Ways to Save This Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving and the holidays can be expensive. In fact, last year, Americans spent over $980 million on thanksgiving turkeys with 36% of hosts having to take on debt to finance their 2024 dinner. Yet, it doesn’t have to gobble up your savings. 

Here are a couple of steps you can take to reduce your expenses this holiday season:  

Setup a budget and plan the menu 

Plan ahead and create a menu of items that will work within your budget before going to the store. This will not only allow you to shop early but can also help you stay within budget.  

Be the early bird, shop early 

Shopping early can keep you from getting stuck in long lines and avoid last-minute trips to the store and potentially higher prices. This can also provide you with a wider variety of items to choose from. Many traditional thanksgiving meal staples can be purchased well in advance and have a long shelf life.  

Look out for discounts and use those coupons 

Going to the store early can also help you take advantage of any sales. Whether planning ahead or doing your regular shopping, keep an eye out for discounts and utilize any coupons, even the digital ones! 

Host a potluck  

What better way to celebrate Thanksgiving than by having everyone bring a dish to share. Hosting a potluck can help save on everyone’s budget as well as make the feast more fun as each person can bring their own unique dish or specialty. Who knows, maybe it can even start a new holiday tradition. 

Leave the stress behind and enjoy more time this holiday season. Thanksgiving is all about coming together and spending time with loved ones, not digging yourself into debt. By being strategic with your planning and shopping ahead of time, you can be more intentional with your finances this holiday season.