Consumer Corner: Five tips to save money on your Christmas food shop
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The Christmas food shop has taken on a life of its own in recent years.
Texts fly around about long queues in Dunnes and how people can’t get down the aisles because they are packed with people waiting to go to the till.
There’s the stories of broccoli not on the shelves and cranberry sauce sold out. There’s also those who get up at 6am to do the shop.
These days there are many ways to help ease the Christmas shop pressure and also save money while doing so.
According to switcher.ie a family of four could spend around €324 on the Christmas food and drink shop. They say that a Christmas dinner for four now costs on average €53 and party food comes in at an average €32, with alcohol costs hitting €129. All costs included, they estimate families this Christmas will spend on average €1,724 on Christmas household expenses. In addition to food costs they also found that costs facing people this festive season also include an average spend of €296 on socialising and €1,164 on gifts.
However, what is key is shopping around. Many people may have traditionally been loyal to one supermarket however there can be significant savings to be made for taking the time to shop in different stores. For example the research from Switcher found that you could pay between €29 and €20 for the same size turkey in different supermarkets.
Switcher.ie's consumer champion, Eoin Clarke, says although inflation is easing, families could still be left worse off this year as the cost of groceries continues to climb.
“As sky-high bills put an even bigger strain on Christmas budgets, shoppers will want to save as much as they can, wherever they can. My advice is to plan ahead, set a budget and compare prices to make sure you get the best deal.
Simple swaps like shifting to discounted shopping chains, opting for own-brand supermarket labels, shopping local and seeking out upcycled gifts over brand new presents can cut costs and ease the burden, so you enjoy the festive season that bit more.
Sarah Rigney from Bonkers.ie says that it’s easy to get swept up in the festive excitement and purchase more food than you need, leading to high levels of food waste.
“To avoid buying too much food, make a list of what you need and stick to it. Check your cupboards and freezer before going grocery shopping to determine what you already have, so you don’t end up with double.” It is important to go at it like the Wise Men and be clever about the Christmas grocery shop this year. Here are some top tips for saving money and reducing stress on the Christmas shop.
There’s no reason why you can’t stock up on things like cranberry sauce and goose fat before the big shop day. These items will have a long shelf life and often could be on sale in the run up to Christmas. Also stock up on items like toilet rolls and kitchen rolls, especially if you see them on sale.
When Switcher.ie compared prices at the various supermarkets they found that big savings can be made by switching to the cheapest shop. They say in their findings that a festive food shop from a well-known, high-end retailer could set you back around €90, while switching to a different supermarket would save an average of €21, reducing your total bill to just €69. Keep an eye on offers in the supermarkets that are running this weekend and don’t be afraid to divide up the shop among various supermarkets.
These days most supermarkets have vouchers and apps offering significant discounts. Do your maths and spend wisely in each supermarket to make best use of the vouchers. Don’t be afraid to ask around too among family and friends to see if they have spare vouchers that you could use.
Big discounts can be found on food approaching its sell-by date, discontinued items or products with damaged packaging. Sometimes, entire shelves are dedicated to these clearance offers marked with a yellow label. Yellow sticker bargains usually appear in the morning, after lunch, or just before closing. Savings start at around 10 percent and reach up to 75 percent at certain times.
Ms Rigney says that to have a delicious Christmas dinner, you don’t need to break the bank. “While you may be tempted by the fancy Christmas-themed packaging on food from premium brands, cheaper alternatives or supermarket own-brands can taste just as good. And don’t forget to buy in-season or frozen vegetables as these will be cheaper.” Tip five: Use the freezer The freezer is your friend this time of year. Even for the Christmas dinner you can buy things like cauliflower cheese in advance and pop it in the freezer. You can also make up things like your own goose fat and freeze it.