Don't Let Turkey Dinner Leave a Bad Taste
The American Farm Bureau Federation reports hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for 10 will cost an average $49.20 per person this year-a $5.73 increase from last year. But there’s no need to worry about the price surge, we've found ways to host a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner that won't leave a bad taste in your mouth or wallet.
Make a List
With your budget restrictions in mind, make a menu and stick to it. Leave out unnecessary sides and appetizers, and avoid recipes that call for ingredients that you wouldn’t use in the future and would go to waste. (Reuters)
Make Guests Pull Their Weight
It's not polite to go to someone's home empty handed. Have your guests bring a side or dessert to ease some of time and budget burdens of hosting.
Snag a Free Turkey
During this season, many grocery outlets run promotions for free turkeys if you spend a certain amount of money. Sit down with the weekly ad sheets to determine which stores are offering the most savings for the ingredients you need.
Choose Seasonal Foods
Buy in-season produce for your feast. Not only do they taste better, they tend to cost a lot less.
Think Homemade!
From pumpkin pie to stuffing, making your own dishes is not only fun, but it's cost effective. For recipes that call for items not already stocked in your cupboards, check online to see if there is a close substitute that would also work.
Go Dry or Inexpensive
Wine and liquor can burn a deep dark hole in your wallet, especially if you're entertaining a lot of guests. Just because it's expensive doesn’t mean it's good. Cut back to only serving wine during dinner and when serving drinks like soda and juice, it's much more cost-effective to put out bottles since guests tend to leave cans lying around and unfinished.