Thanksgiving: 9 Ways to Feast on a Budget

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to enjoy family and friends, but a traditional dinner can be expensive if you’re not careful.  Fortunately, it is possible to enjoy a good feast even if your budget is tight.  Here are nine tips on how eat well at Thanksgiving, without breaking the bank.

1. Create a budget.  Before you visit the grocery store to buy your holiday ingredients, put together a plan of action.  Create a menu of everything you plan to serve, and calculate how much money each ingredient will cost.  Be sure to check your pantry and cabinets for items that you already have, so you don’t spend extra money buying duplicates at the grocery store.  Next, make your shopping list.  Estimate how much you’ll spend in total, and make sure it’s within your budget.  Commit to staying within that limit. 

2.  Swap sides.  If you’re hosting a Thanksgiving dinner, ask friends and relatives who are planning to visit to bring side dishes, desserts, or beverages.  You’ll still be supplying the main courses, but by asking them to bring along some of their favorites, you’ll be providing everyone with a larger menu that has more variety.  You’ll also save money by not buying extra side dishes.

3. Use tried-and-true recipes.  A week or two before Thanksgiving is not the time to try a new, exotic dish that may or may not turn out right.  Since you’re probably planning a meal for a larger than average number of people, you’ll likely end up buying more ingredients.  If you try out a new recipe and it doesn’t turn out right, you could be wasting a lot of food.  Instead, stick with the crowd favorite meals that you know you’ve mastered. 

On the other hand, if you have several weeks or months to go before the holiday arrives, you might consider trying out a few new recipes.  That way, you can take the time to perfect your dish before cooking it for a large group of family and friends. 

4. Avoid grocery shopping when hungry or rushed.  Give yourself plenty of time to find the items you need in the supermarket.  Try to shop when the store isn’t crowded, so you won’t have to suffer through long lines. 

Also, eat a snack before you leave home.  Otherwise, if you’re hungry while you’re shopping, you may be tempted to buy more food than necessary—and that can hurt your wallet. 

5. Buy items on sale.   You don’t have to make all your Thanksgiving food purchases in one shopping trip.  When non-perishable items are marked down, stock up on them, even if you have several weeks to go before Thanksgiving.  This will help lower the total food bill when you do go to buy your turkey and the main items for the meal. 

As the holiday approaches, keep an eye out for grocery store sales on more traditional Thanksgiving items, such as the turkey.

6. Ask stores to match prices.  You don’t have to waste gas driving from store to store to find the best price on each and every item on your list.  Instead, gather newspaper ads and circulars that list the sales of the products you plan to buy, even if they’re from several different supermarkets.  Then, call up the store where you normally shop and ask if they’ll match the sales.  Many will match prices on competitor’s written ads.  This way, you can buy what’s on your grocery list--at lower price--without having to drive all over town.

7. Serve simple desserts and cocktails.  Try a few family favorites for desserts, and consider making them from scratch.  Use inexpensive ingredients such as flour, milk and eggs, and you won’t have to buy pricier pre-made options.  If friends and family members ask to bring their favorite dessert dishes to share, be sure to accept the offer! For drinks, offer a signature cocktail instead of a full bar of costly liquor. 

8. Plan for leftovers.  Anytime you cook a large meal, there’s a good chance you’ll have a large amount of food that won’t be eaten right away.  Don’t waste it.  Browse your favorite cooking web sites and magazines to find delicious recipes for those leftovers.  You’ll probably have good success finding ideas for yummy soups, stews, and sandwiches.  These meals can help you stretch your food purchase for long after Thanksgiving. 

You may spend more than your normal grocery budget for the holiday meal, but if you plan leftovers properly, you may not have to pay for additional lunches and dinners for several days.

9. Look to nature for your table centerpiece.   Even when you’re on a budget, you can still have a nice, stylish centerpiece.  Look to nature for your cues.  Find an inexpensive vase and fill it with seasonal plants and flowers.  You could also gather acorns, brightly colored leaves, and other autumn-related elements, and arrange them festively on your table.  If you don’t have access to these items, consider using silk flowers and other inexpensive décor instead.

Thanksgiving should be a fun time to reflect on all the good things that you’ve experienced this year.  Make the most of it by following these budget-friendly steps.  Don’t spend your time worrying about whether or not dinner will wreak havoc on your wallet.  Instead, spend time making great memories with relatives and friends. 

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