Which? recently enlisted a panel of experts to test 14  brands of champagne that are available at various supermarkets to find out how well they stacked up against the more expensive brands of bubbly.

Of the 14 champagnes that were included in the comparison, the following bargain priced brands landed at the top of the list, proving that good tasting champagne does not have to cost a bundle.

Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut NV Champagne came out the leader with a rating of 90 percent, at a price of £31.91.  Following a close second at 89 percent was Sainsbury’s Blanc Noirs Brut NV Champagne, and at only £15.98, it is about half the price.

Another champagne that scored an 89 percent was H Blin & Co Brut NV at £24.99, available at Oddbins.  Not far behind with an 88 percent was Les Pionniers Brut from the Co-operative with a price of £15.55.

At the bottom of the list was Moët and Chandon’s Brut NV.  It came in at 13 out of 14 champagnes that were tested because experts reported that it had “aggressive acidity” and a “slightly medicinal” aroma.

The experts at Which? also tested a variety fo sparkling wines with the following results:

The top choice wat Bluff Hill Brut from M&S at £8.99, with an 87 percent rating.  Testers liked the scent, which was described as “vibrant citrus” and the flavor, which they found to be refreshing and well-balanced.  Another favorite with a rating of 86 percent was Graham Beck Brut, which is available from Waitrose for £12.99.

The best value sparkling wines, both with a rating of 85 percent were Aldi’s Phillippe Michel Crémant du Jura Brut and Griffiths Park Sparkling Brut, available at Morrisons and Asda for less than £7.

According to Which?  editor Martyn Hocking, it is good to know that it is not necessary to spend a lot of money to get a good champagne this holiday season.  For example, Sainsbury’s own brand is exceptional.  It is also worthwhile considering serving sparkling wines, to keep the party flowing for a fraction of the price.Budget Bubbly

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1. Write a shopping list and stick to it. Don’t be tempted by clever offers such as ‘buy one get one free’ offers. The price of one may be more than double two of another brand. And do you really need it anyway?
2. Experiment with cheaper alternatives. Often you will not be able to tell the difference between premium branded products and value alternatives. There is very little to justify any kind of price difference in basics such as salt, sugar, milk, flour and butter. Therefore buy the economy brand and you will lose nothing.
3. Economy packs of fruit and vegetables are often the ones which were too small, too large or misshapen to get into the standard packs. There is no difference in freshness or quality
4. You will see how much the inclusion of meat in any dish drives up the price. Experiment with substitutions such as oyster mushrooms instead of chicken, pancetta instead of bacon.
5. Buy dried pasta, not fresh. The quality will be the same and will able to get that al dente effect. Shop around for the most reasonably-priced dried pasta – as with most things, there is a huge price difference between branded and supermarket own-branded. The only time I would recommend fresh pasta would be for lasagna as it significantly reduces cooking time
6. Have you noticed how expensive boxed cereals are? Porridge oats are far cheaper, contain no added sugar or salt, and are nutritionally superior.
7. Frozen is often much cheaper than fresh, particularly when it comes to fish.
8. Items which are ready to eat or involve less preparation from you are more expensive. Examples from our list are things like frozen pastry blocks (vs fresh ready roll), custard powder (vs ready to serve). To save the most try making as much as possible from scratch.
9. Rice is a much cheaper alternative to pasta and can be flavoured by boiling in stock rather than water.
10. It is more cost effective and will save time to make a large amount and eat it over two days. Flavour can significantly improve overnight. Invest in some small Tupperware so that you can also freeze portions.

More on money saving:

• Eat well, save money – can you make it from scratch?
  
• The results of the What Consumer money saving study
• Money saving forum

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Have you ever looked at all the ready meals or packaged stuff in your trolley and wondered whether you could make it yourself? From scratch? Would it work out cheaper? Would it be healthier? In other words, would it be worth it?

