A No Muss, No Fuss Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. With it come family, friends, fellowship and fun. Oh yeah – and quite often a strain on the budget! Just because it is a holiday doesn’t mean it has to be expensive. Follow a few simple tips to save when planning your meal:

Meal Share. Instead of cooking the entire meal yourself, ask your guests to each bring a dish. You could ask one to bring a dessert and another to bring dinner rolls. They will more than likely be happy to oblige and you’ll not only save money, but time in preparing your dinner.

Shop the Sales. There will be lots of great sales in your area. Shop smart and wait for the sales. If you combine those items with your coupons, you will be surprised at how far you can stretch your dollar.

Don’t go overboard. Sure, it would be wonderful to have seven different salads with your meal. But that can quickly add up. Stick with fewer items and you’ll spend less time in the kitchen as well as less money at the checkout.

Skip the paper goods. Sure, it can be easy for clean up, but purchasing fancy paper plates, napkins and cups can quickly add up. If you form an “assembly line” of sorts after your meal, cleanup will be a breeze.

No matter what you plan for your meal, try to enjoy it. We all know the holidays can be stressful, but with careful meal planning you can ease the burden.