Shop around for Christmas fare

Press, 8 December 1988, Page 23

Shop around for Christmas fare

Shopping around for the main traditional Christmas meats such as turkey and ham will pay off for those who want to keep a few extra dollars in their pockets after Christmas Day.

For the average New Zealand family of two parents, two children, and two grandparents, “The Press” estimated that Christmas dinner, complete with turkey, ham, Christmas pudding and cake, cost about $3lO.

The most expensive item was of course liquor, so those who can do without it will save about $l5O.

The price variation in ham is something to keep a close eye on. Ham varied from $8.59 a kilogram in one store to as much as $lO.BO in another. The same weight leg of ham (6kg) cost $64.80 in one and $51.54 in another.

Turkey prices were just as unpredictable. For a size A (4kg) turkey, prices ranged from $29.82 to $32.32.

Fruit and vegetable prices are likely to increase with the approach of Christmas, so prices might vary. Strawberries and peas are likely to be scarce as these flushed earlier with the warm November weather, and prices are slightly up on last year. Mince pie prices are generally around $3.39 to $3.60 for six, but there are some good buys available in lesser known bakery lines costing a little more than $2. Chocolate lovers should

buy soon, as the more reasonably priced lines are fast disappearing. Prices range from $6.99 to $11.92 for 500 g boxes. Convenience is being targeted by most plum pudding manufacturers with most marketing puddings in plastic bowls that are easily heated in microwave ovens.

It is interesting to note that a bought Christmas cake costs $17.16, while the ingredients for the same cake cost $16.39. In all, Christmas remains an expensive occasion as presents are unaccounted for on this list, but possibly cutting out a few luxuries could give one a moderate bill.