Ten Ways to Save on Thanksgiving Groceries

Thanksgiving dinner is hands down the most expensive meal that you will prepare in the course of a year. Here are a few of my suggestions to help you cut your holiday grocery bill.

1. Plan the menu in advance. This way you know exactly what you need and will not be tempted by impulse purchases. Also, when doing your Thanksgiving shopping, only take as much money as you think that you will need. Leave the plastic at home.

2. Get your turkey now. The closer it gets to Thanksgiving, the more you will pay for your bird.

3. Look to your local grocery store for free turkey give aways. Many grocers start this incentive program in October. You spend the money on groceries anyway, so you might as well get something for it. The grocery store usually requires a minimum purchase per week, just be sure too stock up on non-perishables, don't buy unnecessary items, and use your coupons and store discount cards.

4. Buy your non perishable Thanksgiving items early. This includes pie filling, stuffing, and canned vegetables. The prices of these items tends to escalate the closer it gets to the holiday.

5. The more things that you can make from scratch, the more money you save. Homemade pies are considerably less expensive than the store bought kind.

6. Ask guests to bring side dishes and desserts. This will cut down on your out of pocket expense, and provide a wider variety of foods at your dinner.

7. Buy boxed wine. It seems tacky, this I know, but if you pour the wine into a carafe before dinner it becomes elegant. You will cut your beverage bill in half by using boxed wine.

8. Use nature for decoration. Fall leaves and Indian corn set the tone nicely, without a big investment.

9. Shop for aluminum pans, roasting bags, paper plates, and napkins at your local dollar store. There is no reason to spend money on the more expensive items, they will just be thrown away.

10. You can save even more money by downloading coupons from your grocers website. Try www.kroger.com and shop.albertsons.com . You can look on the sites of your favorite brand name products for additional printable coupons.