6 Expert Ways To Save on Last-Minute Groceries for Your Christmas Feast
A recent survey from Lance Surety Bonds revealed that homeowners who are hosting a holiday dinner this year expect to spend $29 per person, or roughly $232 for eight guests. Meanwhile, 20% expect to spend more than $300 on holiday gatherings. Baby boomers expect to spend the least, at $25 per person, while Gen Z plans to spend the most, at $41 per person.
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As the cost of living has risen since last year, affording to feed everyone at the holiday table can create stress for hosts. More than one-quarter of homeowners (28%) who are hosting holiday gatherings said they are scaling back in a variety of ways due to financial constraints, according to the survey.
But you can make room at your dining table for all your friends and loved ones by following these expert tips and finding clever ways to save on last-minute groceries for your Christmas feast.
Reduce the Number of Dishes
As you trim the Christmas tree this year, also consider trimming down your holiday dinner menu. “The inflation of grocery prices means that hosting the holidays is more expensive than ever. Unfortunately, that means that people are having to make sacrifices,” said Eric Weisbrot, digital marketing manager at Lance Surety Bonds.
According to the Surety Bonds survey, fruitcake, eggnog and charcuterie trays are all on the chopping block. Forty percent of respondents took these holiday staples off their grocery lists. Meanwhile, 45% eliminated roast beef or prime rib as the main course.
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Switch Up Your Main Course
Bethany Skorik, etiquette consultant and founder of The Charming Diplomat, agreed that you can save money by looking for alternatives to roast beef and prime rib. “Beef products have risen a whopping 43% since January 2021,” she told GOBankingRates. “Many pork and chicken products are also more expensive this year than they were last year. Despite this rise in prices, there are still delicious, affordable options for feeding a crowd.”
Skorik recommended choosing boneless turkey breast or spiral-sliced ham, which are both on sale this week at Aldi.
Forego Appetizers for Filling Side Dishes
Offering an array of appetizers may impress your guests. But it might also leave them too full to enjoy the main course.
“Crafting complicated, bite-sized appetizers can be one of the biggest drains on time and money when hosting a large group,” Skorik said. “A more filling, cost-efficient option is to provide warm sides like homemade mac and cheese, green bean casserole, seasonal vegetables and mashed potatoes.”
Clip Coupons and Shop Sales
The majority (63%) of survey respondents said they would shop sales and use coupons to stretch their holiday food budget. Instacart’s Deal Week makes it easy to save, with sales on groceries and more at retailers like BJ’s and Target.
For instance, Target is offering up to 45% off soda and $6 off when you spend $30 on items like Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Stove Top stuffing and Heinz beef gravy. BJ’s delivers $8 in savings when you spend $45 or more on items like Oscar Meyer cold cuts, Bagel Bites, pickles, select brands of coffee and more.
“During Instacart’s Deal Week, taking place from Dec. 17-23, there are also a number of savings on candies and dessert items that can add a festive touch to your holiday feast,” said Trae Bodge, smart shopping expert, on behalf of Instacart.
Weisbrot suggested stacking coupons for added savings. “Look for opportunities to combine store coupons with manufacturer discounts and cash-back offers,” he said. “You can even use apps to automate this process and find the best deals.”
Leverage Store Loyalty Programs for Savings
Weisbrot and Bodge both recommended leveraging store loyalty programs to save even more on your holiday grocery bill. “Many stores offer exclusive discounts, early sale access or coupons when you join their email lists or loyalty programs, so take advantage of that as often as possible,” Weisbrot said.
“By taking advantage of store loyalty programs on Instacart, you can save an average of $8 to $12 per order, making your Christmas meal even more affordable,” Bodge added.
Read Store Flyers and Make a List Before You Shop
Of course, you never want to start your online shopping or set foot in a grocery store without a carefully crafted list, experts agreed. “Keep an eye out for pre-holiday promotions for the biggest discounts on hosting essentials,” Weisbrot said.
Bodge shared that Instacart’s Personal Digital Flyer, which turns traditional printed grocery circulars into a personalized digital format, can help. “The Personal Digital Flyer [makes] it easy to browse deals and find the best savings. Flyers can notify you when your favorite holiday ham or spiced eggnog is on sale.”
Final Note
“With everyone’s budgets being stretched so thin, smart shopping has become one of the top priorities for consumers,” Weisbrot concluded. “By combining these strategies, savvy shoppers can significantly lower the cost of holiday hosting without compromising on quality.”
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 6 Expert Ways To Save on Last-Minute Groceries for Your Christmas Feast
