Thanksgiving on a Budget Tips You'll Want to Thank Us For
I love the holidays- like really love the holidays. I'm that person you see on TV that decorates their whole home, fills the table with food, keeps goodies baking- I even put my Christmas tree up weeks earlier than anyone else just because I want to.
Granted, I do all of this on a much smaller scale, and my home is not made for TV. Still, I love hosting my entire family on Thanksgiving and other people who might not have Thanksgiving dinner any other way. I'm a come one, come all person during the holidays. And while people do love to come to eat at my home, my open attitude gets people talking. They assume that I am careless with money- I mean, how else could someone afford to do all of that?
The attitude probably has something to do with average Thanksgiving spending. According to Statista, Americans spent an average of 448 U.S. dollars for Thanksgiving in 2021. That's a lot of money for one meal.
Thanksgiving On a Budget - It Is Possible!
Well, I'm happy to tell you that you can enjoy Thanksgiving without going broke. If you want to channel your inner Martha Stewart, you can certainly do that- on a budget, of course. I'm going to share my little secrets with you so you can make it happen.
Before we begin, though, a little disclaimer: I try not to mention any stores that are not available in most locations. However, that does not mean I won't miss anyone. Even if I do, though, there are similar stores all over. You might have to ask around, but chances are you have a store with similar offerings close by. And, of course, prices vary between locations.
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Okay, let's dig in now!
Let Go Of the "Shoulds" And Expectations
There is something you absolutely have to do before you even think about planning Thanksgiving on a budget, and it is this: Forget everything you "should" do everything you feel obligated to do, and everything everyone else expects of you. Drop it right now. It is not your responsibility to please everyone. Sometimes, you can't or don't want to do what others want you to do, and that's okay. Understand that I host Thanksgiving because it's what I want to do- not because someone else requires it or expects it or even because I "should."
If I did not enjoy it, I would not do it every year. You need to figure out what you are okay with and what you are not and stick to that. I am not saying to bail on your family or anything like that. I'm saying that while it's good to make some effort toward being with your family, if you are across the country and cannot afford to fly home, don't. This tip applies to Christmas, too. You don't have to go broke buying Christmas gifts for everyone because you "should." And you don't have to host Thanksgiving just because you have the biggest house. It's fair to make some compromises, but when trying to stay on a budget, you have to say no to things.
Do have a little courtesy, though. Don't leave people thinking you are going to do something that you are not going to do. With me, my family expects that I'll be inviting them over for Thanksgiving. If one year I decided I didn't want to do it anymore, it would be wrong not to tell them ahead of time. Give them a heads up so they can make other plans.
Make Your Budget
You have to determine how much you can spend comfortably on Thanksgiving to make an effective budget. Your budget should be unique to you and your needs, of course, but many people like an idea of what's reasonable.
On Thanksgiving, I typically have no less than 20 people in my home, from kids to seniors. Often, there is more, especially if friends stop by or someone brings more people. My menu almost always includes the following- usually more:
- Turkey, dressing, and gravy
- Cranberry sauce
- Homemade pies, cinnamon rolls, sugar cookies, Rice Krispy treats, pecan balls, cake, and more
- No fewer than ten sides to suit everyone's tastes
- Deviled eggs
- Dinner rolls and cornbread
There is always enough to feed every guest and send them home with food. My husband, children, and I then eat leftovers for at least four days - until we are sick of it. Between all of the groceries, the decorations, other necessities like plates, utensils, and napkins, and anything else we need, people think I spend hundreds.
Truth be told, the most I have ever spent on Thanksgiving is about $80. Think about that: I feed at least 20 people, and my family has food for a whole week for $80 at the most. I share this because I want to make it clear that you do not have to spend almost $200 to have a nice Thanksgiving. And, if you have fewer people over than I do, you can knock the budget even lower.
Having Thanksgiving on a budget does require a little work, but you will love yourself later. Decide on the maximum amount you are willing to spend. Then, pick every step below you can follow to fit your spending into your budget instead of the other way around.
