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8 Ways To Save Money On Your Thanksgiving Meal!

What comes to your mind when you think of Thanksgiving? 
Pumpkin pie, sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce, dressing/stuffing, gravy, and of course, turkey!

For me, my kids come to mind.  They are grown and on their own, but, they each have very definite favorite foods they want me to prepare.   It’s funny that each likes a different pie, too!  We have 4 kids, 1 girl and 3 boys.  Our oldest is our daughter and she likes Pecan pie, the next 2 sons like Chocolate pie – my Mom’s recipe, and the youngest son likes Lemon Pie – Hubby’s Mom’s recipe!

In our house lunch is served pretty close to noon so that, by 2 we are done eating and can watch the Cowboy game and at halftime we eat pie!  Hubby and I eat Keto so we make sugar-free pies and our daughter makes sugar-filled pies for the boys and her

Planning a Thanksgiving dinner takes time and coordination.  It’s a time when families come together from near and far and enjoy each other.  It’s a day to eat all your family’s favorites, but, it comes with a price, especially if you host Thanksgiving dinner at your house.

But, did you know that you can spend less than you think for your Thanksgiving dinner?

If you are hosting this year’s Thanksgiving dinner, you don’t need to agonize over the cost!  To help keep you from having a panic attack before the turkey’s in the oven, here are 8 ways to save money when hosting a Thanksgiving dinner.

Serve What Your Family Likes

You don’t need to serve an entire King’s table feast, with every thing you can imagine on it.  There are certain foods on the table that many people may skip over or eat just to be polite.

I remember one year my daughter wanted to make fish… the boys almost revolted!  lol She was disappointed, but, they did let her make a few new things.  But, we know what everyone at the table enjoys and that’s what we make.  I don’t try new things because they look forward to the old favorites each year.

If no one likes your new creamed artichokes recipe (I just made that up…), why spend money and time away from the family preparing it?

If the green bean salad was nearly untouched last year, it might be the perfect time to remove it from the menu.

Always remember:  Thanksgiving is all about giving thanks, spending time with our families, and good, simple home cooked comfort food.  You don’t need try out new gourmet recipes to please your family and guests.  If they love store-bought gravy, why bother making a fancier version, which is not only expensive, it takes a lot of time away from spending time with your family and them getting to spend time with you?

Serve Seasonal Food

Serving food made from ingredients that are in season is cheaper and fresher.

Who wouldn’t enjoy their turkey with fresh mashed potatoes or butternut squash?  Yum!

Plus, if you like to garden, you can save even more by growing the ingredients in your own backyard!

Check Out This Article: How To Grow An Herb Garden! Growing Fresh Herbs For Your Family Is Simple & Healthy!

Plan Ahead For Left Overs

Don’t let the leftovers go to waste either.  Re-purpose them in the next few days.

Create a plan ahead of time.  Think about what recipes you can create that you and your family can enjoy for the whole week.  Such as:

• turkey croquettes
• turkey noodle soup 
• turkey broccoli alfredo
• turkey tacos with cranberry salsa
• creamy turkey soup

Ask For Help

Just because you’re the host it doesn’t mean you have to do it all. 

Mix it up!  Have your guests bring a dish to contribute.  You might find a new favorite recipe when your guests bring a side dish, an appetizer, a dessert, or a drink.

Coordinate with everyone to make sure you don’t have 12 desserts and a turkey 🙂

Make The Most Of Apps And Coupons

When you go shopping for the ingredients, always use money saving apps such as Ibotta.

Always make sure you have your store’s rewards card when grocery shopping.   Also choose to shop at places that give you the best deals and offer extra savings.  The Target RED Card gives up to 5% savings on all purchases!

Don’t forget to stay alert for deals and FREEbies from us before you head out to shop!

Check Out This Article: 16 Best Ways To Save Money On Groceries!

Create Inexpensive Sides

To have your frugal Thanksgiving dinner, serving vegetables and casseroles is a must.

These sides are not only inexpensive, but they are also filling, too!

When you buy your ingredients, always check the frozen aisle for the cost per unit before you leave the store.  Frozen goods like corn, green beans, mixed vegetables, and fruits are less expensive compared with the fresh ones.

Use Smaller Plates And Bowls

On Thanksgiving, the turkey is not the only thing that gets stuffed:  People do too!

Most of the time people’s eyes are much bigger than their stomach (remember when your Mom told you that?).  What happens is you end up with uneaten food because people couldn’t eat as much as they thought (or wanted to).

This can lead to a lot of wasted food.

To avoid this, choose small dinner plates and bowls.  These can help in curbing your guest’s tendency to overindulge.

Lighten Up On The Beverages

Stop playing bartender!  You don’t need to open up a whole bar and stock up with expensive drinks.

You only need a few bottles of wine and one or two signature drinks that the guests can choose from.

Make your signature drinks (like sangria or punch) in bulk.  Guests can serve themselves from the pitcher.  A mixed drink or fancy cocktail can make your guests feel more special.

A Thanksgiving dinner does not need to be expensive.  Don’t force yourself to serve an expensive or traditional dish if no one really likes it.

Instead, serve food that you are 101% sure that your family and friends will like.  To celebrate the season of giving, ask everyone to bring their favorite dish!

Enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner!

What tips do you have a to make a more frugal yet festive holiday?