolls, mozzarella sticks and cocktail sausages.
”Asda have a great frozen range of festive meals, with most things costing £2.50 each, meaning with their current 4 for 3 offer they are only £7.50 for 4.”
Piece of your pie
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Another absolute must-have to have on your Christmas table is a mince pie, some of which have been spotted by shoppers as early as September.
Kathryn said: “You can get a box of 6 mince pies in Aldi for £1.25 or in Asda for £1.35.
”In a few weeks we will also see them popping up in the fresh bakery section, which usually cost £1.50 for 4 in Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda.
Vegetables for pennies
No Christmas roast is complete without a hearty helping of vegetables, whether it’s crispy golden pudding, caramelised carrots or Brussels sprouts.
“Every year in the run-up to Christmas, all supermarkets do a 15 cent vegetable offer,” says Kathryn, better known to her 45,000 followers on TikTok as Cat saves.
”It’s worth taking what you can get when an offer comes along. These are usually carrots, parsnips, potatoes and Brussels sprouts, although this varies per store.
“You usually get a lot more than you actually need with this offer, so it’s a good idea to plan some other meals with the leftovers so there’s no food waste.”
