• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Meet Hannah
    • Media Opportunities
    • Privacy Policy + Affiliate Marketing
  • Recipes
  • Money Saving Tips
  • Make Money

Eat, Drink, and Save Money

A Meaningful Life on a Budget

  • Travel
    • Disney World on a Budget
  • Family
  • Green Living
  • Life in Southwest Florida

November 11, 2019 By Hannah @ Eat, Drink and Save Money

This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
. Leave a Comment

7 Hacks to Save Money on Thanksgiving Dinner

Tweet
Share3
Share
Pin14
17 Shares

Save on your Thanksgiving dinner menu with these easy, simple tricks. Here are 7 Thanksgiving money saving tips that will help you enjoy the day without going over budget.

How to order a Thanksgiving delivery meal

How to host Thanksgiving on a budget

Putting together a Thanksgiving dinner is quite a haul – when it comes to making it and spending money on it.

Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday but the timing of it isn’t awesome. After all, you’ve probably already spent a decent amount of money on Halloween and you’re either in the process or will soon begin spending a lot of money on Christmas. That shouldn’t keep you from serving an amazing meal to your friends and family.

Don’t worry, though. There are plenty of ways to cut costs without cutting corners! This post outlines all the ways to save money this Thanksgiving, from how to get a free turkey to decorating on a budget.

Want to navigate this post a little easier? Click on the words below!

  • FAQ about Thanksgiving budgets
  • How to get a free Thanksgiving turkey
  • 7 Thanksgiving Money Saving Tips
  • More Thanksgiving Ideas

FAQ about Thanksgiving budgets

If you aren’t careful you could end up going way over budget for Thanksgiving. It wouldn’t be the end of the world if Christmas wasn’t just around the corner. Just because you want to save money on Thanksgiving, doesn’t mean you have to give up your dreams of hosting a beautiful meal.

Check out these FAQ about Thanksgiving budgets to come up with a realistic idea of how much you plan to spend this year.

How much does the typical Thanksgiving meal cost?

According to USA Today, the average Thanksgiving meal costs $48.90 and feeds 10 people.

The cost of turkey has steadily declined over the last decade making Thanksgiving a pretty affordable meal when planned correctly.

How much should I budget for Thanksgiving?

Depending on where you live, it’s safe to budget $50-100. This also depends on how much alcohol and appetizers you plan to serve.

Budgeting for the entire holiday weekend? That is a different story. According to Lendedu the average American spent $175.65 in 2018 once travel was included. It’s estimated that the cost will rise to $186.05 in 2019.

How can I get a free turkey for Thanksgiving?

Many stores have specials for free turkeys. Here is a list of free Thanksgiving turkeys for 2019.

Grocery stores with pharmacies often give out free turkeys when you get your flu shot. If your insurance covers your flu shot, this is a super smart way to get a free Thanksgiving turkey!

10 Ways to get a free turkey for Thanksgiving

How can I save money on Thanksgiving?

There are so many ways to save money on Thanksgiving! Read below to find out 7 of the best ways to save on Thanksgiving dinner.

7 Thanksgiving Money Saving Tips

Consider hosting a potluck Thanksgiving meal

Potlucks are not old fashioned. In fact, Thanksgiving is a great way to be inclusive! Everyone has a Thanksgiving favorite – whether it’s a casserole or dessert or a dressing style. People may all agree on mashed potatoes as a main side, but as far as tweaks to the recipe, people have their preferences! What a great way to celebrate traditions by letting people bring their favorite side dish while you handle the turkey. Of course, this is if you’re having a big family and/or friend gathering. If it’s just your main family unit, read on!

Buy ingredients ahead

Make a list of everything you need and start scanning online and in-store ads. Many things can be bought in advance and stored, such as canned items, or frozen. Speaking of frozen, consider buying your turkey frozen. You’ll need about 3-4 days to defrost, but if you’re buying ahead, this should be no problem.

Shop smart

You’re already scoping out ads and coupons. Go to discount stores such as Aldi for as many ingredients as you can. Call a local bakery and find out when they discount bread if you’re making homemade dressing. Figure out the size turkey you need – estimate about 1 pound per person. If you love leftover turkey, maybe it’s smarter to increase that to 1.5 pounds. Don’t waste money buying more than you need at a higher price.

Go bargain with beverages

Check out wholesale stores that sell alcohol (Costco, Sam’s, BJ’s) or wholesale liquor stores. Don’t balk at the thought of boxed wine. Most boxes of wine contain up to four bottles. If you serve it up in a nice decanter, nobody will tell the difference. For non-alcoholic beverages, skip the more expensive sodas and consider drink mixes (Crystal Light, Kool-Aid), coffee and tea.

Keep it simple

Consider what basic Thanksgiving dishes mean to you. Mashed potatoes and green beans? Stuffing and macaroni and cheese? It’s fun to feel inspired and try new and more complicated (and more expensive) dishes, but sometimes your Thanksgiving combination is what everyone is truly looking forward to.

Go cheap with Thanksgiving decor

Using food as decoration is a great way to save money, because it will eventually go from decoration to sustenance. Scatter cranberries and set out some beautiful acorn squash. Mix in some pinecones and fall leaves from your yard to add variety! Or if you want to go with store-bought, skip the home décor stores and check out dollar stores. You’ll find great options for cheap. Just make sure you don’t go overboard! If you want to get the kids involved, having them make homemade decorations and place cards is a wonderful idea that will make for adorable keepsakes.

Repurpose your leftovers

With some careful planning and creativity, you can repurpose your leftovers into some pretty delicious meals.

Get some Thanksgiving leftover inspiration here. 

7 hacks to save money on Thanksgiving dinner

More Thanksgiving ideas

Need some more Thanksgiving inspiration? Try these ideas for fun ways to enjoy the day without spending a ton of money.

  • 6 Truths About Black Friday- Is It Even Worth It?
  • 7 Easy Pot Luck Friendly Thanksgiving Side Dishes 
  • Turkey cinnamon rolls
  • Ways to use up Thanksgiving leftovers
  • Slow cooked risotto with turkey
  • Last minute Thanksgiving crafts
  • How to make a cinnamon sugar rim for pumpkin beer
  • How to host a pumpkin beer tasting party

Like this post?

Don’t forget to follow me on social media (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) to see more of what I’m up to in real life. If you like this post, you’ll love my social media accounts too! Want to know another way you can see more of what I love? Follow me on Pinterest.  I’d also love for you to pin this post to Pinterest if you liked it!

Related

Tweet
Share3
Share
Pin14
17 Shares

Filed Under: Thanksgiving

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Connect with Hannah

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Meet Hannah

1
While I love saving money, I also have expensive taste and a passion for the environment. I firmly believe that you can live frugally while enjoying the finer things in life such as travel and high end products. I like fine foods and quality ingredients, I also enjoy spending money on fancy local coffee and kombucha. It’s all about the experience! Join me as I balance a budget and preserve our Earth, while enjoying the finer things in life.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Become an official follower and NEVER miss a money saving tip!

Top Posts

How to repurpose a shrimp boil feast + low country boil recipe
How to make a cinnamon sugar rim for pumpkin beer
Frozen Chocolate Strawberry Bites Recipe
Is Medieval Times Worth The Price?
How to Reheat Steak 4 Different Ways
How to get free stuff in exchange for reviews

Visit Eat, Drink, and Save Money on Facebook

Visit Eat, Drink, and Save Money on Facebook

Copyright © 2022 · Brunch Pro Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in