Start Early
My very first tip is to start preparing as early as possible. To be truthful, the best time to sock away holiday supplies, like decorations, is right after that holiday passes. Stores always order too much of certain items, and there is a lot left to get rid of.
Since they would rather recoup some of their money than nothing, stores put those items on sale. After holidays like Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, you can stock up on stuff as low as a quarter from stores like Dollar Tree, Walmart, and Dollar General. Obviously, we are not talking about food here, but things like plates, napkins, egg dye, ornaments, lights, and similar things.
So how do you keep up with them until next year? I get asked this question a lot. It's simple: I have two airtight containers that I fill up throughout the year. One is for holiday items I find on sale. The other is for regular items, like shampoo, tissue, and toothpaste I find on sale. When I need something, I check my containers first.
If you choose to do this, be sure you get airtight containers to protect all of your stuff from pests, moisture, and more. Good ones at Walmart do not cost much more than regular ones, and they are way worth the extra couple of bucks.
Now, if you are saying, "That's good and all, but it's already October, and it's too late to start early," that's okay for two reasons: First, you can be ready to start these habits for next year.
Second, you can still catch stuff at a lower price right now. For instance, if you buy your Turkey now, not only does that guarantee you have one for Thanksgiving, but you will also save a few bucks. The same goes for other parts of your menu, as well.
Start Growing
If you are really committed to saving money on holidays, consider growing your own vegetables and even raising your own turkeys. Remember, I did say if you are really committed.
This is not necessary, of course, and I'll honestly say that I'm not really in a rush to raise the turkey I plan to eat. However, if you can handle it, that's a good chunk of cash you can save. Growing vegetables is more up my alley and can save you a ton of money on your grocery bill all year.
Split the Bill
I'll admit right up front that this is probably my biggest downfall on the holidays: I don't share the load. Control issues might have a lot to do with it, or maybe I just enjoy being the one to provide the meal. There is also the fact that I am a natural planner and organizer, and I know what everyone does, does not, and cannot eat. It just seems natural for me to take care of it all.
Regardless of why I do it - or the thousands of other people that are like me - it's not exactly a great way to be - especially if you are on a tight budget. There's no reason not to let others pitch in. Make a list of everything on the menu and split it among your family and friends.
If you are like me, though, and this is not a strong point for you, start small. Have others bring items like the dinner rolls, the plastic knives, and forks, some of the simple side items, or the wine if you have some on Thanksgiving Day. You will still be providing most of the meal but saving quite a bit of money in the process.
Make Your Guest List
Who do you want to invite? This list needs to fit with your budget. Remember when I said earlier to let go of the "shoulds"? This is a significant place to do it.
What I mean is that you do not have to invite your third cousin Larry whom you have only met once in your life, just because someone said you should. You are trying to find ways to save money, and inviting everyone in your family tree is not the way to do this.
Make Your Menu
Determine what items you and your guests want to eat. Try to make a variety of foods, so everyone gets something they like, but you do not have to cater to every single desire. If someone wants something that is not on your menu, let them bring it.
Go Homemade
One of the absolute best ways to enjoy Thanksgiving on a budget is by making homemade food. I save no less than 50 percent of the cost of food by making it from scratch.
You do not have to be a professional chef to do this. In fact, you don't have to have any experience. This lovely thing called the Internet puts millions of recipes at your fingertips 24 hours each day. AllRecipes.com is a favorite of mine. And, if you want to make some Paula Deen magic happen in your kitchen- well, she has a website full of recipes and step by step instructions, too.
Shop Several Stores
One of my other very important steps for enjoying Thanksgiving on a budget is not to buy everything from one store. The following are some great stores to check out:
Amazon
Have you tried Amazon Pantry? It's great. I have not used it for Thanksgiving yet, but it's part of my game plan for this year. I love it because I find many things on better sales than I do in stores, and it gets delivered. That alone saves me gas, money, and time. And many items are available in bulk for low prices.
