We love the turkey. We love the pie. We love all of the special fixings and especially the time spent with our families. However, the cost of Thanksgiving can add up so quickly. With way too many classic dishes to choose from, decor, and all of the special touches you could love celebrating the season but hate your checking account balance. Especially since Christmas is right around the corner, it’s wise to pause and reflect on these budget tips for an affordable Thanksgiving dinner before it’s too late.
Begin with a Written Plan
If you hang around with me at all (both online, in person, and through my books), you know that I’m a huge fan of having a written plan for everything that I do. This practice will not stifle your creativity, I promise. But heading the grocery store without a menu plan or a list basically reduces you to begging the clerk to empty your wallet and then smack you across the face with its empty shell. So, I’d highly recommend you sit down with your favorite pen and notepad or iPad (whatevs) to begin your plan of attack. Make your written plan a two prong sneak attack. Begin with the meal and then build your grocery list.
Stick to the Basics or Outsource
For every family Thanksgiving looks a little bit different. However, I’d encourage you to set a baseline of expectations by asking everyone who will be attending what their favorite dish is. You might find that you can whittle down the menu based on the items that don’t rank. With any meal, I suggest a main course/meat, a veggie, a and a fruit. With a holiday meal, you should probably adjust your thinking to include a main course/meat, 2 to 3 veggies and or fruit, a bread, and a dessert. You don’t have to go overboard. You won’t ruin anyone’s life if you don’t have the jello mold this year, friends. Or if you do want to expand the menu, then ask for help. But instead of assigning dishes to everyone, ask them to bring their best to the table.
Guard Your Heart in the Aisles
Making a plan simply isn’t enough. The grocery store is a dangerous place, creating unnecessary desires in during the holiday season. Each cute centerpiece cries out for your attention. Every disposable paper good with a cornucopia printed on it seems to jump into your cart. Remember my story about the $0.19 placemats? If you can say no to the simplest of things, you can say no to the greatest of things. Guarding your heart seems vague and philosophical but practically speaking the the best way to do this is having a written plan (see above) and setting a time limit to be in the store. Wandering around in circles creates what I like to call “What the heck did I buy?”-itis. Don’t tell me I’m the only one, please. So either plan to go to the store in a specific window of time. i.e. you have to pick up your kids in 45 minutes or set your phone’s alarm and get after it.
Borrow, When Possible
Thanksgiving is a time of the year when you realize you don’t have everything you need to entertain large groups of people. Card tables and extra chairs, large serving dishes, and more – all of the sudden you have a need and you need it now. Don’t force your poor spouse to head to a store filled with crazy last minute shoppers. Take an inventory now and begin asking if you can borrow once-a-year items like these. You don’t necessary have to invest in a set of your own. Social media is a great place to see who has what. I’ve found that friends are more than happy to lend a hand and not everyone needs everything every year.
Make it from scratch, keep it simple, spread your purchases out over time, the Money Saving Lords and Ladies in the Court of the Queen of Free on Facebook are chiming in with their favorite ways to save, too. Go and add yours there!
Gain inspiration to pay off debt! Check out Inspiration to Pay Off Debt: 30 Days of Encouragement from the Queen of Free
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