Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to celebrate with family and friends, but it can also be expensive if you’re not careful. Fortunately, there are several strategies you can use to save money, without sacrificing the joy and meaning of the holiday. Here’s a few tips to help you cut costs this season.
Set a Budget: Establish a budget for your Thanksgiving expenses including food, travel, decorations and any other related costs.
Plan the Menu Wisely: Create a detailed menu in advance. Look for food that is in season, or on sale, especially your bigger items like turkey, ham, etc. Consider more affordable side dishes, and be sure to make a shopping list to ensure you have all the ingredients you need and don’t overspend by buying something you don’t need. Furthermore, don’t be afraid to choose generic or store brands for certain items. Often times they are more affordable! Looking for budget friendly recipes? Check out these 25 recipes that are sure to fill your table!
Use Coupons and Apps: Many grocery stores now have apps that allow you to print or scan coupons. You also can utilize cashback apps to earn money back on your Thanksgiving purchases.
Consider a Potluck Dinner: Hosting the Thanksgiving meal? Consider having your guests each bring one dish to share. This not only reduces the workload but also spreads the cost among attendees and also ensures your guests have a meal they enjoy, too.
Compare Frozen vs. Fresh: Don’t be afraid to look down the frozen isle for your ingredients and be sure to compare both options.
Reuse and Repurpose: Consider reusing decorations from previous years and repurpose items for new uses, rather than buying new decorations. Or consider creating your own! Simple things like fake flowers, leaves or even making your veggie tray to look like a turkey, is a fun way to ‘decorate’ on a budget.
Borrow or Share Equipment: If you’re looking for something specialized to use in the kitchen, see if you can borrow with friends or family, instead of buying them. If you opt to buy new dishes or kitchen equipment, don’t be afraid to look at secondhand stores for a cheaper option, before buying new.
The best way to truly celebrate Thanksgiving, is to remember that it’s not about how much money you spend, or about having an abundance of homemade food, but instead it’s about the importance of gratitude. Thanksgiving reminds us to pause our busy lives and spend quality time with our loved ones.
Looking for a few other ways to celebrate Thanksgiving meaningfully?
Reflect on Gratitude.
Give Back: Consider volunteering at a local shelter, food bank or any type of non-profit.
Create Traditions.
From our family to yours, we wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!
