I love holidays. I love setting the table for holidays. Here’s a picture of one of my favorite Easters, ever. But we all know it’s very easy to get carried away with all of the trimmings and fixings of a holiday meal, right? Here are three of my favorite tips to keep you from going over budget when preparing a family dinner for a holiday.
1) Take stock of what you already have. This is a principle important on a weekly basis but even more important when you’re preparing a large meal. Peek through the fridge, freezer, pantry, and cabinets. You don’t want to inadvertently buy something you already have. Use some of the items you already have to build a meal.
2) Plan the menu. Have a good idea of what you want to make before you even go to the grocery store. I like to begin thinking about it a week or two in advance and have a written plan by midweek prior to the holiday. After you plan the menu and take stock of what you already have, make a good solid grocery list. Don’t head to the store without a plan or you’ll end up with WAY more than what you need. Grocery stores are designed to make extras hop right into your cart with a bigger bound than the ole Easter bunny himself. STICK TO YOUR LIST.
3) See What’s on Sale. It’s a good idea to price compare around the holidays. I have to say that I’m usually too lazy to price match at stores (where you bring in the flyer from a competitor and have that store match the price which most grocery stores will do). But around the holidays, the deals are just good to pass up. So be sure you leaf through the mailers from the grocery store this week OR check the deals online. Many stores will have an Easter Special Flyer in addition to their regular deals. Aldi, Target, Meijer, Kroger, Walmart, and Marsh ads are also all online (as well as many other stores). Take a few minutes to price compare on the items you know you need.
Bottom line, to stay on budget you have to have a plan and stick to it. I know it sounds very basic BUT it truly is the best bet. And we should all remind ourselves of the basics now and again.
What about you? What are three things you do to save big when it comes to holiday meals?
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