With the festive season's most crucial food shop looming, UK households are facing the twin pressures of crowded aisles and soaring costs. However, a clever three-stop supermarket strategy can deliver a traditional Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, plus dessert and wine, for a family of four at a barely-believable price.
The Three-Stop Supermarket Strategy
The key to this budget-friendly feast lies in splitting your shop between three major retailers: Aldi, Lidl, and Sainsbury's. By capitalising on specific loss-leading offers at each, you can assemble a complete festive spread. The plan, which requires shopping over the next couple of days, results in a grand total of just £10.27.
Your first port of call should be Aldi, renowned for its bargain prices. Here, you can load up on foundation vegetables for just 5p per bag, with a limit of four bags per shopper. Ideal picks include a 1kg bag of carrots, a red cabbage, 500g of Brussels sprouts, and 500g of parsnips.
Aldi is also the place for your stuffing, with a highly-rated packet costing 45p. For dessert, choose between a raspberry or double chocolate Swiss roll at £1.39 each. To wash it all down, pick up a bottle of Grove Manor Crisp White Wine for £2.69 or opt for a Baron St Jean red, white, or rosé at £3.49.
Securing Sides and the Star of the Show
Next, head to Lidl to continue the vegetable haul and grab a quintessential festive side. Lidl also has a selection of 5p veg, with a limit of three bags. Prioritise a 2kg bag of white potatoes (5p), along with more parsnips and carrots if needed. This brings your total vegetable haul to seven bags across both supermarkets, costing just 35p.
The crucial purchase at Lidl is the pigs in blankets. A packet of 12 will set you back £1.99, adding that essential festive touch to your plate.
Finally, visit Sainsbury's for the centrepiece. While not a turkey, a British Small Whole Chicken costs just £3.29—less than a standard meal deal. Sainsbury's is also where you can pick up a 170g box of gravy granules for 56p, which will likely last beyond the big day itself.
The Final Festive Tally
Here is the complete price breakdown for your budget Christmas dinner:
- Seven bags of assorted vegetables: 35p
- One packet of stuffing: 45p
- One Swiss roll dessert: £1.39
- One bottle of white wine: £2.69
- One packet of pigs in blankets (12): £1.99
- One whole chicken: £3.29
- One box of gravy granules: 56p
Total cost: £10.27. This savvy approach proves that with careful planning and a willingness to visit multiple stores, the financial stress of Christmas dinner can be significantly reduced, leaving more room for festive cheer.
