Hosting Thanksgiving On A Budget Tips & Tricks
Hosting Thanksgiving on a budget can be done, and I will share my tips and tricks with you all to set you up for success. Whether this is your first time hosting or if you are a veteran, you might benefit from these solutions. Create a palate-pleasing Thanksgiving feast that everyone will love and enjoy, without knowing you were sticking to a budget.
When you stop and think about it, little things add up, and over time when planning a big feast, you could run into a lot of money being pushed out. Learn how to pick the right sides and dishes, cutting out unwanted costs, and more.
Simple Tips For Hosting Thanksgiving On A Budget
Potluck Menu
One of the most significant solutions I have for you is creating a potluck style dinner. So many households do potluck-style holidays, and it has saved them a ton of money. If you are new to the potluck style, it is an excellent way for guest to bring side dishes and desserts to help cover the costs. What you do is make the main dishes like turkey, ham, etc. Then let your guests pick what sides or desserts they want to bring.
You can even create a private Facebook group or mass text with all the members, so each person can see what everyone is bringing so there are not five green bean casseroles come Thanksgiving. Potluck style is an effective way to create a new tradition and have a wide range of options for your guests.
Menu Plan
Whether you do a potluck style or create a whole menu on your own. Create a menu plan for all the ingredients you need. Try to be aware of the dishes you pick out, and the price points for each. Maybe you have three classic dishes that are traditions that are a must make. Then trickle down and find more affordable sides that will carry over and not be so pricey for your budget. You can even search for affordable Thanksgiving side dishes and see a ton of items pop up in Pinterest or even Google. Also, look at ingredients, maybe find recipes that work together with ingredients, so all that parsley doesn’t go to waste for one dish, you can use it for three different sides.
- Sheet pan pumpkin pie to serve a crowd, instead of making three different pies.
- Casseroles go a long way and are generally very affordable.
- Veggie dishes are great, and most generally lower costs.
Shop Sales
All grocery stores will start having pretty good sales when the holidays roll around. You will find some stores even give away free turkeys if you spend so much money in one shopping trip. This is something to consider if it is within your budget. The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving start looking for deals. Items like canned goods will last, so you can even buy a month or two in advance, so it is less out of your budget for November.
Decorations
A significant money factor for many is decorations. Consider rummaging through your belongings and seeing what you have to create a Thanksgiving feel. Or head outside or to your local park and pick up pine cones, fallen leaves, twigs, etc. and create your rustic feel. Maybe put some pinecones in a bowl with leaves, or the twigs in a glass hurricane vase, and have that be the centerpiece. Get creative and try not to spend money.
Drinks
Some homes love to serve alcohol with Thanksgiving. Consider skipping it or recommending guests bring their own. This is a huge chunk of a budget. Consider making an affordable punch that is free of alcohol or even just doing tea and water for drinks.
What is your budget saver tip for hosting Thanksgiving on a budget?
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