WHEN it comes to the Christmas food shop, households are looking for ways to save at the checkout as prices soar.

Keeping the festive food bill to a minimum is a priority for millions as the cost of living continues to bite.

Big-brand goodies can be expensive, but supermarket own-brands can often look and taste just like the same thing – and for a fraction of the cost.

The Sun compared seven supermarkets and seven own-brand Christmas dinner essentials – including turkey, mince pies and Yorkshire Puddings.

We also put together a basket of branded items to find how much shoppers could save by switching to own-brands.

Tesco came out as the cheapest, offering a full Christmas dinner for £20.70.

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While a branded basket of items came to between £41.65 and £70.45 – a difference of between £20.95 and £49.75.

We couldn't find any branded turkeys or Brussels sprouts, so we included the most expensive supermarket versions of these items in this basket.

Lidl has not been included in the comparison because it didn't have all the item information available online.

Of course, prices vary from day to day and could be different in store.

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Our online prices are correct as of today.

Some supermarkets sell different weights and sizes of the same item, but we've compared them as close as possible.

The items are a mixture of fresh and frozen items – here's how they compare.

Tesco

• Small frozen turkey (approx 2.6-3.8kg) – £12
• Farmhouse Mixed Vegetables (1kg) – £1.40
• Finest pigs in blankets (10) – £3
• 2 Yorkshire Puddings (12) – £1.30
• Roast potatoes (800g) – 71p
• Frozen Brussels sprouts (1kg) – £1.30
• Mince pies (six) – 99p

Total = £20.70

Aldi

• Aldi frozen turkey (2.8-4kg) – £13.49
• Four Seasons vegetable medley (1kg) – £1.05
• Aldi specially selected chorizo pigs in blankets (10) – £2.29
• Aldi everyday essentials Yorkshire Puddings (15) – 50p 
• Champion Crispy & Fluffy Roast Potatoes (1kg) – 95p
• Aldi frozen Brussels sprouts (1kg) – £1.09
• Specially Selected all butter classic mince pies (six) – £1.75

Total = £21.12

Asda

• Basted Small British Turkey, frozen (approx. 2.6kg) – £13.50
• Just Essentials mixed vegetables (1kg) – 72p
• Extra Special pigs in blankets (10) – £3.15
• Yorkshire Puddings (12) – £1
• Crispy Roast Potatoes (800g) – 88p
• Frozen for freshness Brussels sprouts (1kg) – £1.25
• The Bakery at Asda Mince Pies (six) – £1.25

Total = £21.75

Sainsbury's

• Small frozen turkey (2.6kg-3.8kg) – £16
• Classic Vegetable Mix (1kg), 13p per 100g – £1.25
• Taste The Difference Pigs in Blankets (10) – £3.50
• Yorkshire Puddings (12) – £1.40
• Frozen roast potatoes (900g) – £1.30
• Sainsbury's frozen sprouts (500g) – 75p
• Mince pies (six) – £1.25

Total = Total = £25.45

Morrisons

• Frozen turkey (serves 4-8, 2.6-3.8 kg) – £16.99
• Country Mix (1kg) – £1.55
• Morrisons The Best Pigs in Blankets (10) – £3
• Yorkshire Puddings – £1.39
• Frozen roast potatoes (1kg) – 99p
• Frozen Brussels sprouts (1kg) – £1.19
• Mince Pies (six) – £1.25

Total = £26.36

Iceland

• Iceland Luxury The Perfect Turkey Crown (serves 8-10, 2.2kg) – £20
• Country Mix (800g)- £1.50
• Iceland luxury 12 perfect pigs in blankets (12) – £3.25
• Yorkshire Puddings – £1.25
• Frozen roast potatoes (1kg) – £2
• Frozen Brussels sprouts (900g) – £1
• Mince Pies (six) – £1.20

Total = £30.20

Marks and Spencer

• Frozen turkey crown (1.8kg-3.6kg) – £28.80-£57.60
• British steamed vegetables frozen (4x160g) – £2.15
• Our Best Ever Pigs in Blankets (10) – £5.25
• Yorkshire Puddings Frozen (12) – £1.60
• M&S frozen roast potatoes (800g) – £2.80
• M&S frozen Brussels sprouts (500g) – £2
• All Butter Mince Pies (six) – £2

Total = Between £44.69 or £73.49 depending on the size of the turkey)

Basket of branded items

• Birds Eye country mix vegetables (640g) – £2.25
• Jolly Hog pigs in blankets (10) – £3.75
• Aunt Bessies Glorious Golden Yorkshire Puddings (12) – £1
• McCain Roasts (700g) – £2
• Mr Kipling mince pies (six) – £1.85
• M&S Frozen turkey crown (1.8kg-3.6kg) – £28.80-£57.60
• M&S frozen Brussels sprouts (500g) – £2

Total = Between £41.65 and £70.75 depending on the size of the turkey

It's important to remember that this is a comparison of one basket of items, and your shop may vary in price depending on the items you choose to buy.

You could also have a look to see what deals other retailers are offering.

Heron Foods, B&M's lesser-known budget supermarket is selling a £15 Christmas dinner deal which it says will feed a family of four.

While Poundland is selling Christmas dinner for £5 per head.

Other ways you can save money in the supermarket

Know when to shop

Heading to the shops when products are marked down and bright yellow discount stickers are applied can save you serious dough.

But each branch of a supermarket will have its biggest discounts at slightly different times of day.

We put together a handy guide to what time supermarkets including Aldi, Asda, Tesco and Lidl reduce their prices.

Make a list

One of the most common mistakes shoppers make is going out underprepared.

Making a list will help to stay focused on getting the items that you really need, rather than being drawn into impulse purchases.

Swap to own brand

Ditching items with labels like "finest" in favour of "own" or "value" can be worthwhile.

The Sun regularly tests supermarket own-brand products to see if they can beat the big brands.

Here we carried out a Battle of the Brands to tell you exactly how much you could save on 15 products.

Don't ignore granny groceries

Modern items such as liquid soap, shower gel and washing capsules mean you’re paying more for added water.

Switch back to what your gran would have bought, such as solid soap bars and washing powder.

Ariel washing capsules for your laundry can cost up to £11.80 per kg compared to Ariel washing powder at only £3.08 per kg.

Making the switch could slash the average grocery bill by £350 per year.

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Shop wonky

Strange-shaped fruit and vegetables taste the same but cost less.

For example, Lidl’s £1.50 Waste Not Scheme boxes contain a whopping 5kg of fruit and vegetables that may be slightly damaged or discoloured but is still perfectly good to eat.

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