What Consumer has carried out a unique and comprehensive study, comparing the cost of typical pre-packaged or ready meals with the costs associated with making the same dish from scratch. The study looked at 50 family favourites from Toad in the Hole to Sweet and Sour Sauce to Bakewell Tart, and found some surprising results. The results of the money saving study can be found here.

Why make from scratch?

• Home-made quantities generally yield larger amounts and will contain higher percentages of meat or fish per serving.
• You control exactly what goes in. There is no excessive addition of salt or sugar, no bulking agents, and no artificial additives to improve taste and appearance such as acids, stabilisers or emulsifiers.
• Salt and sugar are used as natural preservatives to help keep food longer. One is often used to counteract the other which is why foods can contain such high amounts of both.
• Canning and bottling often involve pasteurization which subjects the food to high temperatures to kill off any harmful microorganisms. However, this process also kills vitamins and creates a rather synthetic taste which also suppresses natural flavour.
• You can choose to incorporate better quality, or organic ingredients. Pre-packaged or ready meals don’t give you the choice.
• Let’s face it’s not only more healthy but it is just so much more satisfying!

Also check out our top ten money saving tips for food shopping

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The following should be noted:

• Not everything has been made from scratch. You will see the inclusion of pastry blocks and jars of pre-prepared sauces, but only where the time saving significantly outweighs the cost saving. Some concessions have been made for the sake of convenience!
• The ingredients listed are standard branded items or supermarket own brands. Cheaper alternatives are available and savings can be made by sourcing fruit, vegetables, meat and fish elsewhere, such as local markets.
• Only quality cuts of meat or fish have been included in each recipe. Frozen fish has been used for the fish pies and fish cakes to keep price down, although this will not affect the quality or flavour.
• All eggs included have been priced as free range.
• The chicken fillets are supermarket standard and are neither organic nor free range.
• The majority of herbs are fresh. Savings can be made by using dried herbs.
• In most cases, luxury or premium brands have been used so that so that a like for like comparison can be made. Standard or economy foods will often incorporate lower quality ingredients, artificial substitutes and bulking agents such as starch, water, pork fat etc to increase size and weight.

The results

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The results speak for themselves – baking your own bread is about 50% cheaper than buying it from the bakery. For pastry the difference is less marked at only 12% but it will taste much better and will contain far fewer additives.

Bread

It is quite hard to believe just how easy it is to make your own bread. There are some excellent bread machines on the market that make it really easy and you can be as inventive as you like. Using this simple bread recipe you will save about 50p for every loaf of bread that you make, this means that once you have made 35 loafs of bread the bread machine will have paid for itself*.

Bread Ingredients:

• Bread flour: 500g – 28.3p
• Yeast: 1 sachet – 10p
• Sugar: 22.5 g – 1.8p
• Salt: 15 g – 0.5p
• Milk powder: 20g – 8.2p
• Butter: 25g – 8.4p

Total: 57p*
Shop bought farmhouse white: £1:00
Saving: 43p (43%)
*Cost of bread machine: £70 – £90

Pastry

The ingredients below will make 500g of pastry – enough for a large pie to serve around 6:

• Flour: 300g – 12.9p
• Butter: 150g – 50.4p
• Egg:1 – 22.6p

Total: 86p
Shop bought frozen pastry blocks (500g): 98p
Saving: 12p (12%)

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Key Findings:

All the chicken dishes are more expensive than the chicken ready meals.  The main reason for this is obvious – you can use good quality chicken fillets instead of the usual poorer quality (in some cases mechanically reconstituted) chicken which is commonly used in ready meals and processed dishes.

Lasagna and shepherd’s pie, the  dishes containing minced beef,  are 48% and 61% cheaper respectively if you make them yourself.

Main courses that provide an opportunity for profit margins to be increased by using low grade ingredients and bulking agents  rather than quality ingredients are more expensive to make yourself or cost the same.  Examples  include fish cakes, quiches, pie and meatballs.

