Do you want to enjoy Christmas without that lost feeling of overspending? Then get into planning mode, put on your creative cap, and open that excel spreadsheet. According to Jermaine Watson, known to many as @scottycus, it can be done. His “What a Grand Can Do” TikTok series highlighted budget-smart restaurant meals, and he’s now flipped the conversation to Christmas dinner.

“First things first: make a list of what you will need for your Christmas dinner or shindig. Be sure to budget for everything that you need for all the dishes. Keep it simple. Do a few dishes really well, and no one will notice that you have cut the frills,” he says. For Christmas dinner, stick to four or five dishes — the must-have Best Dressed Chicken Roaster, here with a stuffing made with day-old bread; sautéed Hamilton’s Smokehouse Sausages with peppers and a little hint of sugar, a reasonably affordable replacement for a ham; a root vegetable casserole with an element of surprise, this menu features a sweet potato and plantain casserole, and a bright, colourful salad that takes its cues from the season. Check these tips from Watson on having a Christmas dinner that’s big on joy and short on dollars and cents.

Waste not, want not

Do an inventory of what you already have in your fridge, freezer and pantry. Then, make a thorough list of what you really need, and always consider substitutions.

Shop around

Don’t wait till the last minute to shop for your ingredients. In addition to taking what you get at whatever price, you will have to face long lines of other last-minute shoppers. However, if you give yourself enough time, you can compare prices at different supermarkets before parting with your hard-earned cash.

Share the cost

Potluck and Bring Your Own Bottle are trending this year. With everyone feeling the pinch, sharing the elements of Christmas dinner with family and friends is perfectly acceptable. For dishes, planning is key to making these joint ventures work. You don’t want everyone bringing salads or meat dishes. Coordinate so you have a nice mix of hors d’oeuvres and main courses that complement each other. Do the same for the bar, with you providing sorrel and chasers while divvying up the responsibilities for wine and spirits.

Plan for meals from leftovers

There are a million ways to make your leftovers just as delicious as the originals. Make sure to store properly in airtight containers. For a remix, add pasta to the chicken or sausages; use the chicken carcass to make broth base for soups. Use leftover fruit for smoothies and add a protein like a boiled egg to a salad for a power snack.