Thanksgiving Dinner on a Budget: Five Easy Ways to Cut Costs

Thanksgiving dinner on a budget is especially important this year with everyone feeling the pinch from the economy. But don't despair. There are ways to save and still have a tasty and memorable Thanksgiving meal.

1. Thanksgiving Dinner on a Budget - Don't Eat Out

Unless someone else is paying the tab for your family, don't eat out for Thanksgiving this year. Most good restaurants charge at least $20 or more per person for a Thanksgiving buffet. That doesn't include tip. There are many reasons eating out is bad - not least of all - you don't need to over stuff yourself with all that rich, fattening food in one meal. But even more important, you can save money by preparing the meal yourself and enjoying it in your own home.

For $40, you could purchase a prepared turkey and some sides. Make a few additional items to round out your meal and have food left over to enjoy for the weekend. Or choose the most important part of the meal to your family - the turkey, a decadent dessert, or an nice wine - and splurge on that one item. Prepare the rest yourself or share the food preparation with other relatives.

2. Thanksgiving Dinner on a Budget - Plan Ahead

It's two weeks until the big day. Do you know who's coming to your Thanksgiving dinner and do you know what you are serving? It's time to narrow down the list. Call guests you aren't sure about and finalize your menu - now.

3. Thanksgiving Dinner on a Budget - Secret Cost Cutting

When choosing your recipes, look for ones that use the same items and buy these items on sale. For instance, many casseroles require cream of mushroom, celery, or chicken soups. Sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, sour cream, and cream cheese are other common recipe ingredients. Choose recipes that have these ingredients in common and buy when on sale. Don't pick up a can here and some milk there or you will end up spending more.

Just a reminder, not every recipe needs to be heavy and creamy. For every recipe you have with cream of "something" soup and sour cream, prepare another simple recipe without all the extra fat and calories. Your guests and their waistlines will thank you for it, your dinner will be more varied and therefore, tastier, and you'll save money, too.

4. Thanksgiving Dinner on a Budget - Cut Out the Specialty Ingredients and Double Dishes

If you are an accomplished cook who always prepares a Martha Stewart Thanksgiving Meal, take it a little easy this year. Speciality ingredients and recipes with long lists of ingredients will only add to the cost of your meal. Prepare a few dishes more simply than usual and make just one complicated dish the star of the show.

Don't make two dishes of the same item, either. You don't need plain green beans and green bean casserole. You don't need pumpkin pie and pumpkin cheesecake. Pick one or the other.

5. Thanksgiving Dinner on a Budget - Go Green

Fore go the attractive - and costly - paper plates, cups, and napkins and keep it green with your regular dishes or china. Give the paper plates to the kids if you must, but everyone else can use the real stuff. Don't worry if you don't have china or if it all doesn't match. Borrow some plain white dishes from friends or neighbors to help coordinate the look and tie everything together with cloth napkins in holiday colors. Again, if you don't already have cloth napkins, borrow some or splurge on some. Then use them regularly throughout the year to recoup the cost.

Silverware and wine glasses don't all have to match, either. I used to be horrified that I didn't have enough matching silverware for eight people. No more. I've inherited some nice sets and partial sets from relatives over the years and Thanksgiving is a special time to remember those people who gave them to me by using them for my Thanksgiving dinner. Again, it's fun to see all of the different pieces and learn their family histories.

This year, more than any other in a while, is a time to remember what the Thanksgiving dinner is truly about. Enjoy your family, enjoy some good food, and enjoy less stress when you keep things in perspective - and in budget.