The vegetable dishes are all much cheaper to make yourself with the exception of the vegetable tart which is only slightly cheaper.  (mushroom risotto 39%, mushroom stroganoff 58%, vegetable tart 2%, cauliflower cheese 43%)

Cauliflower Cheese

Ingredients:

• Cauliflower: 1 small – 78p
• White sauce: 1 portion – 70.2p
• Cheese: 100g – 51.7p

Total: £1.99
Luxury cauliflower cheese ready meal (600g): £3.49
Saving: £1.50 (43%)
Main Course Index

Chicken Curry (Serves 4)

Ingredients:

• Chicken: 2 fillets – £3.85
• Onion: 1 – 18p
• Garlic: 3 cloves – 9p
• Mushrooms: 300g – 46.5p
• Curry sauce: 1 jar curry paste (not cook in sauce) – £1.09
• Coconut milk: ½ can – 45p
• Fresh coriander: ½ packet – 39.5p

Total: £6.52
2 x standard chicken curry ready meal: £6.18
Saving: -34p (6%)
Main Course Index

Chicken Nuggets (100% Chicken Serves 2-3)

Ingredients:

• Chicken: 2 fillets – £3.85
• Egg: 1 – 22.6p
• Breadcrumbs: ½ tube – 44p

Total: £4.52
Breaded chicken fillets: £4.32
Saving: -20p (5%)
Main Course Index

Chicken, Leek and Bacon Pie (Serves 4-5)

Ingredients:

• Chicken: 2 fillets – £3.85
• Leek: 1 – 55p
• Bacon: 150g – £1.41
• Stock: 1 cube – 10.3p
• Flour: 1 tbsp – 0.6p
• Pastry: 250g – 49p

Total: £6.41
2 x luxury chicken, leek and bacon pie ready meal: £4.58
Saving: -£1.83 (40%)
Main Course Index

Fish Cakes (Serves 4)

Ingredients:

• Frozen salmon fillets: 2 – 2.19
• Potatoes: 3 large – 54p
• Eggs:2 – 45.2p
• Butter: 50g – 16.8p
• Double cream: 100ml – 28p
• Fresh parsley: 39.5p
• Breadcrumbs: ½ tube – 44p

Total: £4.46
6 standard fish cakes: £3.45
Saving: -£1.01 (29%)
Main Course Index

Fish Pie (Serves 4)

Ingredients:

• Frozen salmon fillets: 2 – 2.19
• Potatoes: 3 large – 54p
• Eggs:2 – 45.2p
• Butter: 50g – 16.8p
• Double cream: 100ml – 28p
• Fresh parsley: 39.5p
• Breadcrumbs: ½ tube – 44p

Total: £7.97
2 x luxury fish pie ready meal: £7.96
Saving: 1p (0%)
Main Course Index

Meatballs (Serves 4)

Ingredients:

• Minced beef: 250g – £1.69
• Onion: 1 – 18p
• Garlic: 1 clove – 3p
• Egg: 1 – 22.6p
• Fresh herbs: 39.5p

Total: £2.52
Luxury Meatballs (320g): £2.49
Saving: -3p (1%)
Main Course Index

Moussaka (Servers 4)

Ingredients:

• Aubergines: 2 – £1.95
• Lamb mince: 250g – £2.15
• Onion: ½ – 9p
• Garlic: 3 cloves – 9p
• Plum tomatoes: 1 tin – 52p
• Red wine: ½ glass – 25.8p
• Fresh mint: ½ packet – 39.5p
• Stock: 1 cube – 10.3p
• White sauce: 1 portion (above) – 63.2p
• Eggs: 1 – 22.6p
• Grated cheese: 50g – 25.4p

Total: £6.67
2 x luxury moussaka ready meal: £7.98
Saving: £1.31 (16%)
Main Course Index

Mushroom Risotto (Serves 4)

Ingredients:

• Onion: 1 – 18p
• Garlic: 3 cloves – 9p
• White wine: 1 glass – £1.08
• Stock: 1 cube – 10.3p
• Parmesan: 100g – £1.09
• Fresh parsley: ½ bag – 39.5p

