Yes, Christmas food can definitely feel more expensive, especially when you’re trying to feed a crowd. The prices for things like seafood, meat, and even festive treats seem to go up every year. And don’t get me started on all the extra bits and bobs—like those novelty chocolates, crackers, and decorations—it’s easy to go overboard. I try to stick to a budget by planning ahead, shopping around for deals, and maybe making a few homemade treats to keep costs down. But it’s hard to avoid the holiday prices when everything feels so festive and tempting! Do you have any tricks for saving on Christmas food?

Going to shops that have the cheaper option is handy

some of them can be – I try to buy things that aren’t necessarily “Christmas” to indulge in that are cheaper and are still very festive.

Yes I find a lot of stuff to be expensive but meat is always quite pricey. I usually look out for when there are some specials on and buy some things then. Also Christmas is once a year so I like to buy some more gourmet things that we wouldn’t normally buy to make it a bit more special for our family.

Actually I’m finding fruit and vegetable prices to be out of control. It’s getting really hard to buy lots of fresh produce.

Keep your eye out for post Xmas sales and then pick up some bargains for the following Xmas. It does mean you have to store it for a year but last year the kid’s stockings cost me literally $2 each. I got a ton of stuff from DJs and Myers on sale – most of them were 20 cents each!!!

Not really. There are cheaper alternatives to expensive foods and novelties. You just need to shop around and keep an eye out for things when they’re on special. Planning in advance alwayshelps

Meat is so expensive throughout the whole year but I’m sure with a bit of planning ,you can buy a lot of things on specials and a lot of items can be generic brands that tastes just as good. Next it will be New Year, Valentines, Easter etc… always something.

Sadly, that’s the nature of the beast, everything is always going up. Especially on commercialised events such as Xmas, Easter, Halloween etc. You don’t have to be sucked in by it tho, there are lots of yummy cheaper alternatives

Yes a lot of the specialty foods were expensive, but in all honesty you don’t need them. There’s so many Christmas favorites that a cheap to make like truffles. I’ve noticed things getting more and more expensive every year.

By the time people buy the ham, the turkey, the seafood, the salad etc etc etc, it is very expensive. We are trying something new this xmas and maybe u could try it next year. We are having a sausage sizzle! The grandkids love sausages and for dessert we are having cherries and home made cookies. U can get a nice selection of sausages, have some salad and fresh bread. The added benefit is that it takes the pressure off all that cooking, usually done by the woman of the house! The men can do the bbq! Wishing u and your family a lovely xmas.

Not really – it’s like everything, you can go the budget route.

It can be expensive, I find if I meal plan and only buy what’s need and on special I can save more.

It can be expensive yes. Best thing is to keep your eyes open for when non perishables are on sale in the lead up to Christmas and start buying then.

I just did our shopping as were hosting christmas at our house, just having a bbq and people are bringing stuff all up we spent about $280 for 16 people! i do buy cheap brands and alot of this will be made from scratch but it definately added up!

I went to kmart yesterday and they have a kris kringle section which had some really good things in it all around $5. with regards to food i think the key is not to over cater and end up with mountains of leftovers. its about spending time with friends and family enjoying making new memories.

It is expensive as we tend to buy them more gourmet things at this time of year we wouldn’t necessarily buy usually. Try putting your spare change at the end of the week in a jar through the year and use this to help with food costs at the end of the year. or you could buy a gift card every week with your shopping and then use them at the end of the year. This way there is no temptation to take any money back out of the jar through the year!

I find this time of year is always expensive. Doesn’t seem more so this year than previous years to me though. I try to buy as much as I can coming up to Christmas so I don’t have it all at once just before Christmas.

I have been looking at Christmas food in Safeway and finding it very reasonable.

Food expenses are always going up every year. Don’t be afraid to use generic brands to save , there is so much diverse variety that its mind boggling .