The holidays are a time for family, friends, and of course, food! But if you’re on a tight budget, the cost of hosting a big Thanksgiving feast can be daunting. Stressing over finances can greatly impact how you experience the holidays and affect the time you spend with loved ones. However, with a little creativity and forethought, you can celebrate Thanksgiving without breaking the bank. Here are 7 tips for Stretching Your Dollar This Thanksgiving that will help you save money and fight inflation this holiday season.
7 Tips for Stretching Your Dollar This Thanksgiving
1. Plan ahead and make a budget
One of the first and most important steps to saving money is knowing how much you have to spend. Sit down and plan out your whole menu. Walk through your recipes and determine all the items you will need. Calculate the cost of all the ingredients required for your Thanksgiving feast, as well as any other expenses like drinks, decorations, or travel. Once you have a total amount in mind, you can start looking for ways to cut costs.
2. Shop around for the best prices
Prices on turkey and other holiday staples can vary widely from store to store. Take the time to compare prices at different stores before you do your grocery shopping. You may be surprised at how much you can save just by being a savvy shopper!
3. Get creative with your side dishes
There’s no law that says all your Thanksgiving side dishes must be traditional (and expensive) items like mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. Get creative and serve up some inexpensive but tasty alternatives like roasted sweet potatoes or green beans sauteed with garlic. Not only will your guests love the variety, but your wallet will thank you too!
4. Make use of coupons and discounts
Many stores offer special holiday discounts and coupons on items like turkey, stuffing mix, and pumpkin pie filling. Keep your eyes peeled for these deals in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving so you can get the most bang for your buck.
5. Buy in bulk.
If you have a large family or are hosting Thanksgiving dinner for a group of friends, consider buying some of the items on your shopping list in bulk. This can help you save money on items like stuffing mix, canned cranberry sauce, and rolls of aluminum foil.
One of the best ways to avoid overspending during the holidays is to create a budget and stick to it. Determine how much you can afford to spend on food, decorations, and other holiday-related expenses, and then make sure you don’t go over that amount. By being mindful of your spending, you can avoid going into debt this holiday season.
6. Use what you already have.
Before heading out to the store, take inventory of what you already have on hand. Chances are, you have some holiday staples like cranberry sauce, stuffing mix, and rolls of aluminum foil in your pantry or cupboards from last year’s Thanksgiving celebration. These items can be used again this year, which will help save you money on your overall holiday budget.
7. Skip the fancy tablecloth and centerpieces
You don’t need to go all out with an expensive tablecloth and elaborate centerpieces to have a beautiful Thanksgiving spread. Keep it simple with some fall-themed fabric placemats and a few candles or vases filled with autumn leaves, pinecones or acorns. There are also a lot of free printables you can download and print at home. These include decorations, games, and planners to name a few.
I have created an 8-page free printable planner to get you started. Feel free to download it by clicking the button below and start your planning immediately.
Click here to download the free planner
Saving money during the holidays doesn’t have to be difficult or daunting—with a little planning and creativity, you can celebrate Thanksgiving without spending a fortune. From making a budget to getting creative with your side dishes, there are plenty of ways to cut costs without skimping on the fun or flavor of this special day. So put these tips into action and enjoy a more affordable and stress-free Thanksgiving feast this year!
If you like the planner, you might be interested in the EXPANDED BUNDLE. It was designed to coordinate with the planner and includes Thanksgiving Wall Art, Games, Recipe Cards and so much more! In fact it has over 45 printables in the bundle for you to mix and match to best meet your needs. You can check out the expanded bundle here.
