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Christmas Menu Ideas On A Budget
By Cathleen Paul | November 23, 2008
Nowadays many families are trying spend wisely over the holiday season, which is a bit tricky this time of year. There are several ways that you can save money on your holiday dinner, and still have a welcoming Christmas menu for all to enjoy. These cost cutting tips will help you stretch your food dollars without feeling like you are being deprived.
It isn’t always easy trying to stick with a holiday budget. If pressed for time, you might be tempted to splurge on foods for your Christmas menu that are out of your price range. To avoid time crunch spending, you definitely need to plan ahead, and begin shopping for non perishables several weeks in advance. Look for boxed and canned items, as well as items that can be frozen right after Thanksgiving.
If you are normally shop at the same local grocer then why not check out the deals at other stores nearby? Over the holidays, it might be worth the extra drive if you can save money on foods that you need for your Christmas menu. The gas that you use won’t go to waste if you stock up on other items that you need while there.
While this may also be one of the more obvious tips for saving money, remember that preparing the foods yourself for your Christmas menu yourself will definitely save you a lot over buying anything pre-made.
While it is much easier to pick up a prepared tray of cold cuts and cheeses, preparing the tray yourself will save money, and you will have some leftovers for a family snack, later. If you are pressed for time during Christmas, then you can always call in the family for help. Kids are especially good at decorating cookies, and Mom and Dad can share the prep work in the kitchen.
If you are all early risers then why not make Christmas morning last a bit longer and switch your big meal to breakfast? Your Christmas menu could include scrambled eggs, sausage, cinnamon rolls, juice and coffee. Since breakfast foods are typically much cheaper then you will save a lot of money this way.
For families who have a buffet style dinner, the option of turning a turkey tenderloin or a ham into a sandwich buffet would be a big hit. If you are having a lot of guests over consider doing a pot luck with everyone bringing a different dish to pass. Try to plan it so some guests bring dessert, some bring sides, etc to get a nice variety.
If you are intent on having a traditional Christmas dinner, making all of your foods yourself should really help stretch your budget, and your family will love having homemade foods and treats on the Christmas menu.
Topics: Holidays |
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