Dollar Tree
Dollar Tree has some good options, especially when it comes to decorations, seasonings, and more. You can also find cheap aluminum pans if you don't have enough at home for all of your menu items.
Aldi
I really cannot say enough about Aldi. This store has some really great deals all year long, and I have filled our kitchen with their groceries numerous times. I have found eggs as low as 30 cents per dozen, milk at $1.49 per gallon, and most of the ingredients I need for anywhere from 25 to 50 percent cheaper than in other stores.
Aldi also feeds another desire of mine with their Aldi Finds section. I always find useful hostessing items, like gravy boats, serving trays, butter dishes, adorable mittens, and more for very low prices. Most of them are several years old now, but I still use them for every holiday.
Coupons
You cannot talk about ways to save money without bringing up coupons. They are, after all, one of the oldest methods that are still very valid today. While you can certainly use paper coupons for this, I like coupon apps a bit better.
Honey
You've probably heard of or seen an advertisement for Honey. It's that wonderful extension you add to your browser to help you find lower prices when shopping online. It's really easy to use, and it works. I've saved quite a bit over the years.
Ibotta
Ibotta works a little differently. Basically, the app keeps up with coupon prices. You pay full price at the store and then scan in your receipt when finished shopping. If any of the items on your receipt are connected to a current coupon, you receive that in cashback.
For instance, if a specific brand of milk is $1 off this week and you buy it, Ibotta puts that $1 into your account. Once you hit $20, you can cash out. Try to look at the sales on the app before shopping so you can shop accordingly.
Get Cash Back
Another great way to enjoy Thanksgiving on a budget is actually to make cashback on everything you do spend. I'm going to share a few ways to get started, but there are so many other options.
Rakuten
Formerly known as Ebates, Rakuten makes money when you use their link to shop at certain stores. They then share this money with you- sometimes as much as 10 percent cashback.
The number of retailers they do this through continues to grow. And while it was once only online shopping, they have opened up to some in-store purchases.
Hop on there and make an account. They almost always have a signup bonus. They also usually have referral rewards. I've made several hundred dollars cashback with them, so I can say it's worth the few minutes it takes to sign up.
Fetch Rewards and Receipt Hog
With both of these apps, you take pictures of your receipts and earn points that you can then convert to PayPal cash or gift cards. Points tend to add up quicker on Fetch Rewards, but using both of them increases your cashback.
How Not to Get Cash Back
The idea of getting cash back is to be rewarded - not to go into debt. When I say earn cashback, I am not referring to using credit cards that offer it. This is not a good idea at all. Using credit can tempt you to spend more than you should. Instead, pay for everything with cash or - at the very least - a debit card that does not let you use it as credit.
Additional Tips
There are a few other things that can help you have Thanksgiving on a budget.
Buy a deep freezer. Deep freezers can save you a lot of money. You can freeze milk, bread, and several other items when you find them on sale. This can benefit you when you find Thanksgiving ingredients on sale several weeks before the holiday. You can get a decent deep freezer for around $150 at Walmart, and they last for years.
Starting early does not just have to mean buying and putting away products. Instead, create an envelope for Thanksgiving funds. Start putting a little money in the envelope each chance you get- even if it's just a couple of dollars a week. That's still money you do not have to come up with near the holiday.
This last tip is not directly related to keeping your celebration of Thanksgiving on a budget but rather what you do after it's over. While people do spend about $180 on Thanksgiving celebration, Americans spent $8.9 billion online during Black Friday 2021. Do yourself a favor- stay at home, curl up by a fire, and let the food digest. If there is something you have planned to get on a sale, do it online. That way, you stick to your plan- browsing gets people into trouble.
To Sum Up,
I hope that at least some of this tips will be useful to you this year. Trust me, making at least one change can help you save. Enjoy the holidays and don’t forget to have fun with your family and friends!