Gobble up the savings on Thanksgiving dinner
Thanksgiving is the holiday for appreciating fine wines and good food with family and friends. But overindulging can be pricey. The average consumer will spend approximately $97.55 this Thanksgiving on non-travel related expenses, according to a recent survey by LendEDU, an online marketplace for student loan refinancing. The company compiled the dating by asking 1,000 participants, ages 18 and up, how they plan to celebrate.
This, of course, is only an estimate and does not include name brand products or anything fancy. Toss in side dishes, desserts and booze and the price only goes up. If you want to save money, you need to have a plan in place.
“You have to be a creative cook,” says Phil Lempert, grocery expert and food industry analyst, who runs SupermarketGuru.com. “A lot of your menu depends on who you’re inviting over: people with allergies, gluten-free, people who don’t like turkey. Plan out as much as possible.”
This holiday, count your blessings and your pennies with these tips.
1. Party
First, decide what kind of event you’re going to have. If you’re hosting a party, have a potluck. Tell your guests to bring something to share. “It’s the spirit of the holidays,” says Andrea Woroch, a consumer and money-saving expert. “People want to help.” And if you’re the guest, don’t show up empty-handed. Websites like Offers.com and Groupon .com have deals on gift baskets and flower arrangements.
2. Menu
Create a budget and decide what’s important. No one ever eats the cranberry sauce? Leave it off the menu and save both time and money. Instead of offering three desserts, pick one. “Planning out the menu by person is expensive,” Lempert says. “If you try to do everything for everyone, you’re going to waste a lot of money.” Instead, he rec- ommends making a list of who’s coming over and what dietary restrictions each person has, to ensure you’re making the right amount. “You’re not saving any money if you’re throwing away a lot of food,” Lempert says. Butterball has a calculator to help you determine the right amount of food per person.
And don’t wait until a week before Thanksgiving to start shopping. Stores are more likely to have the products you want the earlier you shop since quantities often run out the closer you get to any kind of event, Lempert notes. That means you might end up at a more expensive store out of convenience.
3. Food
Shop around and compare prices. Different stores have different deals. Big-box discount stores like Target and Walmart offer large amounts of fresh food at discount prices. Target has a deal right now for 99-cent 6-ounce boxes of Kraft Stove Top Stuffing in different flavors, compared with $1.93 at most Publix stores. Variety shops like dollar stores and T.J. Maxx also are great places to find staples and canned food at markdown prices. Double up on the savings by combining store sales with coupons and buy in bulk when possible. Also, supermarket chains like Aldi and Lidl are 30% to 40% less expensive than traditional supermarkets, according to Lempert. “They use their own brands, so it’s cheaper and a great way to save,” he says. Shop for in-season produce and consider hitting up a local farmer’s market if you live in a warmer climate. As for dessert, Woroch says Costco is a steal for sweets like pumpkin and apple pies. “I’ve seen markups at other stores as much as 130%,” she says.
4. Free or discounted turkey
Look for free turkey promotions. Many large grocery store chains across the U.S. offer free birds and other dinner items if you spend over a certain amount. The deals can be found in weekly coupon circulars. Follow TheKrazyCouponLady.com for a running list of stores. “If you’re a person that doesn’t usually look into the ads, this might be a reason to do so,” says Joanie Demer, co-founder of TheKrazyCouponLady.com. “That could be $15 you’re saving on a turkey.” Demer says stores usually start announcing the deals about 10 days before Thanksgiving. ShopRite is offering its Price Plus club members a variety of discounts now until Nov. 23. Publix, which operates almost 1,200 stores in seven states, will have aggressive holiday ads with buy-one-get-one-free items. But spokeswoman Maria Brous says prices and specials will vary according to geography. Many stores offer other bargains as well, like a free-ham-if-you-buy-aturkey deal. Stash the second helping of meat in the freezer for another event.
5. Spices
Experiment with spices from your kitchen that you normally overlook. “It’s easy and you can do it with things you already have in your pantry,” Woroch says. If you’re not feeling adventurous, Costco has some of the best prices when it comes to seasonings and spices, according to Krazy Coupon Lady Demer. “Pure vanilla extract is the best deal you’ll find in the whole store,” she says. Costco also offers low-cost basics like cooking oil and baking powder. They are even cheaper if you buy in bulk. Rare spices can be found at local ethnic and specialty shops, which have a tailored selection of goods and are great if you need just a small amount. And skip the bottled spices, since you’re mostly just paying for the glass jar. “You’ll find identical spices in bags for as much as 75% less,” says Mike Catania, founder of PromotionCode.org, a coupon website.
6. Wine
Whole Foods has gotten a bum rap as the leader in “whole paycheck” spending. But it has a surprisingly affordable selection of wine and beer if you buy in bulk, including a 10% discount on six or more bottles of wine. Cost Plus World Market, which has locations around the U.S., offers similar case discounts. “You can get the Two Buck Chuck at Trader Joe’s,” Demer says, referring to the chain’s Charles Shaw brand. “But if you want good quality wine for cheap, then go to Whole Foods.”
7. Decorations
Get crafty by making your own Thanksgiving decorations. Dollar stores across the U.S. have the best prices on supplies. If you want an organic look, use autumn leaves and pine cones from your yard to create centerpieces. Once the holiday is over just throw them away without the hassle of storing them for next year.