The average Thanksgiving dinner is right under $50, but it’s still nice to hold on to a few presidents instead of stale stuffing. These are some good tips for keeping in mind as you plan for Thanksgiving, and really, any other dinner party in the future.
Plan your Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday night. Crazy, I know, but then you could take advantage of all of those after holiday sales! This is an especially nice tactic if your family comes home on Thanksgiving to save money, as we talked about on our post The (Tur)Keys to Money Gobbles This Thanksgiving.
Get a headcount. Knowing how much food to buy can save so much time as well as money. Once you know how many people will arrive, make enough for two extra people. Seconds are nice, but Timmy, stop going in for the sixths. You’ve got to slow it down.
While you’re at the house, look at what kind of canned goods you have on stock. Obviously, corn is nice, but navy beans are good too! Look around. Keep an open mind. Thanksgiving dinners get so stream-lined anyway. Toss this misconceptions that Thanksgiving has to be a certain way. Some of the traditional sides are unpopular and unliked, face it. Those peaches from the pantry may be nice on some vanilla bean ice cream!
Send members of your family to go to different stores and text each other the prices on a shopping list. It could be a fun scavenger hunt, and a good way to compare prices quickly. In addition, try browsing at ethnic stores for a few items. You’ll be surprised at what they may have for your Thanksgiving meal.
Buy in bulk, especially wine. Good deals can be struck if you go ahead and buy things that last and things that you will consume any other day. Purchasing a dozen bottles of wine may save you ten percent of the cost. Why not a glass of wine a not, eh?
Home cook your meal. Buying a five pounds of potatoes will make so much more mashed potato glory than any box ever will. It probably costs less this season too. Believe it or not, making mashed potatoes from scratch can take just as much time as the dehydrated spud flakes in the box. Again, make cooking a nice family event!
For further reading:
“5 Simple Tips to Save You Time and Money This Thanksgiving.” One Good Thing. Jillee, 17 Nov. 2015. Web. 18 Nov. 2015. <http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2015/11/5-simple-tips-to-save-you-time-and-money-this-thanksgiving.html>.
“How Much Turkey Do I Need for Thanksgiving?” Good Housekeeping. 11 Nov. 2015. Web. 18 Nov. 2015. <http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/thanksgiving-ideas/a22081/turkey-serving-guidelines/>.
Sturt, Kristen. “Beyond Potlucks: 16 Ways to Save Money on Thanksgiving Food.” Grandparents AGA. Web. 18 Nov. 2015. <http://www.grandparents.com/food-and-leisure/cooking-tips/save-money-thanksgiving-food>.