Total: £4.91
4 x luxury Mushroom Risotto ready meal: £8.00
Saving: £3.09 (39%)
Main Course Index

Mushroom Stroganoff (Serves 4)

Ingredients:

• Mushrooms: 450g – 52.2p
• Onion:1 – 18p
• Garlic: 3 cloves – 9p
• Cream: 300ml – 84
• Fresh herbs: ½ packet – 39.5p
• Wine: ½ glass – 25.8p
• Rice: 300g – 33p

Total: £2.61
2 x luxury mushroom stroganoff ready meal: £6.18
Saving: £3.57 (58%)
Main Course Index

Quiche Lorraine (Serves 6)

Ingredients:

• Pastry: 400g – 78.4p
• Bacon: 200g – £1.89
• Eggs: 5 – £1.13
• Milk: 100ml – 7.9p
• Cream: 200ml – 56p
• Cheese: 200g – £1.02

Total: £5.46
2 x luxury quiche lorraine: £4.38
Saving: -£1.08 (25%)
Main Course Index

Shepherd’s Pie (Serves 4)

Ingredients:

• Minced beef: 250g – £1.69
• Onion: ½ – 9p
• Garlic: 3 cloves – 9p
• Carrots: 2 – 16p
• Tomato puree: 1 tbsp – 15p
• Stock: 1 cube – 10.3p
• Worcestershire sauce: dash – 2.8p
• Potatoes: 3 large – 54p
• Butter: 25g – 8.4p
• Grated cheese: 25g – 17.7

Total: £3.11
2 x luxury shepherd’s pie ready meal: £7.96
Saving: £4.85 (61%)
Main Course Index

Spaghetti Carbonara (Serves 4)

Ingredients:

• Smoked pancetta: 75g – 72.5p
• Mushrooms: 100g – 15.5p
• Double cream: 150ml – 84p
• Parmesan: 50g – 54.5p
• Spaghetti: 100g – 12.8p

Total: £2.39
2 x luxury spaghetti carbonara ready meal (450g): £2.89
Saving: 50p (17%)
Main Course Index

Steak and Ale Pie (Serves 4)

Ingredients:

• Stewing steak: 500g – £3.98
• Onion: 18p
• Garlic: 3 cloves – 9p
• Carrots: 2 – 16p
• Mushrooms: 150g – 46p
• Ale: 400ml – £1.17
• Stock: 2 cubes – 20.6p
• Pastry: 300g – 58p

Total: £6.82
2 x luxury steak and ale pie ready meal: £4.40
Saving: -£2.42 (55%)
Main Course Index

Toad in the Hole (Serves 4)

Ingredients:

• Sausages: 6 – £1.41
• Yorkshire pudding mix: 1 portion: £1.52

Total: £2.93
2 x luxury Toad in the hole ready meal: £4.49
Saving: £1.56 (35%)
Main Course Index

Vegetable Tart (Serves 4)

Ingredients:

• Pastry: 400g – 78.4p
• Tomato passata: ½ carton – 22p
• Courgette: 1 – 34p
• Peppers: 2 – 92p
• Red onion: 1 – 21p
• Garlic: 3 cloves – 9p
• Dried mixed herbs: pinch – 7.8p

Total: £2.64
Luxury vegetable tart: £2.69
Saving: 5p (2%)
Main Course Index

Lasagne (Serves 6)

Ingredients:

• Minced beef: 500g- £2.89
• Ragu sauce:1 portion (above) – 98.6p
• White sauce: 1 portion (above) – 70.2p
• Lasagne sheets: 100g – 24.4p
• Mozzarella:79p
• Grated cheese: 50g – 25.4p

Total: £5.87
3 x luxury lasagne ready meal: £11.25
Saving: £5.38 (48%)
Main Course Index

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2. Money Saving on Puds and Cakes
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Key Findings:

It is clear from the results that retailers have a very healthy profit margin on puddings and cakes.  They are all cheaper to make yourself.  The three biggest savings are fruit crumble – 55%, sticky toffee pudding – 50% and sultana scones – 65%.

