Thanksgiving can be a great time to get together with family and spend time engaging in great conversation while eating amazing food and giving thanks for all life’s pleasures but, it can be expensive. Sometimes, it is nice to be able to entertain on a budget. After all, Thanksgiving is about being thankful and it is nice to be able to do so without breaking the bank.
Thankfully, there are ways to host a spectacular Thanksgiving get together without flattening your pocketbook.
Thanksgiving on a Budget
Make it a Potluck
When deciding to host a Thanksgiving dinner, make it a potluck affair. Have guests bring their favourite side dishes and you provide the main course. Not only does this help to save you from purchasing a lot of food, it also ensures that everyone has their favourite side dish to accompany the meal and gives guests the opportunity to try others. You can even share stories as to why this is their side dish of choice. Great conversation and a little less expensive. It’s a win-win.
Plan Ahead
Make a grocery list, budget, clip coupons and stick to it. If you plan your menu based on sales and the number of people coming to join your Thanksgiving table, not only will you save money but you will minimize food waste.
Decorate with What You Have on Hand
Use what nature provides for table decor. Pinecones in a nice clear vase can make a beautiful centerpiece. You can even use fallen leaves to create a cascade over a table. You don’t have to go expensive to create a gorgeous Thanksgiving environment, in fact just showcasing the pies can be simple and beautiful.
Nix the Alcohol
It may be tempting to have an array of beautiful autumn-themed cocktails to offer your guests but that can get expensive. Nix the alcohol completely or pick one themed cocktail to feature and have guests bring their own cocktail mixes to share.
Don’t Go Overboard
No matter what you choose to do, just make sure you don’t go overboard. Thanksgiving is about spending time together as a family or friends, not about how many different side dishes you whipped up or how many cocktails you can offer.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Tags : budget, Canadian Thanksgiving, entertaining, keep it simple, Thanksgiving
