Krechelle Carter, mum of six, and blogger at eight at home has proved families on a tight budget can still enjoy a fancy dinner at an affordable price.

The supermum said making everything from scratch has seen the cost of meals come to just $6 per head.

She reveals her tips to help you prepare a delicious feast on 25 December without breaking the bank to celebrate the festive season.

MEAT

Buying meat for Christmas can be expensive – but buying cheap doesn’t mean poor quality.

The mother of eight revealed how shopping well in advance for raw meat, including chicken and turkey, can slash your grocery bill by half.

Krechelle recommends keeping a look out for reduced items you would normally buy for the Christmas dinner.

VEGETABLES

Toss root vegetables in a tray, drizzle olive oil and fresh herbs. Let it bake away in the oven for 45 minutes – before adding broccoli to the mix in the last 15 minutes.

By adding some vegetable stock to the bottom of the tray, this would prevent the roast vegetables from drying out.

A bag of carrots, half a pumpkin and onions are extremely cheap to buy from the supermarket – and the best part? It’s quick and easy to prepare on the day.

POTATOES

With potatoes  wrap them in foil after spraying with oil and seasoning them with salt and pepper.

The spuds are baked in the oven for one hour – before topping with butter, onions and sour cream.

BREAD ROLLS

Enjoying fresh bread straight from the oven shouldn’t have to take up most of your cooking time in the kitchen to prepare.

Buy the ‘bake your own in five minutes’ bread rolls, which comes in a pack of 12 for just $3.

HOMEMADE GRAVY

After roasting meats and vegetables in the oven, grab the delicious juices from the trays.

Top it with some water, butter, fresh herbs, garlic and some flour – and just cook it over the stove until your sauce thickens.

SALAD

A simple salad she prepares includes baby spinach, Danish feta and walnuts – before drizzling with lemon juice or balsamic vinegar.

PAVLOVA

Buy the pre-made bases when they go on special for half price.

Add the pavlova bases with whipped cream, frozen berries and passionfruit pulp.

The mum has also shared her Top Ten tips to Keep Christmas on Track on her Instagram page.

Tip one : Half price foods you know you’ll need.

I always get my frozen turkey this Time of year so I have it in the freezer ready to go half of $25 is still $12.50 that’s a huge saving.
I do the same with chocolate stockings or chocolate gifts – buy them only once they are half price or 40 percent off.
It literally cuts my costs in half.
So write down your non perishable list and shop smart the next few weeks.

Tip two: Buy A Bit Along The Way

It’s kind of a follow on from tip one, by adding small ammounts of Christmas food to your shop per week you won’t be landed with a huge Christmas food shop bill- well that’s the aim anyways.
So throw in some bonbons here and some candy canes there.

If you tend to eat things before they make it to the Christmas table pop them in some storage containers up high. –
out of sight out of mind.

Tip three: Clearance section for Stocking fillers

We tend to get these from all our favorite websites we just go to sales and click price low to high.
There is always bargains to be found as the perfect stocking fillers- some of my favourites are cotton on, David Jones and surf stitch.

Tip four: Christmas Eve box bargains

Christmas books and pyjamas.
Keep and eye out for these things now, try to get it when they have store wide 20 percent off.
If you are a huge fan of books like me David jones have the best Christmas books I’ve been able to find and they do 40 percent off the weeks leading up to christamas
When adding in a sweet thing or two
Buy in a multi bag or box and split them up between boxes.
You can also do that with book sets.

Tip five: Points

The good old fashion
“Utilise your points”
I currently have David Jones points accrued, fly buys, Woolworths, cotton on, cash back and terry white.
So many options to spend a little extra by using all your rewards systems- use your points to pay, its as simple as that.

Tip six: Home Made Is best

When buying for teachers and colleagues I find home made is absolutely acceptable.

I would say it’s even more wonderful to get something crafted from a friend.
Think cookies in a jar, home made chocolate truffles or simply some twine around an old jam jar with some fresh picked flowers.

Tip seven : Less is more

I mean it. Don’t buy 20 crappy toys that will break in five minutes really look at what you want to buy, write a list for each child then stick to it and watch for the items to go on sale.

Tip eight: Be practical.

Yeah it’s great to see there face when they get 1000 Pokémon cards but I can speak from experience, these fads don’t last long; I’m not saying don’t get them, just also space the fun stuff with some sporting equipment, new shoes and their favourite dress they’ve had there eye on.

We personally wrap their brand new Christmas outfit and a new pair of shoes in a gift bag for them to open Christmas Day- they LOVE it!

Tip nine:  If your ordering online- do it now.

Don’t wait till the last minute.
Lots of places currently have discount codes running.
And it’s super important to support small this year –
And I find it’s important to find unique gifts.
9w8 likesReply

Tip ten: Shop second-hand

Facebook Marketplace and gumtree have awesome Vintage Christmas finds.
Last year we got some vintage baubals for $10 and they are one of my favourite decorations I own.

However you spend Christmas this year I hope it’s filled with love and joy.
Because it may sound cheesy; but isn’t that what it’s really about?

Share your top tips for Christmas on a budget below.

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A post shared by Krechelle Carter (@eightathome)