Thanksgiving on a Budget
Thanksgiving dinner on a budget. November is here, and now it's only a few weeks away from Thanksgiving. There is never enough time to start planning a big dinner, especially when it's your first time hosting it for the family. With all of the worry and tight budgeting that goes on year round for some of us, this holiday can be extremely stressful. Here are a few tips to help keep your Thanksgiving dinner on a budget.
Step one- Establish a guest list. You need to know how many people to plan for in order to buy the appropriate amount of food.
Step two- Decide on your personal budget, and ask a few people to bring an item if it is a large group. Example, if you're having multiple families coming such as children with grand kids, ask each family to bring something simple like rolls, canned cranberry, drinks, or a pie.
Step three- Plan ahead before you go to the store! Start a list of your families favorites. Don't include things that were not a big hit last year. If no one touched the marshmallow yams, then why do it again this year? Think of a few different varieties, that way you can buy a lower quantity and it will appear to have more food with smaller portions. After you have the list of items you will need, collect local store ads and compare prices. Don't forget to use coupons, they are everywhere, in the mail, at the store and on-line. Also if you have a dollar or thrift store in your neighborhood you may want to check there first. Although don't be fooled by some items, $1.00 may seem like a great deal but if it's only $.88 at your next stop your defeating the purpose.
Step four- Stick to your budget. If you get to the check out and you've gone over, even by $5, put something back. If you picked up something that wasn't on your list, put it back. You may have 4 different vegetables on your list but realize you went over your budget, pick your two favorites and put one back.
Hopefully following these few steps can reduce the amount it will cost to host your big dinner. Just try to remember as you are preparing this big feast how lucky you and your family are to have the opportunity to shop for food and sit around a table together.
Other helpful tips:
Use frozen pie's for dessert, often times they cost less and you can buy them ahead of time. Don't forget to look for coupons.
Compare frozen, fresh and canned vegetables.
If it is big family consider making a turkey and ham, then cut back on the side dishes.
Avoid appetizers or limit the amount.
Try doing a 'pot luck' style dinner if multiple families are attending.
Bake your own frozen rolls vs. buying expensive bakery items.
If you don't make your own gravy from the turkey drippings, consider finding a recipe using a stock broth instead of the package gravy. It will usually cost less and make more.
Instead of whip cream topping for the pie, use ice cream. They cost about the same and you get plenty of ice cream for leftovers.
You don't need to buy the biggest turkey you can find, sure having leftovers is great, but wasting it a week later isn't.
