The turkey should be big, not your shopping receipt! Check out these 8 tips to help you save money on Thanksgiving dinner.
The turkey, your girdle, that pile of mashed potatoes. Those are the most important things for Thanksgiving, not the grocery store receipt. The holidays are stressful enough without worrying about how to serve dinner on a budget.
Whether you’re entertaining your parents or going to their house, here are some ways to save money on Thanksgiving dinner.
- Make your own spices: Spices are really expensive, and are you really going to use “pumpkin pie spice” all year long? Doubt it. Google a recipe for homemade poultry seasoning and use ingredients you probably already have in your pantry to save some money. 2.
- no appetizers:You and your guests are an hour or two away from being full-no snacks and everyone can hang out before dinner. You can easily save $20-$50 just by offering some basic drinks.
- cook from scratch:Obviously bottled gravy, potato mix and pre-made pies are more convenient, but they also cost more. Plan ahead to spend more time in the kitchen making stuffing and dinner rolls so you can cut your expenses in half.
- Host a potluck:No one says you have to cover all the overhead or work. Send out email invitations to your guests and ask them to bring a bottle of wine, a dish or dessert to pass around and split the cost and cooking.
- limit choices:While variety is the spice of life, too many choices can overwhelm your wallet and palette. If you always serve turkey, there’s no need to offer ham or beef. Choose mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes and limit the pie to two different kinds.
- Get a free turkey:Many grocery stores offer a free turkey promotion if you spend a certain amount of money or buy a specific product. Check out the weekly ads or ask your favorite store manager for details.
- Use a dining calculator:You’re expecting 10 guests, so should you multiply your recipe by 5?8 ?10 ? One quick way to overspend is to make too much food. Use this Thanksgiving calculator to figure out how much of each ingredient you really need. Trust me, you’ll still have leftovers!
- volunteer:Instead of entertaining family and friends for dinner, why not entertain others alongside them? Local shelters, home-delivered meals, McDonald’s Houses, and churches are always in need of volunteers during the holidays. Not only will you save money on decorations, food, travel, and cleaning, you’ll be giving back to the community and making memories with the people you love.
How can you spend less money on Thanksgiving?
