6 Ways to Save on Your Thanksgiving Celebrations

November 14, 2012

Now that Halloween is behind us, it’s time to gear up financially for the holidays right around the corner, the first of which is Thanksgiving. It can be very easy to let costs spiral out of control when planning your Turkey Day feast – but remember, holiday shopping will be here before you know it.

Look at this in terms of a round of golf. You‘re much better off starting your round with a few birdies or even an eagle or two, but you certainly don’t want any double-bogeys. To keep from “over-swinging,” here are some ways to save on your Thanksgiving celebration.

1. Save on Decorations
Make a quick trip to your local dollar store to buy some cheap crate paper to make cut-out turkeys and whatever else you need to deck the house for Thanksgiving. Trust me, no one will notice if you go low-cost on the accessories. You can also plan some fun Thanksgiving games and crafts for your kids at very low cost.

2. Clip Coupons
For the amount of food you need to buy, clipping coupons can most certainly save you money. To maximize your efforts, find out when your grocer doubles coupons and shop on that day. Also, realize that you can stack grocery coupons with manufacturers’ coupons. For instance, if you have a coupon for $5 off $25 in purchases from your local supermarket, partner that with what you find in the Sunday paper.

3. Save on Produce
Thanksgiving menus typically include plenty of fruits and vegetables. Therefore, look to see if there’s a farmers’ market or local farm in your area as you can likely find fresh produce priced very competitively. I discovered one near my home several years ago and have racked up significant savings ever since.

4. Cut Back the Alcohol
Thanksgiving turkey contains tryptophan, which naturally makes people feel drowsy. Therefore, why would you want to partner that with a bunch of booze? By no means am I suggesting a dry Thanksgiving – just ratchet it back a bit. Consider serving boxed wine and just pick up a six-pack or two of beer at your local liquor store.

5. Make It a Potluck
Whether you’re dining with family or friends, there’s nothing wrong with asking your guests to bring a dish. This way, you can eliminate the need to please finicky eaters, and you can save money as well.

6. Stock Up Now
For all the nonperishable food items needed for your feast, such as bread crumbs, canned and frozen vegetables, and other items, the time to look for deals is now. When you see something at a good price, stock up. Just make sure you rotate the dry goods in your pantry.

Final Thoughts
When it comes to the menu itself, consider a few shortcuts to save some cash. No one is going to notice if you make boxed mashed potatoes, and if you’re serving green bean casserole, use canned green beans in lieu of fresh. With the amount of food you’re going to serve, your guests are unlikely to notice any minor difference in quality. If you plan it out right, you can greatly cut down the costs of your Thanksgiving meal – and use the savings for your Black Friday shopping!

What ways can you think of to save on Thanksgiving dinner?