Apple Pie (Four Large Portions)

Ingredients:

• Bramley apples: 500g – 72.5
• Pastry: 500g – 98p
• Caster sugar: 100g – 9.1p
• Lemon: ½ – 15p
• Cinnamon: pinch: 3.8p

Total: £1.98
Luxury apple pie (750g): £2.98
Saving: £1 (34%)
Puds and Cakes Index

Bakewell Tart (Serves 6)

Ingredients:

• Sugar: 200g – 15.8p
• Ground almonds – 140g – 81.9p
• Butter:185g – 62.1p
• Eggs: 3 – 90.6p
• Flour: 125g – 5.3p
• Almond essence: 3 drops – 23p
• Raspberry jam: ½ jar – 30.4p
• Flaked almonds: 20g – 12.8p

Total: £3.21
2 x Standard Bakewell Tarts: £4.36
Saving: £1.15 (26%)
Puds and Cakes Index

Carrot and Orange Cake (Serves 6)

Ingredients:

• Carrots: 150g – 11.7p
• Plain flour: 250g – 10.7
• Brown sugar: 150g – 25.5p
• Eggs: 3 – 67.8p
• Vegetable oil: 150ml – 16.5p
• Baking powder: 2 tsp – 4.3
• Cinnamon: 1 tsp – 13.6p
• Ginger: 1 tsp – 14.4
• Orange juice: 50 ml – 7.3
• orange: 1 – 27p

Frosting ingredients:

• Butter: 75g – 25.2
• Cream cheese: 75g – 22.7p
• Icing sugar: 175g – 17.2p

Total: £2.63
Luxury Carrot and Orange Cake: £3.38
Saving: 75p (22%)
Puds and Cakes Index

Cherry Cheesecake (Serves 6)

Ingredients:

• Plain biscuits: 100g – 7.7p
• Golden syrup: 1 dsp – 6.5p
• Butter: 25g – 8.5p
• Cream cheese: 200g – 1.16
• Double cream: 300ml – 84p
• Caster sugar: 75g – 6.9p
• Black cherry topping: 1 tin – 95p

Total: £2.63
Luxury fruit cheesecake: £3.38
Saving: 75p (19%)
Puds and Cakes Index

Chocolate Mousse (Serves 4)

Ingredients:

• Eggs: 4 – 90.4p
• Quality dark chocolate: 220g – £1.21
• Caster sugar: 40g – 3.6p

Total: £2.15
4 individual luxury chocolate mousses: £3.00
Saving: 85p (28%)
Puds and Cakes Index

Chocolate Tart (Serves 4)

Ingredients:

• Quality dark chocolate: 200g – £1.10
• Eggs: 2 – 45.2p
• Cream: 175ml – 49p
• Milk: 75ml – 5p
• Pastry: 300g – 58.8p

Total: £2.68
Luxury chocolate tart : £2.99
Saving: 31p (10%)
Puds and Cakes Index

Fruit Crumble (4 Large Portions)

Ingredients:

• Frozen mixed fruit: 500g – £1.29
• Flour: 225g – 9.6p
• Butter: 75g – 25.2p
• Brown sugar: 100g – 17p

Total: £1.80
2 x luxury fruit crumbles: £3.98
Saving: £2.18 (55%)
Puds and Cakes Index

Rice Pudding (Serves 6)

Ingredients:

• Pudding rice: 100g – 9.6p
• Milk: 450ml – 41.8p
• Cream: 450 ml – £1.26
• Caster sugar: 75g – 6.9p
• Butter: 25g – 8.5p

Total: £1.92
1.5 x luxury rice pudding : £3.27
Saving: £1.35 (41%)
Puds and Cakes Index

Sherry Trifle (Serves 6-8)

Ingredients:

