Celebrating Thanksgiving on a Budget

Thanksgiving is a time for gathering with family and friends, sharing stories, and eating home-cooked delicious meals. However, when you are on a budget, the holidays can be especially overwhelming. But, there are some ways that you can still have a wonderful Thanksgiving on a budget.

Cooking Thanksgiving Dinner on a Budget

With the prices of many grocery items are on the rise, including turkey, many families are wondering how they will be able to afford cooking a whole Thanksgiving dinner on a budget. The good news is that while prices for turkey might be climbing due to an avian flu outbreak, there are still budget-friendly ways you can afford to have a quality dinner.

Whether you are planning to cook just for yourself or for family and friends, you will want to make a list of what you are planning on purchasing. Before you head off to the store, take a peek in your cabinets to see if you already have what you might need or even a substitute. For instance, you might not have carrots but instead have a few potatoes lying around. Don’t be afraid to scale down the amount of dishes you are planning on serving. Sometimes, it is more cost effective to purchase more of one thing than to stretch out your budget on multiple ingredients.

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Decorating for Thanksgiving on a Budget

When it comes to decorating, the best way to save money is to plan in advance. If you know you are going to want to decorate for Thanksgiving, it is never too early to start shopping for decorations. Keep in mind that many stores have heavily discounted Thanksgiving and fall decorations at the end of the season. So, purchasing for next year is not always a bad idea.

Typically, decorations that are specific to Thanksgiving, such as turkey cut-outs, are going to cost more. However, you can still decorate for Thanksgiving on a budget by purchasing more generic decorations. For instance, think about picking up some orange tablecloths or gingham party plates. Also consider DIYing some of your decorations to save some cash. Make sure to utilize materials that you already have around the house!

Since Thanksgiving occurs during the fall season, you can also incorporate natural elements into your decor. While these elements are free, you will want to make sure you are collecting them where it is allowed. Think about picking up some sticks, branches, pampas grass, and even acorns to help take your decor to the next level.

Hosting Thanksgiving on a Budget

If you are hosting Thanksgiving, you will expect at least several people to be arriving at your house to celebrate the holiday. While you can use some of the above tips, you will also want to plan your celebration based on how many people will be in attendance. So, ensure that you are aware how many people will be attending before you purchase anything for Thanksgiving.

To help divide up costs, you can consider having more of a potluck-style Thanksgiving dinner, where you request that guests bring a dish to pass. This method of having Thanksgiving is actually quite common for families, regardless of their budgets. But, having family members sign up to be in charge of different foods does help you with overall food costs. Similarly, you can have guests just bring desserts to offset that individual cost. This helps to get the whole family involved.

Consider shopping well-beforehand. Most foods that can be purchased for Thanksgiving can either be frozen or they are a dry good. This means that they have a longer shelf life than fresh foods. So, watch for deals or when certain food items go on sale. Purchase them when they are on sale and then store them until it is time to cook for Thanksgiving. 

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Thanksgiving is a time to come together and enjoy good food surrounded by those you love. While being on a budget might make doing Thanksgiving on a budget seem intimidating, it is possible. The financial team at Spotloan is dedicated to providing individualized solutions to create unique lending opportunities, getting you the money you need when you need it. Our application process is quick and simple, providing you with a decision within minutes. Fill out the application to see if you qualify today!