With Christmas fast approaching it is important to understand your budget. It is a time of year that is often witness to people placing themselves in greater financial risk and burden for the sake of putting a good Christmas dinner on the table for family and friends. If you are on a strict budget all year round, do not fret, as there are ways in which you can produce the perfect Christmas dinner without having to put yourself in further debt, or take away from the money you have available.

The first thing to consider is the turkey. At first thought you think of a large, show-stopping turkey in your mind don’t you? But, if we’re completely honest you don’t always need that. Of course, overindulge in certain areas of Christmas dinner as that is perfectly acceptable, but with the turkey it pays to be sensible and frugal when it comes to the turkey. Work out how many people will be eating the turkey and go from there. It really doesn’t matter if you buy a turkey that is cheaper or from a ‘lower class’ brand, as you can boost the flavour with other aspects of the meal. Just make sure you have enough leftover to make sandwiches on Boxing Day!

Talking of flavour, the best way to prepare your gravy is to make your own. Use the juices from the turkey being roasted, add little bits of other juiciness and flavour and you can deliver a knockout punch full of taste. This can be achieved not only with the gravy, but also with stuffing too.

When it comes to your vegetables and staples around Christmas don’t be afraid to look for the cheap cuts, the veggies that are cheaper because they are out of shape, and the discounts. Bulk buy if it is possible (this is a fantastic way to get enough alcohol and soft drinks in for all the family without breaking the bank!).

Away from the dinner and you can add a little bit of sparkle to the dinner table with homemade decorations and Christmas crackers. Maybe include all the family in creating the jokes and games to be played around the table, helping to make the day extra special. However you choose to create the perfect Christmas dinner, it is possible as long as you stick to your budget and make plans in advance.

If you are sure that you can repay a short-term debt in the run up to Christmas, using your next payday to do so, speak to trusted friends and family members, or utilise the services of a responsible lender in the form of a payday loan service. In recent years a greater transparency has entered the industry, ensuring that consumers are looked after in a much better way than with previous incarnations of the service. A responsible lender will only offer a loan to a person who can demonstrate they have the means to pay back the loan within an agreed timeframe. Help such as this could provide you with the means to add the little flourishes and finishing touches to a spectacular Christmas dinner that has been prepared without stretching the budget too far.