- 1). Limit the number of guests. Invite only a few people to slash the costs of the meal. The less guests, the smaller turkey you can buy. Invite just close friends and family members.
- 2). Limit the menu. There's no need to serve every dish ever made for Thanksgiving dinner. Instead, choose one meat, one potato, one vegetable and one dessert. Make stuffing or rolls, and serve some type of salad.
- 3). Figure out exactly what size turkey you'll need. Use experience from years past. If last year you bought a 10-pound turkey and half of it was leftover, get a six-pound turkey this year. You'll save money and you won't have to eat turkey sandwiches for the rest of the week.
- 4). Buy your food for less and take advantage of specials. Produce costs less at the local farmer's market. The vegetables are fresher and are grown locally. Alternatively, purchase enough at the grocery store to get a free turkey, even if it means buying some food for your normal grocery list at the same time.
- 5). Serve less expensive food items at your Thanksgiving dinner. You may love asparagus, but it costs more than lima beans or green beans.
- 6). Try a nontraditional menu. Turkey can be expensive. Serve spaghetti instead. Thanksgiving is supposed to be about giving, so it shouldn't matter too much if you don't serve a turkey.
- 7). Cut down on paper costs. Make decorations out of things you already have in your home instead of purchasing paper decorations. Use regular dinnerware instead of buying paper plates and cups. This will help the budget and do less harm to the environment.
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