The Six-Step Guide to A Successful Thanksgiving on a Budget
Giving thanks on a budget this year? We hear you! Though it’s not always easy to spend less around the holidays, it’s far from impossible. If a payday loan is what’s been keeping the financial emergencies at bay, consider doing this year’s holiday festivities on the cheap with this 6-step guide to a successful and budget-friendly Thanksgiving dinner.
Get yourself a free turkey
Some places actually give away free turkeys for Thanksgiving; whether it’d be from your local church, grocery store or charity. Ask around and see where you can find some turkey giveaways. There’s always somebody out there who’s making it their business to make sure everyone is having a Happy Thanksgiving. You could also check your local grocery markets for in-store promotions on discounted or free turkeys. A free Thanksgiving turkey is always worth looking into.
Go frozen
Frozen food shopping is definitely the way to go, especially when you’re on a budget. There’s something to be said for those that shop in the frozen food aisle. Though it may not sound ideal, there’s a lot of benefits to buying frozen groceries. The food is cheaper and you can stock up on it since frozen food has a longer shelf life. As long as you let them fully defrost, frozen foods can come out just as good as anything you’ll find in the produce section. Add some herbs and spices and no one will know the difference.
Ditch the apron
Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t always pay to dine in, especially when you’ve got a lot of mouths to feed. Weigh out the costs between dining in and going out. You may be surprised to find that it could be more cost-effective to take the family out for Thanksgiving dinner. Most dining establishments are open during the holidays and a lot of them offer specially priced Thanksgiving meals. Also, plenty of stores such as Costco offer pre-packaged Thanksgiving Day meals at low prices. So it turns out you may not have to slave over an open stove this Thanksgiving after all!
Don’t overdo it
When we think of Thanksgiving dinner, a lot of popular dishes come to mind. Stove-Top stuffing, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, fresh oven-baked biscuits, and creamed corn are just some of the traditional Thanksgiving side-dishes we all know and love. But frankly, not all these dishes have to be present in order to throw a successful Thanksgiving dinner. Find out what you and your family prefer to have this year and only make that. You’ll save, time, stress and, oh yeah, money!
Shop the ads for coupons
Couponing may be the oldest trick in the book, but it’s one that still works today. While it may be a tedious task, it’s still well worth the tiny effort. Check the ads in the Sunday morning paper for coupons you could use for your Thanksgiving dinner. You might even find great savings on other things you need in the process. There’s no feeling like handing over a pile of coupons and watching your total go down $20!
Ask for help
Don’t ever hesitate to ask for help! Family and friends are supposed to be there for each other, especially around the holidays. It’s never a bad idea to ask your guests to bring their favorite dish or beverage to the party. It’ll be one less thing you have to worry about and it’ll save you both time and money.
Use these ideas to create an amazing, yet affordable Thanksgiving dinner that you and your family will love. But don’t stop there, feel free to use these guidelines to save money on all your meals. With all the money you’ll save, you could easily avoid the need for a payday loan the next time a financial emergency comes up.
Note: The content provided in this article is only for informational purposes, and you should contact your financial advisor about your specific financial situation.