8 Groceries Frugal People Buy for Christmas

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Groceries are expensive, and a traditional Christmas dinner with the main course and all the fancy trimmings can quickly add up. However, budget-conscious shoppers know how to stretch their dollars and serve a holiday-worthy meal.

Here’s a look at some grocery items frugal people buy for Christmas.

Frozen Turkey 

Fresh turkeys are more expensive per pound than frozen. To save money, frugal people purchase frozen over fresh and plan the thawing process into their meal prep. At Walmart, you can find frozen turkey for just $0.88 per pound, while fresh ones cost $1.98 per pound.

Frozen Vegetables  

Frugal shoppers might luck into an amazing deal on root vegetables, like potatoes and carrots, but if not, opting for frozen vegetables over fresh can save money.

A 12-ounce bag of frozen Brussels sprouts at Target costs $1.59, while a fresh, 12-ounce bag of the vegetable is $3.49. Plus, frozen veggies can be just as tasty, cook quickly and stay fresh for months in the freezer.  

Boxed Stuffing Mix  

Stuffing is a must-have side dish for Christmas, and boxed stuffing mix is a frugal favorite. With a little broth and butter, it easily turns into a savory, holiday-appropriate side dish. 

Boxed Great Value cornbread stuffing is only $0.97 and contains six servings. Homemade stuffing, however, can cost about $4 for six servings.

Canned Cranberry Sauce  

Canned cranberry sauce is another budget-friendly option for frugal people. Plus, it pairs perfectly with chicken.

At Kroger, a 12-ounce bag of fresh cranberries is priced at $2.99, while a 14-ounce can of Kroger-brand jellied cranberry sauce costs $1.99 — a full dollar less. This means shoppers who buy canned cranberries get more product for their money at roughly half the cost, with the added convenience of a ready-to-serve option.

Affordable Snacks  

For snacks, frugal shoppers skip the expensive appetizers and stick to simple, affordable options, like crackers and pretzels. They also often opt for generic brands that cost less and are perfect for pairing with dips.

A 15-ounce box of Great Value entertainment crackers is around $0.29 per ounce, while a 12-ounce variety pack of Toasteds is about $0.40 per ounce.

Boxed Dessert Mixes

Although Walmart has a 12-serving Christmas cake for approximately $12, frugal people know it’s usually much cheaper to buy boxed dessert mixes and prepare them.

A Pillsbury holiday cake mix for $1.74 at Walmart makes a 9-inch-by-13-inch sheet cake, which can serve 20 to 24 people. Eggs, oil, water and frosting are also needed, but the cost of those ingredients plus the cake mix likely won’t add up to $12. 

Brown-and-Serve Dinner Rolls

Great Value brown-and-serve dinner rolls are $1.38 for a package of 12, which is less than half the cost of bakery-made yeast rolls, which cost $3.24. And while it’s true that the bakery-made rolls might be tastier, the rolls are certainly not expected to be the highlight of a Christmas meal. 

Bottled Mixers

For some holiday gatherings, mixers are a must, and frugal people know that buying bottled options instead of cans is cheaper. Also, they tend to opt for generic brands over national ones.

A 1-liter bottle of Great Value tonic water is $0.97, compared with $3.40 for the same-size bottle of Schweppes tonic water.

Editor’s note: Pricing and availability may vary depending on location.

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