Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Save Money On Your Thanksgiving Dinner


Thanksgiving is about spending time with family and friends while enjoying good food. Here are some tips that will save you time and money so you can focus on celebrating this holiday and not worry about going broke.



  • Plan ahead. Make a list of items you'll need to buy, how many people will be coming, how many place settings of dishes you'll need etc. This way you can set a budget and are less likely to be caught off guard having to make a last minute overpriced purchase.

  • Make the feast potluck. Have each guest bring a dish. This not only saves money for the host but will also save time and each person feels like they are involved in the celebration. Make sure to delegate a dish to each guest or some how keep track of what each party is bringing to avoid too many, or not enough, of each item.

  • Buy a larger turkey. Butchers at most grocery stores will cut the turkey in half for you, even if it is frozen. Larger turkeys are usually cheaper per pound, so you can save money by either sharing the turkey with a friend or relative, or saving the other half for Christmas or New Year’s.

  • Shop early and take advantage of sales. Stick to your menu plan and buy only what you'll need. Start looking at local grocery store flyers and websites to see if there are any good deals or coupons offered.

  • Do not buy unnecessary decorations. Make your decor from nature using twigs, leaves, pine cones etc. If you must buy items like a tablecloth, search your local thrift stores and try not to make it too holiday specific so you can use it over again after the holidays.

  • If you really want to save money and contribute to the meaning of Thanksgiving, consider spending this holiday volunteering at a local soup kitchen. You will be helping people less fortunate while sharing in the meal. This may become a new tradition for your family.

  • Finally, think about inviting an elderly neighbor, military family or member, or other people who have no one to share Thanksgiving with to join you. This is in the true spirit of the holiday and you'll get more from this than any amount of money could buy.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the good ideas!

Anonymous said...

Hi Cindy,



I saw your Thanksgiving post and thought the following information might be interesting to you and your readers – especially with money being tight this year - on how to host a holiday party for 20 guests for under $100.



I work with BJ’s Wholesale Club and they offer a variety of ways to fit holiday entertaining into a limited budget without sacrificing quality. In fact, members can save money – more than 30 percent over supermarket prices – on food and save even more using manufacturer’s coupons…and BJ’s is the only warehouse club to accept manufacturer’s coupons. For a free shopping pass, you can go to http://www.bjs.com/join/one_day_pass.shtml



With so many people on limited budgets, now is the time to think informal with gourmet appetizers that are short on prep time and long on taste. For a holiday party for 20 people, 10-12 pieces per guest will be plenty to keep them and your pockets filled. This menu is so simple and inexpensive that even inexperienced cooks can pull it off. All the host has to do is bake the pre-made appetizers in the oven and transfer these easy-to-prepare foods onto holiday serving dishes and voila – guests will think the entire day was spent in the kitchen preparing.



The holiday party menu for 20 guests for $97.11 includes:

Hearty Hors d’Oeuvres

The Perfect Kitchen Co. Kiss Combination which includes 12 Roasted Vegetable and Cheese Tartlets and Feta Cheese and Caramelized Onion Puff Pastry Kisses ($11.99 each)
Black Tie Chicken Peanut Satay (25 count) which includes skewers of white-meat chicken marinated with fresh peanuts and Thai spices ($13.99)
Smithfield Signature Party Tray by Paula Deen (serves 12-15) which includes Smoked Sausage in Sweet and Mild Sauce, Chicken Wings in Caribbean-Style Sauce and Meatballs in Barbecue Sauce ($15.99)


Decadent Dips

Legal Sea Foods® Crab and Lobster Dip ($7.99)
TGI Fridays Spinach Artichoke Dip ($11.99)
One box of Keebler Club Crackers ($5.19)


Irresistible Endings

Fruit Tray which includes Pineapple, Cantaloupe, Honey Dew, Grapes and Watermelon ($10.99)
The Cheesecake Factory Original Cheesecake ($11.99)
Wellsley Farms Baking™ 9” Sweet Potato Pie ($6.99)


For more information, please feel free to email me or give me a call at 561-998-1995.



Best,

Jackie







Jackie Guzman

Senior Account Executive

Tilson Communications

jguzman@tilsonpr.com

(561) 998-1995