{"id":352511,"date":"2014-11-07T06:00:03","date_gmt":"2014-11-07T13:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.creditrepair.com\/blog\/?p=352511"},"modified":"2022-03-30T19:13:12","modified_gmt":"2022-03-31T01:13:12","slug":"thanksgiving-on-a-budget-five-ways-to-save","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.creditrepair.com\/blog\/finance\/thanksgiving-on-a-budget-five-ways-to-save\/","title":{"rendered":"Thanksgiving on a Budget: Five Ways to Save"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"shutterstock_157931972\"<\/p>\n

Thanksgiving is a time of celebration and togetherness\u2026unless you\u2019re the host. An American Farm Bureau Federation survey revealed that a classic Turkey Day meal for 10 cost $49.04 in 2012. While that number may be average, anyone who\u2019s hosted Thanksgiving understands that it\u2019s conservative. The price of food is rising in the U.S., and holiday mark-ups are sure to pack a financial punch this season. Avoid a budget-busting meal by following the money-saving tips below. They will help you plan a fun and affordable Thanksgiving.<\/p>\n

1. Buy a competitive turkey<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Whether you want free-range, heritage, or plain old Butterball, the turkey is the centerpiece of your Thanksgiving meal. Unsurprisingly, it\u2019s also the most expensive item. Don\u2019t pay $5 per pound without shopping around. Choose a \u201ccompetitive\u201d turkey that boasts quality meat for a good price. Contact your local grocery stores, butcher shops and free-range farms to collect pricing information. Why spend more than necessary?<\/p>\n

Cooking tip: Overdone poultry is the worst. Don\u2019t disappoint your guests by using a basting bag. Secure the best return on your investment by covering your turkey in foil and basting by hand every 45 minutes.<\/p>\n

2. Downplay the sides<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Potatoes, salad, green bean casserole, yams, corn, bread and more. If you aren\u2019t careful, Thanksgiving sides can spiral out of control, a consequence that is sure to affect your bank account. Diminish your bottom line by cutting the list of sides in half. After all, who reaches for salad at the Thanksgiving table?<\/p>\n

Cooking tip: Choose mashed potatoes as your main Thanksgiving side. They\u2019re filling, affordable, easy to make and less time-consuming than yams.<\/p>\n

3. Avoid pre-made items<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019ve ever made a pie from scratch, you know it doesn\u2019t cost $15 to create a delicious dish. Don\u2019t let a fear of cooking affect your shopping list or your finances. Do some recipe research or ask family and friends for tried-and-true suggestions.<\/p>\n

Cooking tip: If your family isn\u2019t fond of pumpkin, use this recipe<\/a> to create the perfect apple pie. Don\u2019t expect leftovers!<\/p>\n

4. Go potluck<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The average family is filled with members who possess varying tastes and talents. To that end, suggest a potluck dinner to lower costs for everyone involved. If your mother likes cooking dessert, ask her to bring something sweet. If your brother enjoys grilling, ask him to bring some saut\u00e9ed vegetables. This strategy will allow everyone to enjoy a tasty and budget-friendly meal. You can\u2019t lose.<\/p>\n

Cooking tip: Create a public Google Doc<\/a> where family and friends can submit their dishes ahead of time. You don\u2019t want to end up with five bowls of casserole.<\/p>\n

5. Skip the alcohol<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The average bottle of wine can top $10, a tidy sum if you\u2019re feeding a table of 10 guests. Combine that with beer, mixers and hard alcohol, and the bar tab alone could cost hundreds of dollars. Consider throwing a dry Thanksgiving to save on cash and corral rowdy relatives. At worst, tell them it\u2019s BYOB.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Thanksgiving is a time of celebration and togetherness\u2026unless you\u2019re the host. An American Farm Bureau Federation survey revealed that a classic Turkey Day meal for 10 cost $49.04 in 2012. While that number may be average, anyone who\u2019s hosted Thanksgiving understands that it\u2019s conservative. The price of food is rising in the U.S., and holiday […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[158],"tags":[165,161],"yoast_head":"\nThanksgiving on a Budget: Five Ways to Save - CreditRepair.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Avoid a budget-busting meal by following the money-saving tips below. 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