The holidays are a wonderful time of year, especially with the changing leaves; this season feels like no other. But one thing we all stress about this time of year is the spending.
This is especially the case when it comes to the holiday dinners such as the Thanksgiving feast. The turkey alone can strain your wallet. That’s why we found the top tips to save on this festive dinner.
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, flavorful 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
People Often Ask Me How They Can Save Money On Meat? Check out our Hacks To Find Out!
Planning a Thanksgiving celebration and 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.
1. Serve What Your Family Likes
You don’t need to serve an entire King’s table holiday feast, with every thing you can imagine on it. There are certain foods on the holiday tables 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 Thanksgiving table enjoys and that’s what we make. I don’t try new things because they look forward to the old favorites each year for our turkey day feast.
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 casserole was nearly untouched last year, it might be the perfect time to remove it from the Thanksgiving menu.
Always remember: Thanksgiving is all about giving thanks, spending good times with our families, and good, simple home cooked comfort food. You don’t need to try out new gourmet Thanksgiving dinner recipes to please your family members 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?
2. Serve Seasonal Food
Serving food made from ingredients that are in season is cheaper and fresher.
Who wouldn’t enjoy their golden brown turkey with fresh mashed potato goodness or butternut squash? Yum!
Plus, if you like to garden, you can save even more by growing the ingredients in your own backyard!
Seasonal Food To Stock Up On
- Sweet potatoes
- Brussels sprouts
- Red cabbage
- Celery root
3. Plan Ahead For Left Overs
Don’t let the leftovers go to waste either. Re-purpose the loads of leftovers in the next few days.
Create a plan ahead of time. Think about what recipes you can create for your holiday meal 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
4. 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 or Thanksgiving appetizers to contribute. You might find a new favorite recipe when your guests bring a side dish, an appetizer, a dessert, a main dish, or a drink.
Coordinate with everyone to make sure you don’t have 12 desserts and a turkey 🙂
5. 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!
You Might Also Like These: Apps To Save Money On Shopping
6. Create Inexpensive Sides
To have your frugal Thanksgiving dinner, serving vegetables and casseroles is a must.
These Thanksgiving side dishes are not only inexpensive, but they are also filling, too!
A great way to save money is when you buy your ingredients. Frozen goods like corn, green beans, mixed vegetables, and fruits are less expensive compared with fresh ones. Always check the frozen aisle for the cost per unit before you leave the store or local market.
7. 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 holiday dinner plates and bowls. These can help in curbing your guest’s tendency to overindulge.
8. 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 Thanksgiving meal or dish if no one really likes it.
Non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner ideas
- Apple pie
- Sausage stuffing
- Pumpkin cake
- Pork roast
Instead, serve food that you are 101% sure that your family and friends will like. To celebrate the holiday season of giving, ask everyone to bring their favorite dish!
Enjoy your best Thanksgiving dinner yet!
What tips do you have a to make a more frugal yet festive holiday?
Leave a Comment