How to Save on Your Holiday Feast 2021

There's holiday cheer and family visits to look forward to this week, all capped off with a lovely meal. Chances are, you're planning on shopping to cook a sizable holiday feast in the coming days. With supply chain shortages, grocery prices rising, and inflation bringing up our grocery bills the past few months, here are our tips to gifting yourself big savings on your holiday dinner this year. 

Set a Firm Budget

The first step to saving on a holiday meal is to set a budget — your budget needs to define your menu, not the other way around. Once you know how much you can dedicate to your feast, start going through your cabinets. 

See What's Already in Your Pantry

I always advise to check and see what non perishables already live in your kitchen before you shop for a big meal. Do you have canned or frozen vegetables you could utilize and build dishes around? Get a little creative with how you'll use what you already have. 

This is an imperative step in saving on groceries for your holiday meal. No matter the category, grocery item prices have steadily risen over the last few months. Every item you already have at home will save you that much more cash.

Build Meals Around What You Have

Now that you've gone through your pantry thoroughly, plan meals around these ingredients. Keeping side dishes simple like this will definitely save you money and time. 

Shop for Deals

Now that you've set a budget and looked for ingredients in your pantry, shop wisely for the rest of what you need. Create a list beforehand and make sure you feel like that list is feasible within your budget. 

When shopping for deals and sales, look especially for bogo deals and anything 40% off or more. These are the best sales you can score on grocery items right now, so stay vigilant while shopping. 

Don't forget to use savings apps, coupons, and weekly ads to your advantage. 

Throw a Potluck

Another great way to save is to ask guests to prepare and bring a dish, that way you have less to purchase and cook yourself. 

Having a potluck style dinner is a fun and festive way to try a little something from everyone (and it saves you a good bit of cash, too!)