Did you catch our Savings Segment this morning on Fox? We are honored to be a featured on Good Day Tampa Bay each Sunday to share our knowledge about coupons and how to get the most for your money! This week’s topic was all about how you can save on your upcoming Thanksgiving meal. Thanksgiving is almost here! Let’s sharpen our savings skills by discussing 5 Ways to cut costs for this Fantastic Feast.
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ere is a little more information for you:
- Take a Headcount ~ One key to not over spending is not over buying. Knowing how much you need to cook is key to purchasing the proper amount so you don’t blow your budget. Did you know the serving size per person is 1 pound of turkey and 1 oz of dry stuffing? Did you know that you only need 1 can of cranberry for each 3 guests? That means you don’t need a 20 lb turkey if you are only serving 8 people. I realize leftovers are the best part, but gauging more accurately will help you save money.
- Go Shopping NOW ~ Good Thanksgiving sales started at the end of last week. Don’t wait until next week to shop for it all. Publix has over 40 BOGO’s happening this week and Winn Dixie has over 20. Get canned green beans now and stuffing next week. Then by the time Thanksgiving is here and you are ready to cook, you’ll only have a few items left to get. Spreading the purchases out over a couple of weeks helps to avoid a large spike in your budget.
- Cook from Scratch ~ When it comes to mashed potatoes, five pounds of whole Russets will make more, cost less, and taste better than a box of dehydrated spud flakes. And with the right recipes, it shouldn’t take much additional time to prepare. Did you know you can prep veggies up to 2 days in advance? You can wash and trim all your veggies and store them wrapped in damp paper towels in the fridge. Less prep time on the big day!
- Keep it Simple ~ This year, instead of following fancy recipes, scale down by making the best versions of basic classics. Choose well-reviewed dishes with short ingredient lists. I know how tempting it is to make complicated meals with expensive ingredients to give your guests the ultimate Thanksgiving dinner. But doing this adds money, time and stress to your Thanksgiving.
- Skip Some Dishes ~ Too often, we make Thanksgiving dishes simply because they’re tradition – not because we actually like them. Take a look at what people actually eat when you host the meal. For instance, if you make sweet potato casserole each year (because you think you should) but you always end up throwing most of it out, don’t make it this year!
Basically, Thanksgiving is all about celebrating with friends and family and being grateful for all the blessings in your life. It shouldn’t be about cooking “the perfect meal” or having “the perfect house” when everyone comes over. Doing that does nothing but run you ragged! Relax and have fun with Thanksgiving this year. And remember, the more you plan in advance, the more you are going to end up saving!
~Happy Thanksgiving!!
