An Incredible Thanksgiving on the Cheap
With the Thanksgiving holiday a couple weeks away, it's never too early to start planning for the upcoming celebration. After all, the sooner you start shopping, the better your chances of getting the best deals on your Thanksgiving meal items and avoiding the frenzied last-minute shopper crowd.
For those who are budget conscious, here are a few helpful tips to help you host an incredible Thanksgiving meal on the cheap.
Appetizers - It takes a long time for a turkey to cook. For this reason, it's always nice to have some appetizers on hand to snack on while you're waiting. Inexpensive appetizer and snack ideas include homemade veggie trays with dip, bread bowl dips, Chex Mix, Mexican-style Dips, Crockpot Meatballs, Pinwheels, Pickle Roll-Ups, or other snack foods.
The Turkey - A delicious golden turkey has always been the centerpiece of a traditional American Thanksgiving dinner. There is still plenty of time to shop for the best deal on a turkey. Check online and your local sales circulars for pricing. If you are hosting a small get together, you might consider serving Cornish hens or a boneless turkey breast instead. After all, if you don't need 22 pounds of turkey, there is little reason to cook it and potentially let it go to waste!
Beverages - Festive drinks are always part of the Thanksgiving celebration. A delicious punch - with or without alcohol - is fun and helps add to the joyful spirit of the holiday. All you need is a few inexpensive vital ingredients to put together a sweet, delightful punch that's sure to satisfy the thirst of all your holiday guests.
Side Dishes - You can't call it a Thanksgiving dinner without having a wide assortment of side dishes! Luckily, the most famous Thanksgiving side dishes can get made relatively inexpensively. Items like mashed potatoes, green bean casseroles, sweet potatoes, stuffing, deviled eggs, and salad only use a handful of ingredients and are simple to make.
Desserts - A proper Thanksgiving meal isn't complete without a divine dessert at the end! Traditional pies served ala-mode or with whip cream are always a favorite. Other desserts including cookies, fudge, cupcakes, and pudding are other dessert options to offer your guests.
Propose a Potluck - If you are hosting a large group for your holiday dinner, you might think to ask your guests to bring a covered dish Potluck style for everyone to enjoy. Not only does this help control the money you spend on the meal, but it also makes people happy by contributing something to the celebration and add to the variety to your Thanksgiving dinner menu.
Lastly, keep an eye out for sales circulars and online deals on all your favorite Thanksgiving meal staples that can get stored until it's time to fire up the stove and oven and start cooking! You're guaranteed to save money and not get stressed out with having to buy all of your grocery needs at the last minute.
Can't Afford Thanksgiving
Unfortunately there are financial situations that just don't allow low income families the ability to purchase items needed for a Thanksgiving lunch or dinner. In instances like this, there different types of food drives and charity hampers that are provided to those in need. Learn more about how to get help with food during the holidays or any other time of the year. Also learn about SNAP here.
Cheers to a happy and healthy Thanksgiving holiday to you and yours!
