Christmas is a very expensive time of year and not only do we have to fork out a great deal of money on gifts and cards for our friends and loved ones, but with the big day itself to cater for and the numerous occasions when we will be entertaining guests adding to the ever-rising cost of Christmas, it can be extremely beneficial to find ways to reduce the amount we spend on food at Christmas.
The cost of food is rising all the time and the average wage rise is far below the rate of inflation. As such, Christmas may seem more expensive than ever for the majority of families this year, and taking a few simple steps could make a big difference.
However, cutting the cost of your Christmas food shop does not have to mean you have to also cut corners, and in many ways finding ways to save money may actually make your catering even more impressive when you are entertaining guests over Christmas.
The first thing to do is consider making your own treats. Whilst the cost of both meat and vegetables are rising, it will be a costly venture in itself to grow your own veg or rear your own animals, and cutting corners will lead to less healthy or appetising results. Furthermore, the majority of people spend far more on treats over the Christmas period than anything else and therefore it may be that buying cake moulds and making everything from cupcakes to Christmas cakes may be a far easier and more fun way to save money on the those shopping bills. Furthermore, buying a cake mould and making your own treats will be a very fun way to make Christmas more personal too.
Finally, whilst it may be too late for this year, when it comes to planning for next Christmas, try looking for offers early on. Items such as Christmas puddings will have a long shelf life and will be extremely cheap to buy in bulk once the New Year arrives.