• Trifle sponges: 1 packet – 54p
• Raspberry jam: 200g – 30.4p
• Sherry: 150ml – 66.5p
• Frozen raspberries: 200g – £1.13
• Custard (made up from powder): 1 pint – 57.3p
• Double cream: 400ml – £1.12
• Flaked almonds: 25g – 16p

Total: £4.49
2 x standard raspberry trifle: £2.99
Saving: £1.50 (33%)
Puds and Cakes Index

Shortbread (Makes 12)

Ingredients:

• Butter: 110g – 36.9p
• Caster sugar: 50g – 4.6p
• Flour: 175g – 7.5p

Total: 49p
Shortbread biscuits (250g): 60p
Saving: 11p (18%)
Puds and Cakes Index

Sticky Toffee Pudding (Serves 4)

Ingredients:

• Flour: 225g – 9.7p
• Butter: 85g – 28.5p
• Brown sugar: 175g – 29.7p
• Eggs: 2 – 45.2p
• Treacle: 2 tbsp – 14p
• Golden syrup: 1 tbsp – 13p
• Bicarb of soda: 1 tsp – 1.2p
• Vanilla extract: 1 tsp – 11p

Total: £1.49
Standard sticky toffee pudding : £2.99
Saving: £1.50 (50%)
Puds and Cakes Index

Sultana Scones (Serves 4)

Ingredients:

• Flour: 225g – 9.7p
• Butter: 50g – 16.8p
• Sugar: 50g – 3.9p
• Milk: 150 ml – 11.8
• Sultanas: 50g – 7.2p

Total: 49p
Pack of 4 luxury sultana scones: £1.39
Saving: 90p (65%)
Puds and Cakes Index

Treacle Tart (Serves 6)

Ingredients:

• Golden syrup: 200g – 34p
• Eggs: 1 – 22.6p
• Breadcrumbs: 2 slices bread – 20p
• Lemon: 1 – 30p
• Pastry: 200g – 52.2p

Total: £1.59
Standard treacle tart : £2.48
Saving: 89p (36%)
Puds and Cakes Index

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2. Money Saving on Family Meals
3. Money Saving on Soups, Sauces and Sides

Key Findings:

All these soups, sauces and side dishes are cheaper if you make them yourself.  The soups are the most cost effective to make yourself and are 18% and 65% cheaper.

Caesar Salad (2 Servings)

Ingredients:

• Romaine lettuce: 1 – 78p
• Caesar dressing: 1 jar – 78p
• Croutons: 1 bag – 49p
• Parmesan flakes: 50g – 54.5p

Total: £2.59
1 luxury Caesar salad bag: £3.00
Saving: 41p (14%)
Soups, Sauces and Sides Index

Carrot and Coriander Soup (4 Servings)

Ingredients:

• Carrots: 450g – 39p
• Onion: 1 – 16p
• Vegetable stock: 2 cubes – 20.6p
• Coriander: 1 bunch – 52p

Total: £1.27
2 x carton fresh carrot and coriander soup:£3.52
Saving: £2.25 (64%)
Soups, Sauces and Sides Index

Chicken Soup (4 Servings)

Ingredients:

• Roast chicken: remains off the bone + carcass
• Potato: 1 large – 18p
• Carrots: 1 – 8p
• Onion: 1 – 18p
• Celery: 2 sticks – 26p
• Stock: 1 cube – 10.3p
• Double cream: 150ml – 56p

Total: £1.36
2 x carton fresh cream of chicken soup: £3.94
Saving: £2.58 (65%)
Soups, Sauces and Sides Index

Pea and Ham Soup (4 Servings)

Ingredients:

• Cooked ham: 300g – £1.24
• Stock: 1 cube – 10.3p
• Peas: 300g – 45.6p
• Spring onions: 4/5 – 64p
• Garlic: 3 cloves – 9p
• Fresh mint – 39.5p

Total: £2.92
2 x carton fresh pea and ham soup: £3.56
Saving: 64p (18%)
Soups, Sauces and Sides Index

