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HOW TO HOST THANKSGIVING ON A BUDGET
Thanksgiving is a time to think about life in general and what has happened since the beginning of
the year. I really enjoy spending time with family and friends during this period.
Thanksgiving period brings lots of family and friends together for fun, fellowship, and sharing meals. If you are the host, it can get stressful and very expensive.
There are many ways to host a nice Thanksgiving Dinner without breaking the bank. I will help you make this Thanksgiving less stressful by providing suggestions and tips that will help you save money and enjoy your time with your family and friends.
Follow these tips below to have a stress-free Thanksgiving
Create a budget
It is so important that you plan ahead of time. The most important step is to decide the amount of money you plan to spend (budget). Once you decide what the budget is going to be, make plans for your budget. Do not make any decision or plans without a budget in place.
Make a guest list. Decide the number of guests to invite based on your budget. You cannot have more people than what the budget allows. Knowing how many people you plan to invite will determine how much food you to buy.
PLAN YOUR MENU
Plan your menu. Make a list of what you plan to cook. The average Thanksgiving Dinner table has the following:
- Turkey
- Dressing
- Macaroni & Cheese
- Mashed Potato
- Cornbread
- Desserts
- Salad or some type of greens
Your menu will depend on you. However, I will suggest making four to five side dishes.
It is also important to plan when to cook. For example, there are things that can be cooked and frozen, or prep and freeze the ingredients that you will use to cook a particular dish. Cooking all your dishes at one time can be overwhelming and stressful. Schedule your cooking to avoid having so much to cook on Thanksgiving Day with limited time. Some people suggest purchasing a whole Thanksgiving meal but I prefer dishes made from scratch. It is a matter of personal preference.
HAVE A POTLUCK
Many times, family and friends offer to bring side dishes. Please don’t turn them down. Some people are on a particular diet and may want to prepare a side dish that they can eat. I will be preparing some Keto dishes this Thanksgiving. Allowing people to bring side dishes will cut down on your costs, cut down on the work, and allow you to stay within your budget. You will also be able to enjoy other foods that other people cook.
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SHOPPING
Once you have your menu, get the recipes and write down your list of ingredients. Go through your pantry and check off from your list what you have in your pantry. As Thanksgiving Day comes closer, the stores will begin having sales. Check the weekly ads and coupons for deals and shop during sales to make your money go a long way. Have your list with you at all times to avoid purchasing the same items multiple times. Buying the same things twice may cause you to go above your budget. It is best to shop ahead of time to avoid the stress of longs lines and items being out of stock.
Stick to your list and only buy what is needed.
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Closing Thoughts
Thanksgiving dinner does not have to put a dent in your bank account. Having an enjoyable Thanksgiving Dinner is great, but adding some fun activities to the day creates a more memorable day.
What are some of your tips on hosting Thanksgiving dinner on a budget? Please share your tips in the comments below.
Hi, I’m Ngozi, I work full time during the day blog at night and in my free time. Join me as I write about saving money, side hustle, getting out of debt, and ways to enjoy the simple things in life.