Thanksgiving is an important holiday for many families because it provides a rare opportunity for family members and friends to gather.
Unfortunately, because you’re likely to be feeding many people a several-course meal, Thanksgiving dinner can become expensive quickly!
With a little effort, we can cut down on costs and still have a truly enjoyable meal we can be proud of.
BUY AND SERVE MORE IN-SEASON VEGETABLES.
✴ Fresh artichoke hearts, white asparagus, and similar out-of-season vegetables are going to be costly during this season. Choose wallet-friendly, seasonal vegetables instead. Choose things like celery root, turnips, and parsnips, and roast them to create a casserole or a soup. Try something different.
✴ My family likes greens. I can remember my mom making collard greens and ham hocks as part of our extended family feast. And they were good. The best thing is that collard and mustard greens, along with many other varieties are in-season, wallet-friendly, and can be made into healthier versions of our childhood favorites. Instead of using unhealthy fats, embellish your dishes with garlic, onions, or soup bases to get those evocative flavors you remember. It takes a little more work, but it is worth the exercise. Plus you’ll pass along good cooking and eating habits to friends and family.
MAKE YOUR OWN STUFFING AND GRAVY.
✴ Buying boxed and canned products can quickly become a costly venture. And we all know that premade and boxed dressings don’t hold a candle to that old family recipe you loved, and you know it!! There are thousands of places to get recipes- family members, cookbooks, and online. Additionally, checking in with an older family member will certainly brighten their day. Just don’t wait until the last minute to do it.
✴ My family, originally from the south, favors a sausage dressing. When I was growing up, we didn’t have day-old bread just lying around. I remember spending days in front of our 2-hole toaster getting enough bread hardened before chopping it up and mixing it with the other ingredients. I can now buy bread, already hard, already cubed, seasoned, and unseasoned, saving one huge step. Because I miss the flavors, and the memories they evoke, I still use parts of our old family recipe. And, even if we decide not to have a huge turkey with sausage stuffing, this same recipe makes a great side dish or casserole. There are often simple, inexpensive solutions for almost every cooking dilemma.
✴Make gravy from pan drippings and the savings will add up quickly. Don’t have pan drippings, once again this is where vegetable and meat broths and soup bases can boost the flavor.
CHANGE IT TO A BRUNCH AND/OR MAKE IT A POTLUCK.
✴ Try something different. Suggest having a holiday brunch buffet instead of the usual huge, heavy sit-down meal. Consider appetizers, casseroles, and maybe mimosas, real and virgin. Everyone can still contribute by bringing something they made, or a singular item they bought.
✴ Let each guest bring something and you’re bound to have more than enough delicious food to go around without having to overextend everyone’s budget.
SKIP SOME OF THE MADNESS BY SHOPPING EARLY.
✴ When you start buying the ingredients you need for your holiday feasting early, you have additional time to watch for sales, markdowns, and special deals. For example, you may be able to buy your turkey at a steep discount if you buy it ahead of time and freeze it. The same goes for hams and rock cornish hens.
If you make a plan and are mindful of the costs of things, you can cut down on expenses and still create a truly wonderful holiday meal for your family and friends. Making things from scratch, while more time-consuming, can save you a lot of money in the long run.
Try a new way of getting through the holidays. For example, try incorporating one of these ideas in your Thanksgiving meal planning, and then try another for the Christmas meal.
REMEMBER YOUR “WHY.”
“Family gathers to share good noise and good food.
Gratitude abounds.”
Please always keep in mind that the most important part of all this food and gathering is just that, gathering. The celebration is not about the trappings of the day or the expensive gifts, but about being with the people we know and care about, as well as those we don’t know well, but still care about.
The camaraderie and love we share with others is what gets us through the day, through the year, and through the tough times.
The essence of spending quality holiday time together is being in the presence of people who know us and care about our well-being. Keep this thought foremost in your mind as you trudge through the mall or the grocery store. The food is but a small part of the atmosphere we are trying to create.
One of the things we aim to focus on this season is how to keep our quest for a better life frugal.
As you know, I love learning new things.
Do you have something to add to this list about how to save money during the holiday season? Please hit me up in the comments.
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Chat soon…
Martina
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