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!
Keeping the Thanksgiving dinner simple is often the best. Don’t buy a bunch of the the fancy foods etc that no one really wants. Potlucks are always a great idea!
all great tips. I am cooking again this year but not til after my mom moves on the 11th I am not turning the oven on for 8 hours when it is 28 outside lol
As you grow older, you’ll realize that alcohol really doesn’t need to be a theme at any family function. And there are all sorts of ideas for food!! Also a pot luck works well, esp if you have neighbors who don’t know what a North American thanksgiving meal is all about. WE’ve had pot lucks at work (usually during dec) and we ask all our co-workers to bring something from their culture just so that we all have a chance to experience something different.
And CROCK POTS are great for potlucks lol, the last turkey feast we had with my son, everyone brought something to his house and we had an awesome meal
I have always lived by the Keep it Simple philosophy. Family first, we are going to celebrate at one of my sisters and she is having the turkey made, she love the company but hates the mess. they rest of us will bring the side dishes. We make crock pot stuffing and also keep the potatoes warm in a crockpot its great