Potato Wedges (4 Large Servings)

Ingredients:

• Cooked ham: 300g – £1.24
• Stock: 1 cube – 10.3p
• Peas: 300g – 45.6p
• Spring onions: 4/5 – 64p
• Garlic: 3 cloves – 9p
• Fresh mint – 39.5p

Total: £1.56
1 bag frozen Luxury potato wedges (1kg): £1.68
Saving: 12p (7%)
Soups, Sauces and Sides Index

Ragu Sauce (Makes 400g)

Ingredients:

• Tinned tomatoes: 1 tin – 52p
• Tomato puree: 1 tin: 17p
• Onion:1/2 –10p
• Garlic: 3 cloves – 9p
• Mixed dried herbs: pinch – 7.8p
• Worcestershire sauce: dash – 2.8p

Total: 99p
1 x jar Ragu sauce: £1.33
Saving: 34p (26%)
Soups, Sauces and Sides Index

Sweet and Sour Sauce (Makes 300g)

Ingredients:

• Onion: 1 – 21p
• Garlic: 2 cloves – 6p
• Tomato ketchup: 4 tbsp – 10p
• White vinegar: 4 tbsp – 14.8p
• Tinned pineapple: 50g – 21.1p
• Sugar: 50g – 3.9p

Total: 77p
1 jar sweet and sour sauce (300ml): 82p
Saving: 5p (6%)
Soups, Sauces and Sides Index

Thousand Island Dressing (Makes 250ml)

Ingredients:

• Mayonnaise: 100g – 18.6p
• Tomato ketchup: 100g – 10p
• Worcestershire sauce: splash – 2p

Total: 31p
1 jar thousand island dressing (250ml): 98p
Saving: 67p (68%)
Soups, Sauces and Sides Index

White Sauce (Makes 400g)

Ingredients:

• Butter: 50g – 16.8p
• Flour: 35g – 1.4p
• Milk: 1 pint – 45p
• Nutmeg: 1/3 whole nutmeg – 7p

Total: 70.2p
1 jar white sauce: £1.47
Saving: 76p (52%)
Soups, Sauces and Sides Index

Yorkshire Pudding (Makes 4 Large)

Ingredients:

• Flour: 225g – 10.4p
• Eggs: 4 – 90.6p
• Milk: 1 pint – 45p
• Vegetable oil: 50ml – 6p

Total: £1.52
Luxury fresh Yorkshire puddings (6 small): £1.99
Saving: 47p (24%)
Soups, Sauces and Sides Index

Related posts:

1. Food Money Saving Study
2. Money Saving on Family Meals
3. Money Saving on Kids and Party Food

Key Findings:

Only the meat products are more expensive if you make them yourself.  This is simply because the producers will use lower grade meat and bulk out the products with cheap ingredients such as breadcrumbs.  This is why making your own sausage rolls is 142% more than buying them ready made from the shop.  You would not eat one of these sausage rolls if you know what actually went into them though and you certainly wouldn’t give one to your kids.

All the other party food is between 27% and 58% cheaper.

100% Beef Burgers (4 Large)

Ingredients:

• Minced beef: 500g – £2.89
• Onions: 1 – 18p
• Egg: 1 – 22.6p
• Parsley / sage: pinch: 7.8p

Total: £3.37
4 x Premium beef (90%) burgers: £3.29
Saving: -8p (2%)
Party Food Index

80% Sausage Rolls (6 Large)

Ingredients:

• Sausage meat: (taken from 6 quality sausages) – £2.59
• Pastry: 400g – 78.4p
• Egg to glaze: 1 – 22.6p

Total: £3.60
18% pork Sausage rolls: £1.49
Saving: -£2.11 (142%)
Party Food Index

Chocolate Birthday Cake

Ingredients:

