Turkey day is almost here! It's a day to celebrate with friends, family, and of course food. However, if you have the honor of hosting Thanksgiving dinner it can get expensive. To help you out, I have put together some quick tips to help you stay on budget when your hosting Thanksgiving this year.
Hosting Thanksgiving dinner is a wonderful way to bring everyone together, but it can also lead to extra expenses if you're not carful. By planning ahead and making smart choices, you can keep your meal affordable without sacrificing quality or taste. Each tip below will help you reduce costs, from choosing the right turkey to freezing leftovers. let's dive into some practical ways to enjoy Thanksgiving without overspending.
Knowing exactly how many people will be attending your Thanksgiving meal is a good way to avoid overspending and overcooking. Make sure to include kids and adults in your count. Kids tend to eat less than adults, which should factor into how much food you need to cook.
A good way to save money when planning your Thanksgiving meal menu is to choose dishes that use overlapping ingredients when possible. This way you use up all the ingredients you buy instead of throwing away leftovers. This will reduce your grocery bill.
Rather than fronting the costs for the entire meal, make it a potluck style Thanksgiving. You can cook the turkey and have your guest bring a side dish. This will cut down on cooking time, stove and oven use, and it gives everyone the feeling they’ve contributed. That's probably how it happened at the first Thanksgiving anyway!
Buying a frozen bird instead of a fresh one can save you money on your Thanksgiving feast and the turkey will taste just as good! Just remember it takes 24 hours for every 5 pounds of turkey to thaw in the refrigerator, according to FoodSafety.gov. So if you have a 20 pounder, it will need about 4 days to thaw out. Plan ahead.
You can make centerpieces that are both wallet-friendly and beautiful by buying items from a dollar store, where everything costs $1. You can also check out thrift stores for fun decorations to use too. You don't have to spend a lot of money to make your Thanksgiving meal feel festive.
If you end up with way too much food, like most people, don’t shove all of them in the fridge. You will get tired of eating leftover turkey within two days and then it will sit for weeks and go bad. Instead freezing leftovers can help you not waste and have an easy meal in a few months when your on a time crunch.
Cooking from scratch, can take a little longer, but is less expensive than buying already prepared dishes. Plus, your dishes will taste better. If you think about the basics of a traditional Thanksgiving meal (turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, cranberry sauce, etc), you can generally purchase these items inexpensively.
As with anything in life, a little planning ahead will save you money on your Thanksgiving meal. Try to have your grocery list ready as early as you can, this will give you time to compare prices and fine tune your menu to fit your budget. Generally, grocery stores will have sales on the basic Thanksgiving ingredients in the weeks leading up to the holiday.
Hosting Thanksgiving doesn't have to leave you feeling stretched thin financially. By planning ahead, getting creative with dishes and décor, and involving your guest, you can keep cost down while still creating a meal everyone will enjoy. Remember, Thanksgiving is about gratitude, not grandeur. with a few mindful choices, you can enjoy a celebration that's as affordable as it is memorable. So focus on what truly matters, time with loved ones-and savor every moment without the stress of overspending.
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