Thanksgiving on a Budget!

With the current economy and the high cost of food, many people are wondering if they can even afford to host Thanksgiving dinner. Savvy Student wants to reassure each student that there are many ways to cut cost but not flavor for this Thanksgiving.

One of the easiest ways to trim your budget for this holiday is to host a pot luck dinner. If everyone brings something, it will really keep the cost down. Remember, no one person provided all of the food for the first Thanksgiving, so get into the spirit of the holiday. Pot lock dinners are also a great way for your loved ones to show off their culinary skills. To ensure you have all of your bases covered you may want to confirm the menu with each guest beforehand.

You can also buy a bigger turkey! Larger turkeys are cheaper per pound than smaller ones and you can always split the cost with a friend or family member. The time it takes to cook a full turkey makes purchasing a larger one worth it. If you put in the extra time and a few extra dollars, you'll have even more leftovers to hold you over the week after Thanksgiving. You'll be hard pressed to find someone (herbivores excluded) who won't love a a nice turkey sandwich the day after Thanksgiving.

Use coupons. Get organized and find coupons for the ingredients you need. You can buy them early so that you don't have to buy higher-priced items because the store is out of what you want. You can also do some research for ingredient substitutions. Don't invest in a cupboard full of new items until you determine if what you already have will do the trick. Here's a great place to start.

You can even make your own pies and freeze them. Homemade pumpkin pies are easy to make (especially if you use frozen pie crust) and much cheaper than store-bought treats. If you make them early and freeze them, you won't have to worry on Thanksgiving Day. Also consider the added bonus of having a warm pie right out of the oven with no prep work involved. Delicious, frugal and practical!

You can cook some meal stretchers like brown rice and whole wheat pasta to add some fiber and filler to your menu. Foods like these are filling and if you find yourself with less cash to splurge on fancy side dishes, your guests will still be full of delicious food.

We can't forget the Thanksgiving ambiance, so to create the perfect centerpiece, step outside! Fill a vase with autumn leaves and pine cones, fill a decorative bowl with apples of all varieties, and bring the autumn color inside using cheap votive candles placed inside of orange, red and yellow candle holders. Try your local dollar store for the candle idea; discount shops tend to carry all different kinds of candles for less than a dollar apiece. Another fun idea: take some fallen leaves (make sure they are fully intact) and spray paint them gold. You can glue the leaves to a disposable table cloth and place a clear cloth over the top. Instant thanksgiving glamor!

As you can see, there are many ways to make Thanksgiving special without breaking the bank. We at Savvy Student hope you enjoy your time off with friends and family!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Savvy Student