• Egg to glaze: 1 – 22.6p
• Flour: 180g – 7.7p
• Cocoa: 40g – 20p
• Butter: 220g – 80p
• Baking powder: 10g – 4p
• Caster sugar: 220g – 20.5p
• Eggs: 4 – 90.4p
• Vanilla essence: 1 tsp – 11p

Filling and topping ingredients:

• Sugar: 150g – 11.8p
• Butter: 80g – 26.8p
• Cooking chocolate: 220g – £1.21
• Evaporated milk: 150g – 36p
• Vanilla extract: 1 tsp – 11p

Total: £4.41
Large Chocolate Happy Birthday Cake: £10.50
Saving: £6.09 (58%)
Party Food Index

Chocolate Crispy Cakes (Makes 12)

Ingredients:

• Vanilla extract: 1 tsp – 11p
• Quality chocolate: 100g – 55p
• Butter: 50g – 16.8p
• Golden syrup: 3 tbsp – 22p
• Rice crispies: 80g – 16p

Total: £1.09
Chocolate Crispy Cakes: £2.49
Saving: £1.40 (56%)
Party Food Index

Pizza (Makes 2 Family Sized Pizzas)

Pizza dough ingredients:

• Flour: 250g – 11.6p
• Yeast: 1 sachet – 10p
• Sugar: 15 g – 1.2p
• Salt: 7.5g – 0.2p
• Milk powder: 10g – 4.1p
• Egg: 1- 22.6p

Pizza: tomato sauce ingredients:

• Pizza topping (1 jar): 71p

Pizza: toppings ingredients:

• Pepperoni: 1.24
• Mozzarella: 79p
• Cheddar: 50g – 25.4p
• Mixed dried herbs: pinch – 5.2p

Total: £3.54
2 x hand-made luxury margarita pizzas: £6.98
Saving: £3.44 (49%)
Party Food Index

Victoria Sponge (Serves 4)

Ingredients:

• Butter: 110g – 36.9p
• Caster sugar: 110g – 8.7p
• Flour: 110g – 4.7p
• Eggs: 2 – 45.2p
• Jam: 50g – 7.5p
• Double cream: 150ml – 42p

Total: £1.45
Fresh cream Victoria sponge (280g): £1.99
Saving: 54p (27%)
Party Food Index

Related posts:

1. Money Saving on Puds and Cakes
2. Money Saving on Christmas Food
3. Food Money Saving Study

Key Findings:

Christmas cakes and mince pies are much cheaper if you make them yourself, so save yourself a few pounds next Christmas and make them yourself.  It goes without saying that you control what ends up in your pies, and cakes, and the end result will always taste much better, not to mention impressing your family!

Christmas Cake (makes a large 20cm cake)

Ingredients:

• Flour: 225g – 9.7p
• Butter: 225g – 75.6p
• Brown sugar: 225g – 38.2p
• Eggs: 4 – 92p
• Currants: 450g – 67.5p
• Sultanas: 175g – 25.2p
• Raisins: 175g – 27.6p
• Almonds: 50g – 54p
• Glace cherries: 50g – 99p
• Candied peel: 50g – 49.7p
• Treacle: 1 tbsp – 7p
• Brandy: 3 tbsps – 44.6p
• Mixed spice: pinch – 17p
• Lemon: 1 – 30p
• Orange: 1 – 27p

Marzipan:

• 1 block 500g – £1.42

Royal icing:

• Eggs: 4 – 90.4p
• Icing sugar: 500g – 49p

Total: £9.45
Round Fully Iced Christmas Cake 907g: £12.98
Saving: £3.53 (27%)
Christmas Food Index

Mince Pies (makes 12)

Ingredients:

• Pastry: 300g – 58.8p
• Mincemeat filling: ¾ jar – 59.2p

Total: £1.18
Mince Pies 2 Packs of Six: £2.98
Saving: £1.80 (60%)
Christmas Food Index

Related posts:

1. Money Saving on Kids and Party Food
2. Money Saving on Puds and Cakes
3. Money Saving on Soups, Sauces and Sides