Thanks for voting!If you’ve hosted Thanksgivings past, you know they’re a lot of fun, a lot of work – and potentially a lot of money. Don’t get us wrong, spending holidays with the people you love (even Aunt Ruthie, the close talker) is one of the best things in life. And the best things in life, as they say, are free. Or so they should be.
What Thanksgiving isn’t all about is how expensive the pies are. Or how much you spent on the table centerpiece. And it’s certainly not about the newly purchased 52-in. flat panel, which you justified with the (admittedly clever) rationale that all 22 guests could watch the big game in high-def.
So, how can you make Thanksgiving special and enjoyable—but also affordable?
For starters, share the load. Make cooking a family event. Encourage each family member to bring their favorite Thanksgiving dish. Plan ahead of time so that the whole family has time to catch the sales and use coupons from their local store circular.
If you’re having the big meal catered, choose items and amounts carefully and get an absolute headcount beforehand. And still ask guests to bring a side dish and dessert so you don’t spend quite as much.
Scour the sales. They’re out there, online and in store circulars, ready for the taking. And they apply if you’re hosting Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa or Festivus (“for the rest of us”) — so look for Buy-One-Get-One offers, and keep in mind that turkeys are typically more discounted around Thanksgiving than they are in December.
To save on energy, turn down the thermostat right before the feasting frenzy begins. All those bodies in the house — plus the heat from the kitchen — raises everyone’s core body temp. And if it’s a family gathering, somebody’s bound to get all hot and bothered, anyway, right? (Surprise! Your competitive siblings still haven’t buried the hatchet. And they just opened the box of wine. Uh-oh.)
Finally, hog the leftovers. Always controversial, we know. Even hazardous. But if you’re hosting, and you did most of the work and provided most of the provisions, then you ought to be the first to enjoy those amazing next-day turkey/cranberry/stuffing/mayo sandwiches. If Aunt Ruthie asks for her share (and she’ll ask at close range), then sure, fix her a small plate to go. But don’t feel compelled to divvy up all of it.
Got your own tips for trimming the costs when stuffing the bird? C’mon, share ‘em — we’ll be especially thankful.
Tags: Holiday, Saving, Thanksgiving, Tips
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