After a tough year, we all need an indulgent pick-me-up this Christmas – but how can you splash out without breaking the bank?
Presenters Sabrina Grant and Sophie Morgan spoke to brand insiders for Channel 4 ’s Luxury Christmas For Less to find out what really goes into some of our festive favourites.
And now we’ve got the inside scoop with some of their top tips and tricks to help you get the best for less…
Turkey
Did you know that frozen turkeys are not only fresher than refrigerated ones, but also cost on average only half the price?
Whole birds cost £2.85 per kilo, compared with fresh at £5.69 per kilo, according to an investigation by Luxury Christmas for Less experts of recently released data.
Not only that, but the quality of refrigerated turkeys starts to diminish sooner than frozen ones as they sit on the shelf for a period of time.
So it’s time to put frozen turkeys at the top of the pecking order.
Gin
Gin has been one of our lockdown favourites with sales in shops, supermarkets and online soaring by 30% and millions of bottles sold across the UK.
If you go for cheaper gins you can make them feel more luxurious with a really good tonic, so experiment with your tonic water.
Another top tip to make your gin taste better is remembering that proper gin and tonic should be ice cold.
If your glass is filled with cold gin and tonic it will stop the ice cubes melting so quickly and diluting your drink.
Perfume
Perfume and aftershave were a popular lockdown treat, with sales up 25% year on year.
Over half are bought in November and December.
To make your scent last longer, spray it in your hair, or apply unscented moisturiser on your skin before spraying.
As fragrances are recipes they cannot be protected or trademarked, so other perfumes can be made to smell like more famous ones.
For example, Lidl’s Madame Glamour (£4.99) and Next’s Eau Nude (£14.99) are both inspired by Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle (£120).
Cheese
Buying cheaper, less flavoursome cheese is a false economy, says former grocery business buyer Darren Smith.
He tells Luxury Christmas For Less that choosing stronger, pricier cheeses means you will naturally eat less as your taste buds are satisfied more quickly.
We also shouldn’t be fooled by “mature” cheddar that is only six or eight months old.
Pay a little more for cheese that is at least a year old to really notice the difference.
And for a better flavour, never serve cheese straight from the fridge.
Smoked salmon
We buy nearly £35million worth of smoked salmon every December – twice as much as any other month.
Save cash by choosing smoked salmon trimmings, which can be over 40% cheaper than slices.
They are from the main prime cuts of the salmon but usually from the edges or an incomplete piece – all perfectly good quality.
Sabrina says: “They’re a bit like the broken biscuits of salmon”.
An expert also reveals a bright orange/pink colour is better quality. Pale smoked salmon is not as rich in oils so will have a blander flavour.
Xmas puds
Supermarkets charge a premium for puddings matured for 12, 18 or even 24 months – but they carry on maturing in their packaging.
So it’s worth keeping a pudding bought cheaply after Christmas to mature for the next year.
Also, nearly every Christmas pudding sold in our supermarkets is made in the same factory in Heaton, Derbyshire.
Prices will vary across retailers because of the different recipes and maturity – but remember that in terms of a basic quality, they are all made in the same place.
*Luxury Christmas For Less starts tonight, Channel 4, 8pm
