It can be easy to spend a few hundred dollars to host a Thanksgiving gathering. That wouldn’t be a wise choice for me, so I do Thanksgiving on the cheap. I manage to spend under $100, yet still provide a fabulous meal. Here’s how I do it...
The following post is by MPFJ staff writer, Laurie Blank. Laurie is a wife, mother to 4 and homesteader who blogs about personal finance, self-sufficiency and life in general over at The Frugal Farmer. Part witty, part introspective and part silly, her goal in blogging is to help others find their way to financial freedom and to a simpler, more peaceful life.
That time of year is coming ‘round again. Turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes. You know the one: Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving is truly my favorite holiday. I love that we can all gather and eat without the pressure of gifts.
In my family, I host most holidays, including Thanksgiving. My brothers and their families, my parents (all four of them) and other random family members make the drive to our country house.
I work to feed them the feast of all feasts that day. I’m a foodie and a cook, and I can’t think of a better way to love on someone than to feed them delicious food.
However, I’m also a girl on a budget. It can be easy to spend a few hundred dollars to host a Thanksgiving gathering.
That wouldn’t be a wise choice for me, so I do Thanksgiving on the cheap. I manage to spend under $100, yet still provide a fabulous meal.
Here’s how I do it.
Thanksgiving on the Cheap
It’s important to me that I provide a quality meal while still sticking to my budget. It’s taken some work, but I’ve found a few ways to be able to do that. Here are some of my favorite ways to host a cheap (but quality) family gathering.
Start with a Menu Plan
A menu plan is the most important part of your event. Make a list of all of the items that make for a perfect Thanksgiving. Main dishes, side dishes, and desserts. Accompaniments such as dinner rolls and pickles, or in our case, Lefse.
Next, invite guests to participate.
Divvy Out the Dishes
I always save money on hosting holidays by divvying out the dishes. Give each guest one or two things to bring.
This typically doesn’t cost each guest much money. However, it will save you a LOT. Collectively, you’ll be handing off a good portion of the menu. And you’ll be saving a lot of money.
Don’t worry that it’s not polite to ask others to contribute. I’ve found that people love to help provide. It makes them feel like a part of the blessing it is to share a meal.
Once you have your menu plan, you can start working to save money on it. You know which items you’re responsible for.
I choose to make the main items at my house and divvy out the rest. I make the meat, the potatoes, and the veggies. I also make one dessert because it’s a family favorite.
I divvy out the salad, the rest of the desserts and the rolls. Oh, and the lefse. My mom and stepdad always buy the lefse. We buy some seriously high quality (and seriously expensive) lefse for Thanksgiving. It’s our middle-class family’s one fancy food treat for the year 😊.
Once you know what you need to buy, you can start shopping.
Shop the Sales
I can’t emphasize how important this is. You know what you’ll be preparing and what ingredients you’ll need. Thanksgiving hosts great deals on the food most of us need and buy.
You’ll find deals on ham and turkey. Ridiculously low prices on potatoes. One year I got russet potatoes at 99 cents for a 10-pound bag – BAM!
Be sure to check the ads for stores near you in the weeks before Thanksgiving. You’ll find some phenomenal deals.
Oh, and shop the discount stores too. Aldi and Walmart offer amazing sales around Thanksgiving.
Don’t Fall for the Hype
Another money-saving tip? Don’t fall for the hype. One year a relative bought a VERY expensive ham for Thanksgiving. It cost close to $100.
It was a good ham. Better than the 99-cents-per-pound ham I usually buy. But it wasn’t “$100” better. Look for a happy medium. Buy good stuff, but not ridiculously-expensive stuff.
Often, it’s just hype. And you can do amazing things with 99-cents-per-pound meat with the right seasoning and cooking techniques.
For instance, you can brine your turkey for extra moisture. Or cook your ham in the crockpot so it won’t dry out.
Focus on making the foods you prepare really, really yummy instead. Search the Net for recipes. Experiment with different recipes during other times of the year.
Save yourself some cash and don’t fall for buying “elite” brands. Unless it’s lefse, of course, 😊. We’ve found that the store-bought lefse isn’t worth eating. But our online store (Jacob’s lefse) makes the best darn homemade lefse around.
If it’s something that’s absolutely worth it to you, buy the elite stuff. Most times though, it’s not.
Make Homemade
Another tip for saving money on your Thanksgiving feast? Make things from scratch. You can buy pre-made dishes like green bean casserole, stuffing, etc.
However, homemade is typically cheaper – and it tastes better. This is especially true when it comes to desserts and baked goods.
BYOB
Alcohol is one of the most expensive costs for hosting gatherings. I avoid the cost by not serving it. If you want to have it, do a BYOB thing or offer a small selection of beer and/or wine.
You can often find great deals on up-and-coming beers and wines at your local liquor store.
Don’t waste money by having a full bar available for guests.
Conclusions
Using these tips, I generally spend between $70 and $90 to host 20 or so people at our house. We have a wonderful time, and people always rave about the food.
