Christmas can be a costly time of year; with presents to buy and friends and whanau to entertain, the bills often leave little left in the budget.
Thankfully, there are ways to make the silly season more savey and enjoyable.
One way Kiwis can cut costs and save this Christmas is by shopping at PAK'nSAVE. Everything they do, they do to save their customers money. With fresh and varied quality fruit, veg, meat and seafood, at low prices, Kiwis can get more bang for their buck, particularly over the festive season.
To help New Zealanders shop smarter this Christmas, PAK'nSAVE has partnered with the founder of The Daily Menu, Kathrine Lynch. Kathrine has shared her top tips to turn the 'spendy season into a savey one.
"PAK'nSAVE is always great value for money. They have a wide range of products and brands to suit any budget," Kathrine said.
"Their produce, meat and seafood are always fresh and they have great weekly deals to help make your money go further."
The first way to save your coins? Making a list and checking it twice. Planning your menu in advance means you're only buying what you need, and by checking the prices online before you shop, you can avoid bill shock and you're sure to be feeding the whanau and not the fridge.
"Plan quick, easy, uncomplicated meals - no one wants to spend all day cooking. And it’s ok to keep it simple! My tomato and cucumber salad is quick, easy, affordable and delicious.
"It also helps to tweak recipes and ingredients to keep within your budget and to your own tastes.
Other savey ways to shop this Christmas includes shopping the specials and stocking up early, buying in-season produce for your salads, sides and desserts, and substituting fresh fruit and veg for frozen or canned alternatives.
"Look to supplement fresh produce with canned fruit and vegetables to make your money go further. For example, using tinned beetroot in the beetroot and feta salad and using pre-made cranberry jelly for the rolled chicken," Kathrine suggested.
"Traditional meats such as lamb and turkey are expensive, so buy in smaller amounts and supplement with a cheaper cut of meat, such as a roast chicken or my cranberry and orange rolled chicken breast recipe."
PAK'nSAVE also has in-store butchery and produce experts who can help you get the best value for money this Christmas. If you need some help with what to choose just ask.
Kathrine recommends getting creative and looking for easy and effective ways to transform a family favourite into a festive creation. For example, a simple but staple recipe for a salad can be given a Christmas kick with candied walnuts, or roast potatoes can be turned into a tasty side with butter and rosemary.
And lastly, look for ways to divide the cooking and costs between family members - so it's not all left up to the host, Kathrine added.
These simple but savey swaps can make a real difference on your budget.
Putting all these tips into practice, PAK'nSAVE has partnered with Kathrine to create a scrumptious but savey festive menu, designed for a table of eight to 10, that won't break the bank - and does the hard work for you!
"I've partnered with PAK'nSAVE to share a delicious, simple and affordable Christmas Day menu to help Kiwi families keep their costs down. I have included recipes and a matching shopping list to keep the planning easy and stress-free. All the hard work has been done for you." Kathrine explained, "There are also some extra add on recipes for more guests, or to suit gluten free, dairy free and vegetarian diets".
Take a look at PAK’nSAVE's Christmas Menu below and see the recipes here:
Pineapple-glazed Ham
Cranberry and orange rolled chicken
Rosemary and garlic potato skewers
Tomato and cucumber salad
Mesclun, beetroot, feta and candied walnut salad
Mini pavlova and lemon cheesecake bites.
Article created in partnership with PAK'nSAVE.
