Shoppers are expected to spend a record £13billion in supermarkets this month as they load their trolleys with festive food.
But thanks to fierce competition, the overall cost of Christmas dinner has edged up only slightly compared to 2022, despite inflation, according to retail analyst Kantar.
As supermarkets battle it out to offer the lowest prices in the final countdown to the big day, you can make substantial savings if you know where and when to shop
It now stands at £31.71, compared to £31 last year.
As supermarkets battle it out to offer the lowest prices in the final countdown to the big day, you can make substantial savings if you know where and when to shop. So we took a look around the big six supermarkets.
Here Harriet Cooke shares her ultimate guide to trimming costs on the biggest grocery haul of the year…
SHOP SMART
We found that the cheapest supermarket to buy a traditional Christmas dinner from is Aldi, which has the lowest price for every item in our basket.
The total came to £32.85, with Lidl and Tesco coming in second and third cheapest, at £33.61 and £37.44.
Meanwhile, at £50.99, Iceland was the most expensive of the six stores we tried — but it has some good deals on certain items not included in our table.
For example, its own-brand turkey breast joint 1.5kg is half price in-store only at £8.
While Aldi is the obvious choice for families who prefer to do one big shop on a budget, it’s worth checking online to see if the other supermarkets have loyalty offers on items such as branded chocolates or other treats.
Tesco’s Clubcard, Sainsbury’s Nectar card, and Morrisons’ More cards all offer discounts which sometimes undercut budget supermarkets.
After Eight dark chocolate thins are £2.49 in Aldi, but £2 in Sainsbury’s with a Nectar Card.
And Morrisons has 200g packs of smoked salmon slices for £3.99, but in Aldi they are £4.69.
For the biggest savings go for dupes rather than big brands wherever you can.
Budget alternatives to Baileys — such as Aldi’s Specially Selected luxury edition Irish cream liqueur or Lidl’s deluxe Irish cream — are several pounds cheaper and still delicious.
Avoid panic buying by making a meal plan for Christmas and the days after on paper or with an app such as Mealime.
VEG WARS
HOLD off on buying veg until Monday when most of the major supermarkets will be slashing prices.
Aldi, Lidl, and Sainsbury’s will have 2kg packs of potatoes for 15p, plus other festive veg including carrots, parsnips, and sprouts for 19p a bag.
Tesco and Asda will join the price war on Tuesday.
HOLD YOUR NERVE
Holding your nerve and shopping for a turkey on Christmas Eve could be rewarded with huge savings
IF you’re willing to brave the checkout queues on Christmas Eve you can find some incredible yellow-sticker deals as supermarkets slash prices on some products by up to 90 per cent.
It’s a good time to fill up your freezer with nice-to-have extras and food to eat after the day itself, rather than banking on finding the essentials, which might be sold out.
Last year one shopper got a £23.40 turkey reduced to £2.86 at Waitrose, while another found a £15 chocolate and hazelnut gateau from Marks and Spencer for £1.50.
Look out for offers on long-lasting items, such as potatoes, which can keep for a month if stored in the fridge or a cool dark cupboard.
Cut-price joints of meat are great for meals and sandwich fillings in the New Year when you’re counting the pennies until pay day.
- Prices and availability correct at the time of going to press
