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Carving Your Holiday Budget
Tips for a Thrifty Thanksgiving
By Deborah Ng
Thanksgiving is a celebrated time of overindulgence, but there's more to the day than an oversized bird and some pie. It's about spending time with our loved ones and giving thanks for all the blessings in our lives. That there happens to be a table full of good food to share only adds to the occasion. Catching a glimpse of those holiday food bills, however, might put a damper on things.
It's not difficult to cook an enjoyable meal without going over budget. In fact, you can still host a great Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings and save money at the same time.
According to Jonni McCoy, author of Frugal Families: Making the Most of Your Hard-Earned Money (Bethany House, 2003), the key to saving is to shop early. "For Thanksgiving dinners, I buy turkey when it goes on sale in October," McCoy says. "Many major grocery store chains offer an 8- to 15-pound turkey for $5." McCoy not only buys her Thanksgiving bird this way, but she also stocks up for Christmas dinner and year-round turkey consumption. If you don't have the freezer space to purchase turkeys that far in advance, don't fret – there are plenty of other ways to save.
Susan Pacuk of Athens, N.Y., takes advantage of coupons and rebates. "Coupons can be clipped from the Internet, Sunday paper and magazines," she says. "Many times I've bought groceries for pennies or even free by handing the cashier a fistful of coupons." Pacuk, who belongs to an online coupon-trading club, also takes advantage of store promotions, such as spending a certain amount of money in order to get a free turkey.
Sandra Brown of Brevard, N.C., watches for store promotions and saves "points" at the grocery store for a free turkey. This also requires spending a certain amount of money beforehand. Be mindful of your purchases, though – store promotions and coupons only work in your favor if the item you're purchasing is something you'd buy anyway. It makes no sense to purchase a cart full of food you never would have bought in the first place.