Christmas dinner - How much does it cost you?

[DisneySarah80]

I was just wondering how much others spend on Christmas dinner (if you do a sit down dinner, with your extended family and such). Between appetizers, main course, desserts.... How much do you spend? I would have to say that our total is about $300-$350 (the standing rib roast was $99 on its own!). It seems crazy to me!!! So, is this about the "norm" for most families, or are we "overspending?"
We will have 8 adults, 2 kids.

 

[Minnesota!]

Less than $200. Maybe less than $150.

Taco buffet, sides, and a bunch of desserts. Plus beverages (wine, beer, water, pop).

ETA - this will feed 13 adults and 5 kids

 

[dizluvah]

I can't really answer the question - as we don't host Christmas but I did want to say that you aren't overspending if you can afford it and it works for your family. I mean I have hosted Thanksgiving and for just a small group it was over $200. Every holiday "feast" will encompass different traditions, family favorites etc.

Enjoy your holiday!

 

[RayaniFoxmur]

We have 6 adults coming for Christmas dinner tonight (Since the bulk of the group works at Disney and will be working Christmas day) and we're having:

Ham
Cheesy Potatoes
Applesauce (homemade)
Cole Slaw
Corn Casserole (being brought)
Water Chestnuts wrapped in Bacon (being brought)
Mini pigs in a blanket (being brought)
and Cookies/Ice Cream (being brought)

So all together dinner cost me personally was around $20.00. And I'm doing the first 4 things on the menu lol. But we are trying not to go too expensive for Christmas because I went all out for Thanksgiving.

 

[disykat]

I'd say I spend about $100 - $150 more than my regular food budget during December. That includes a party, Christmas Eve, and appetizers and desserts for a crowd on Christmas. Generally our guests bring stuff, so we don't provide everything. I also show up with a dish in hand at a couple of other parties.

 

[lucky978]

We are hosting Christmas dinner (sit-down) and will have between 12-15 adults. We are having:

Apps: cheese and crackers, shrimp cocktail, veggie platter, chip and dip

Dinner: Roast Pork, Roast Beef, Roasted Red Potatoes, squash, peas and rolls

Dessert: cupcakes, mince pie, brownies and chocolate covered strawberries.

My family consists of mostly elderly, so we buy everything. They usually chip in $15-$20 per person to cover costs.

Trip to grocery store this morning cost me $350. The roast beef was $70 alone.

We can afford to do it and since they are mostly elderly grandmother, aunts and uncle they won't be here with us too much longer. I'd rather pay the $ and be able to enjoy the time with them than not see them. That's what happens when you have a small family...

Merry Christmas!!!

 

[Uptown Girl]

I spent about $250 but some of that is for food for tomorrow night as well. Food for the "big" meal on Christmas was probably $75 but it is just the 5 of us. I got a 5 lb prime rib for about $45 so that alone was most of it. I spent about $200 on our Thanksgiving meal for 14 people.

 

[Robinrs]

I just spent $39 for a turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, cornbread dressing, and an apple cobbler at Publix!! My sister's bringing everything else... I do NOT cook dinner!

 

[daughtersrus]

We're really lucky because we have a great market that has rib eye roasts on sale for under $4.00/lb a few times a year so I stock up then. Last time, I got them for $2.99/lb

I was also received a huge ham for helping a friend out when her DD was hospitalized a few weeks ago. That saved me at least $40.

We have family bringing a veggie tray, an appetizer, rolls and a pie.

We made homemade toffee, peanut brittle, butter cookies, rosette cookies, chocolate covered pretzels and pink ice candy. I bought mini eclairs and creme puffs as well for dessert.

The rest of the stuff (layered jello, salad, potatoes, veggies) are all pretty cheap right now.

The most money was probably spent of drinks (beer, wine, champagne, sparkling juice and pop)

Altogether, it's probably in the $100-$150 range. To me, it's worth it to have it at our house instead of driving.

 

[Donnainnj]

I was just wondering how much others spend on Christmas dinner (if you do a sit down dinner, with your extended family and such). Between appetizers, main course, desserts.... How much do you spend? I would have to say that our total is about $300-$350 (the standing rib roast was $99 on its own!). It seems crazy to me!!! So, is this about the "norm" for most families, or are we "overspending?"
We will have 8 adults, 2 kids.

