No doubt about it, Thanksgiving can be expensive. In 2016, the average price for a traditional Thanksgiving meal was said to be around $50 for 10 people. Fortunately,
there are many ways to save at the holidays. These tips will help you have a fun, enjoyable holiday on a relatively low budget.
Plan Ahead Planning ahead for your Thanksgiving meal can help make the experience more affordable.
Set limits. Keep your group of holiday guests small to limit your costs. Once you've invited people, find out for sure whether or not they'll be attending and if they'll be bringing anyone.
Allow guests to bring food. Guests will often ask if they can bring something to the event. Have a short list of foods that guests can bring to spread the cost around, then make suggestions if they ask. Some may even ask if they can bring a bottle of wine. Alcohol can be expensive and can increase your total bill by quite a bit, so it's a good idea to accept this type of generous offer when it occurs.
Shop the sales. Many grocery stores will put Thanksgiving foods on sale before the holiday. Watch the local ads for the best deals and shop around to keep your bill lower. If possible, start buying ingredients well ahead of time and buy in smaller increments to make each purchase more affordable.
Buy frozen. Frozen ingredients are generally cheaper than fresh ingredients, which can help keep your overall costs down.
Serve Veggies and Ranch Before the Meal. People tend to starve themselves before the big meal, which encourages them to overeat when food is finally served. You can prevent this from happening by feeding your guests light snacks throughout the day. Carrots, radishes and broccoli are inexpensive to buy and easy to prepare. Serve veggies with ranch dressing or hummus. If you want to offer your guests options, serve crackers and cheese as well.
Limit the Wine. Wine can make people hungry. Wine is also one of the most costly items on a standard Thanksgiving menu. Limiting wine can cut back on your expenses and can control the amount your guests will eat. There are many subtle ways you can limit the wine your guests consume at a big Thanksgiving feast. Offer alternatives like hot mulled cider, coffee and tea. Serve wine in small glasses. Serve wine with dinner but not before.
Save on the Turkey. Turkey can be costly. Some people choose to limit their costs by replacing it with another food, others choose to buy a less expensive turkey. You can save on turkey by watching for deals throughout the year. Buying just after a big holiday is a good way to save money. You can store your turkey in the freezer for up to 2-3 years. If you're thinking about serving something besides turkey, these suggestions work well.
Chicken pot pie. Chicken pot pie is delicious, filling and involves less meat so it's less expensive. You can save even more by making the crust yourself from scratch.
Chicken. Buy a large chicken and roast it in the same manner as a turkey. Properly prepared, chicken is just as flavorful and more moist than a typical turkey.
Cornish hens. Cornish hens can be less expensive than a turkey if you're not buying too many of them, so this idea works well for small groups.
Load Up On Potatoes Potatoes are delicious, filling and cheap, so preparing extra potatoes is a good way to keep your guests full and happy. Plan on serving about 3/4 of a pound of potatoes per guest, and buy accordingly. Don't forget the gravy, as this can make your mashed potatoes extra tasty for guests. Gravy mix is inexpensive if purchased in small packets at the grocery store, or you can make your own by mixing juice from the meat with corn starch, flour and spices.
Make A Big Casserole A big casserole can fill and satisfy guests. Green bean casserole is a common favorite that's easy to prepare and made from inexpensive ingredients. Simply mix one can of condensed cream of mushroom soup with four cups of French cut green beans. Spread the mixture out in a casserole dish and sprinkle the top with one can of French-fried onions. Bake at 350 degrees until the mixture is bubbling, which takes about 25 minutes. If you need to bake the casserole with other foods that require a higher baking temperature, cut back the cooking time and keep foil on the dish until close to the end. Thanksgiving doesn't have to be expensive! Following these tips can help you save money on the meal while still enjoying the big day!
