Real Estate

Thanksgiving dinner with a dime

The holidays are upon us and everyone is excited to spend it with family and friends. But, if you are hosting your family’s Christmas traditions this year, you might be wondering how you will manage, especially when you live the rest of the year on such a tight budget. Well, here are some great tips for organizing your family’s Thanksgiving on a budget.

  1. Turkey is by far the most expensive part of any Thanksgiving, but start looking at your newspaper now. Many grocery stores offer specials for whole turkeys the week before Thanksgiving. If you’re smart and price-conscious, you can find the best price and the best turkey available.
  2. You can find delicious and easy recipes online for your side dishes. Mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and even canned blueberries are affordable side dishes that can be made for next to nothing, so don’t be afraid to explore your options.
  3. Don’t be afraid to try new things, a non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner may be the way to go. Just because your grandmother has worked on things and made everything from scratch doesn’t mean that you have done it too or that it is always the cheapest way to do it. For example, you buy delicious muffins in a bag or frozen at your local grocery store and pop them in the oven for a minute or two to warm them up.
  4. Decorate your home with natural things. A couple of miniature pumpkins and a pretty mom can be put together to make a beautiful centerpiece or you can create a centerpiece out of a large hurricane glass and fill it with moss and acorns from your backyard or nearby wooded area. Then you can plant a candle in the center of everything and voila! You have a beautiful centerpiece. You can also use pumpkins and mums to decorate your porch or your guest bathroom, anywhere that needs a festive touch. Mom and miniature pumpkins are quite affordable, especially at this time of year, because it is almost too late for them.
  5. Don’t feel like you have to rush out and for new china. You can mix and match what you already have and match all the different pieces with matching napkins and placemats. This is sure to give your table a festive and homey feel.
  6. If your family lives close by, a great way to save money is for everyone to contribute something. Tell them that you will provide the turkey and let everyone else bring a side or dessert. Be sure to let them know how many you expect, so they make sure to bring enough.

If your budget is very tight, you may consider spending it with your husband and children. That way, you won’t have to try too hard to prepare a great meal, and you might be surprised at how much your family would enjoy a leisurely Thanksgiving dinner at home. Thanksgiving is about celebrating the blessings we have been given, no matter how tough the economy is doing right now. So as long as you do, even if it’s pizza, your Thanksgiving on a budget will be everything it’s supposed to be.

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