We explain how to do Easter on a budget(Image: Getty Images)The Easter holidays mean a long weekend and spending time with friends and family for many of us – but that can also mean an expensive bill when it comes to food and drink. While not reaching the same level of cost as Christmas bills, Easter lunch can be pricey if you’re not savvy about it. Here’s how to shop around and make some tasty dishes to feed six people on a budget.
Look for frozen deals
A leg of lamb from the butcher counter is delicious but also premium price. Check the freezer section for your main meat course for Easter lunch, as you’ll likely find much cheaper options available. Before you buy, do a sweep of the fresh meat section to double-check there aren’t any seasonal deals, first.
Make the most of veggies
Lidl has started the seasonal price war on veggies, and you could take home almost 4kg of vegetables for just 90p. Total! They’ve slashed the price on loads of popular veg, to just 15p. That includes a 2kg bag of potatoes, a kilo of carrots, half a kilo of parsnips, packs of green beans and spring onions, and the price of each swede.
Expect other supermarkets to follow suit in the run-up to Easter. This happens a lot at Christmas, but Lidl want to lead the charge when it comes to budget Easter eats as well. This is great news because vegetables are fantastic for making your meals go further, and it’s easy to make delicious sides with some savvy spices and flavours.
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Reduce the alcohol bill
Unlike Christmas, which is a very boozy holiday, Easter tends to be more reserved, so the alcohol bill is likely to be lower. But if you’ve got guests over for Easter Sunday lunch, a glass of wine could be a perfect match.
There’s no need to spend a fortune on alcohol. Own brands in every supermarket have won taste awards, because these days the own brand can be as good (or better) than the high end stuff. Aldi’s Veuve Monsigny Champagne repeatedly outsells and out-tastes high end competitors year after year, and is only £7.99 a bottle right now.
But you don’t have to have alcohol at your lunch at all, if you prefer to keep it driver-friendly. Mocktails are easy to make and it’s fun to set up a make your own bar, so people can choose what they want and mix their own creations.
Sample menu under £25
So, can you really feed six people for under £25 at Easter lunch? Yes! Here’s what you could get:
New Zealand Leg of lamb (Iceland): £12.502kg potatoes for mash and roast (Lidl): 15p1kg carrots (Lidl): 15p1kg frozen peas (Sainsburys): £1.03Lamb gravy granules (Tesco ): £1.90Elderflower cordial (Sainsburys): £2.95Little Moons Mochi Cinnamon Bun Dessert (all supermarkets): £5
Total: £23.68
Your bill might vary a little depending on where you shop – the examples above are to show how cheap you could get items, and most supermarkets are comparable. Wasting time shopping between lots of supermarkets can cost more than paying a couple of pounds extra at the till, so that’s always worth weighing up, too.
Opt for a picnic or BBQ
We’ve been really lucky with the weather lately and it looks like it could hold out through to the Easter weekend. Relax the formalities and either meet people in the park for a picnic or invite them for a BBQ instead. The great thing about picnics and BBQs is they’re ideal for pot luck style events, where you ask each person to bring something to add to the table. This will significantly reduce your bill without impacting the fun.
Go out instead
Hosting Easter lunch at home is wonderful but comes with a lot of stress. You need to make preparations, clean the house, cook the dinner, make sure everyone is happy… and foot the bill. These days, going out to eat can be as cheap as hosting at home. In fact, there are so many Easter deals where kids can eat for £1 or for free entirely when they’re accompanied by an adult, it’s well worth looking into offers in your area. Some allow up to four children to take advantage of the deal per adult so always check the small print.
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