Turkey Talk: How to Save Money this Thanksgiving

"Turkey. Stuffing. Mashed Potatoes. Gravy. Pies. ALL. THE. SIDES. Drinks. Decor... Oh- and don't forget Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals!"

Does this sound familiar? As Thanksgiving approaches, the anticipation leading up to the "Big Day" (and weekend) can send us in a panic to the stores and make it hard to keep track of where our money is being spent during the chaos. With a little planning and creativity, you can have a relatively* stress-free holiday and spend more quality time with friends and family!

*Cooking turkey is typically involved- we cannot guarantee this will not be stressful!

Evaluate ALL of your Holiday Plans & Create a Budget

When creating a holiday budget, consider your plans for the entire holiday season. Whether you're hosting Thanksgiving, celebrating Hannukah, or traveling for Christmas, make sure to include typical expenses like gifts, food, decorations, traditions, etc. Is it important to you to visit family during the holiday season? Consider allocating more funds for travel while compromising on decorations and food.
Takeaway: Prioritize what matters most to you from now until the end of the year and create a budget.

 

Be a Mindful Shopper

Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sales are a great opportunity to check off items on your gift list while scoring a great deal! What's also easy is falling for the "75% off!" signs on items we don't really need... (it's okay, we've all been there.) Make a list of things you plan to buy and research/shop around for the best deals ahead of time. Consider shopping generic brands, especially for meals, to cut down on brand-associated price tags.
Takeaway: Avoid impulse buys by creating a shopping list that works within your budget and pre-shopping around to find the best deal. Very mindful. Very demure.

 

DIY Decorations

In the world of Pinterest and other social media, it's easy to let our vision get carried away with what our homes should look like during the holidays. In 2023, the average American consumer spent $255 on seasonal items like decorations, candy, cards, and food. Consider cutting decor expenses by repurposing decorations you find at thrift or dollar stores, having your children create decorations, or even creating your own cards!
Takeaway: Decorations can be an easy category to cut expenses by DIY and repurposing.

 

Host a Potluck Style Dinner

Cut the stress and the costs by hosting a Potluck Style dinner. Inviting guests to bring a dish (or two) to pass can help ease the financial and labor burden on you. This can also be a fun way to try new recipes, learn new traditions, and share stories over a meal you all contributed to!
Takeaway: Consider hosting a Potluck Style dinner to cut down on food expenses.

 

Skip Hosting This Year

Have you received an invite from a friend or family member to celebrate at their place? It's okay to take them up on that offer and skip a year of hosting duties! Not only does this cut a huge expense out of your budget, but it can also ease the overall burden of hosting— preparations, cleaning, decorating, shopping, etc.
Takeaway: Take up a family member or friend on their invite to join them at their place.

 

Skip Dinner Altogether

You could always take it one step further and skip the extravagant dinner altogether! Consider volunteering your time at a shelter to serve meals to those in need in your local community. Invite friends and family along with you— you may just find a new favorite holiday tradition!
Takeaway: Consider volunteering your time to serve meals to those in need in place of an extravagant dinner.

 

Think Less is More

Take time to actually enjoy the holiday season. Allow time in your schedule to breathe and take in the season, and the people surrounding you. When we're less stressed, we're more focused on and grateful for what's in front of us. When we really think back on holidays past, do we remember all the decorations, specialty foods, sales, and every gift? Or do we remember the quality time spent with those who matter most and embracing the spirit of the season?
Takeaway: Allow yourself to embrace what matters to us the most during the season