Planning a Thanksgiving Meal with Savings in Mind

It’s that time of year again — big meals, full bellies, and a touch of strain on our wallets. It doesn’t have to be hard on our budget, though. It’s time to roll up our sleeves and get ready to save this holiday season! Here are some ways to have your Thanksgiving meal on a budget.

Plan

Many of us plan our big Thanksgiving meals ahead of time, but not necessarily with savings in mind. We plan our menus around our taste buds! This is obviously the best way to plan any meal (we all cook our favorites for big holiday meals), but we can also plan with savings in mind.

Figure out the dishes you plan on cooking, then strategize. Be willing to go to a couple stores to maximize your savings. Is a turkey cheaper per pound at one store than another? Buy it there. Want to buy it early while the prices are a bit lower and the selection is better? Buy it now and freeze it ahead of time.

Remember to watch for weekly deals and sales and start getting non-perishable goods now. This means less of a hit to your wallet the week of Thanksgiving (when you’ll also likely be spending a lot to save big on Black Friday and Cyber Monday).

Don’t forget to whip out your coupons, use store savings apps, and take advantage of BOGO deals and price cuts as you see them.

This all is part of planning your meal by planning to save; penny-pinching is an art!

Strategize

Saving is more than just sales and deals – it’s strategizing. Are you willing to buy generic or unbranded items for certain ingredients? If so, do so. Every little bit counts when you shop to save, so pay attention to price differences between brand name and generic items. It really can save you an insane amount of money, especially over the course of several months.

Also, don’t forget to go through what you already have at home. You’d be surprised at how many shoppers forget about the nonperishables they bought months ago and never used.

Want corn, cranberry sauce, or green beans? I’ll bet you have a can of at least one of those buried in your pantry.

Take an itinerary of what you already have stored away and use those items! It pays to buy BOGO nonperishables when deals happen to occur — you can use them later for quick meals or holiday dinners.

Remember how we mentioned a few weeks ago to take advantage of the harvest season by eating fresh, in-season veggies? This is another great way to save. Get creative and use seasonal veggies in your Thanksgiving meal. It’s not only festive, but it saves you money! Season produce is always cheaper, so check out what’s in season in your area so you can take advantage of the savings.

This seasonal food guide will help you figure out what’s in season where you live based on the time of year.

https://www.seasonalfoodguide.org/

Enjoy!

Don’t forget to enjoy your meal. Half of what makes Thanksgiving special is spending the day cooking and laughing with your loved ones. Yes, find ways to save, improvise, and strategically plan your meal to be easier on your wallet. But make sure you don’t compromise your joy of the holiday by stressing over budgeting.

It is possible to budget with low stress — just take a deep breath, research what deals are going on at your local grocery stores, and plan ahead so you aren’t shopping at the last minute.