I am right there with you, even usually the same number of guests. We celebrate on Christmas Eve with everyone. Mom started the menu and when she died in 2003 I took over, and tradition made me continue with her choices. Standing Rib Roast, shrimp scampi (subbing lobster this year because it is on sale), and usually some other protein (turkey, swedish meatballs, or ham), this year I am having spiral ham. Mashed potatoes, rolls, and a veggie or two. Then there is shrimp cocktail, thinking of picking up stuffed mushrooms, and have cheese, veggies, chips, dip, crackers, salami and pepperoni. Oh and apple pie, pumpkin pie and cannolis for dessert.
Donna

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I was just wondering how much others spend on Christmas dinner (if you do a sit down dinner, with your extended family and such). Between appetizers, main course, desserts.... How much do you spend? I would have to say that our total is about $300-$350 (the standing rib roast was $99 on its own!). It seems crazy to me!!! So, is this about the "norm" for most families, or are we "overspending?"
We will have 8 adults, 2 kids.

For 8 adults that is pretty good if you are paying for the whole thing.

There are only the 4 of us and my standing rib was 63.00 at Costco. It is our once a yr splurge.

Then we are having potatoes, fresh green beans, veggie tray, and dessert. We are probably a little over a hundred for Christmas Day.

Then we have Christmas Eve. I have been slow roasting a pork butt since 8am. I am going to shred it, add BBQ sauce, simmer some more for tomorrow at my sisters. That was 18.00 and I am making dill dip and bringing breads which is probably another 20. Sister has the shrimp, mom is bring a ham and making some Italian soup, and probably veggie tray.

 

[englishteacha]

Christmas is just the two of us, so $15ish? But Thanksgiving fed over 30 of us. We did the turkey ($25ish), potatoes ($5 for 20 lbs) and stuffing ($5ish), and paid to rent the hall for $125. Everyone else brought the sides and dessert. It would have been much more had we done all the sides, too. Luckily turkey is pretty cheap. Had we done a roast, it would have been MUCH more expensive!

 

[Meriweather]

About $75

cheese and crackers
6 layer dip and chips
turkey
potatoes/gravy
rolls
sweet potatoes
corn casserole
green salad
fruit salad

lemon meringue pie
tuxedo cheesecake

soda

for 7 adults

 

[IDoDis]

I spent $50 for our Christmas day meal (5 people). We are having
chips & guacamole (appetizer)
rib roast
mashed potatoes & gravy
green bean casserole
fresh cranberries
yeast rolls (bought frozen dough balls)
millionaire pie (homemade)
pumpkin pie (from Costco)

Tomorrow night (Christmas eve) we have a larger family meal with more people, but someone else is hosting, so we don't have any expense for that except for a pie that I'm bringing.

 

[SaraJayne]

The way we do it is the host family (changes every year) provides the meat, potatoes and drinks.

Everyone else rounds out the selections, with fruit, veggies, salads, desserts, snacks, etc.

So no one person is stuck with the bulk of the food bill.

 

[java]

I am having 2 dinners one tomorrow and one on Christmas- I shopped for them as well as Christmas Morning- spent a little over $200. (that's for 7 people)

 

[MomRN]

$130. We are planning on 9 adults and one child. This is what we are making- (includes all ingredients with the exception of a few canned goods)

Turkey
Mashed Potatoes
Chicken and Noodles
Deviled Eggs
Hashbrown casserole
Green Bean casserole
Cornbread casserole
Baked Beans
Rolls

and two frozen pies- pumpkin and apple

 

[MrsPete]

We do Christmas dinner just for our family of four, so my costs are very low:

Turkey breast -- $10, will yield ample leftovers for sandwiches
Stuffing -- $3-4?, homemade, hard to judge all those ingredients
Cranberry sauce -- $1 -- yuck, only my husband eats this junk
Sugar snap peas -- $3, specially requested by my oldest
Parker house rolls -- $1 for the half-bag I'll cook

Small meal, small cost.

When we do our big family Christmas a few days afterward, it'll be a pot-luck. Everyone'll bring something -- we all enjoy bringing something to share, and everyone goes "all out" to bring something nice. I'll bring two items, which'll cost $20-25. Not a budget-breaker. In our family, meals are always casual and buffet-style. Oh, and OUTSTANDINGLY DELICIOUS. We're all great cooks. No one expects one family to host the whole extended bunch of us.

 

[#1hoosierfan]

Lots of people do standing rib roasts.

My sister and I take turns hosting Christmas Eve dinner. Last year I did the standing rib roast, marinated mushrooms, mashed potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, dessert, and wine. I probably spent around $150. That was for 5 adults and 4 small children.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

We spent $109 today on groceries for Christmas dinner for 8. We had everyone choose their meats (cornish game hens, salmon or steak). For sides, we will have garlic mashed potatoes, lemon asparagus, rolls, homemade cranberry sauce, salad bar and stuffing and gravy for the people who have game hens. For dessert, I'm making a pumpkin spice bundt cake and a chocolate cake. We also bought apple cider, sodas and fizzy water.