How can you host Thanksgiving on a budget? Thanksgiving is one of America’s most beloved holidays, but it can also be one of the most expensive. However, there are wise steps that you can take to create an unforgettable feast without breaking the bank.
Tips for Celebrating Thanksgiving on a Budget
Are you planning for your upcoming holiday dinner? Here are some things that can help you do so within a reasonable Thanksgiving budget.
1. Plan Your Menu Strategically
Since many look forward to the feast during the holiday, you need to focus on your menu first. You must carefully plan what you will serve to host an impressive Thanksgiving while staying within your budget.
Many associate a feast with a large spread of food, but you can also focus on quality instead of quantity. For this, you can choose classic and traditional dishes that are affordable and well-loved by your guests.
Some of the staples you can focus on include:
- Turkey: The turkey should be the centerpiece of the feast, even for Thanksgiving meals on a budget. Many stores usually have promotions on this ingredient as the holiday draws near.
- Sides: Stick to simple but classic side dishes like mashed potatoes, green beans, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. These items are inexpensive and can be made in large batches.
- Desserts: Pumpkin pie is a traditional and affordable dessert choice. Consider making other pies, like apples or pecans if you find deals.
2. Shop Wisely
Shopping for the ingredients you need for your Thanksgiving dinner can be expensive. However, if you plan, you can save a lot of money.
Coupons and Discounts
Given that Thanksgiving is one of the year’s biggest holidays, many grocery stores will take advantage of the holiday shopping rush. They usually offer promotional discounts and coupons that you can use to buy your ingredients. Look for these promotions and coupons a few weeks before Thanksgiving. Collect the coupons you may use and note the items you can get on sale. Combining discounted promotions with coupons can lead to significant savings on your Thanksgiving shopping list.
Buying in Bulk
If you plan to host a feast for a large group of people, buying in bulk is an excellent way to save money. Stores like Costco or Sam’s Club offer discounts and promotions for bulk items, such as canned ingredients like cranberry sauce or pumpkin puree.
Choosing Store Brands
Buying store brands will help you save money when shopping for ingredients. These are lower in price but have the same quality as name-brand items. When shopping, you can choose store-brand canned goods, spices, and broths that you can use for your meal.
Shopping Early
It would help to avoid the holiday rush and last-minute shopping for ingredients. Many goods you can use for your holiday feast have a long shelf life, especially canned goods, stuffing mixes, and frozen pie crusts.
By shopping early, you are giving yourself time to consider what you’re buying and compare prices.
3. Cooking From Scratch
While it might be tempting to order dishes from restaurants for convenience, cooking from scratch is the way to go if you want to save money. It’s the more affordable option for a budget Thanksgiving and gives you control over what ingredients you want and the portion sizes you serve.
For side dishes, instead of buying them pre-made, you can make them from scratch. For example, a large bag of potatoes only costs a few dollars, and you would have enough to feed a large group of people. For stuffing, instead of buying a pre-made mix, you can find leftover, day-old bread and vegetables, which yield a more significant amount for less cost.
Similarly, you can bake your desserts at home. Store-bought pies and cakes are expensive, but buying the ingredients for a homemade pumpkin pie costs less.
4. Cut Down on Meat
Meat tends to be the most expensive ingredient in any feast. If you are on a strict budget and need to cut costs, you may consider reducing the amount of meat you plan to serve.
Cutting down on meat doesn’t mean you have to remove turkey from your menu. Instead, opt for a smaller turkey instead of a massive one, especially if you have a smaller gathering. If you cut back on turkey size, you may add more affordable proteins to the menu to supplement it, such as ham or roast chicken.
5. Manage Drinks
Who doesn’t love drinking when it comes to Thanksgiving? However, it would be best if you watched how much you spend on alcohol, as it can be pricey, especially when hosting Thanksgiving on a budget. But like many other aspects of the feast, you can also reduce drinking costs.
For one, instead of buying an entire assortment of drinks, consider making one signature drink you know your guests can enjoy. You may mix a festive fall punch or some mulled wine, which can be done in large quantities. This minimizes the need to buy several types of alcohol, and it is also cheaper.
Alternatively, if mixed drinks aren’t your thing, you can consider buying your alcohol in bulk. Similar to cooking ingredients, many stores offer discounts for significant purchases of alcohol.
There is also always an option to buy non-alcoholic beverages for your feast. Instead of spirits, beer, and wine, you can prepare iced tea, sparkling water, and lemonade as your drinks. You can even create mocktails without suffering the cost of alcoholic beverages.
Enjoy an Affordable Thanksgiving
Having a Thanksgiving gathering doesn’t need to break the bank. You can plan on hosting Thanksgiving on a budget without sacrificing your food’s flavor or the feast’s experience.
Plan carefully, shop smart, and be creative. By doing so, you can save money while creating wonderful meals that you and your friends and family can look back on for years.
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