Skip to main content

Less Stress, More Gratitude


Because Thanksgiving is coming up, we’re going to pause the insurance discussion to share some ideas of saving money for this holiday of appreciation.

While Thanksgiving is not the budget-buster that Christmas can be, it can still get expensive. Here are some ways to save money on Thanksgiving dinner, especially if you are hosting.
  • Get RSVPs so you don’t make too much. Why make a meal for 30 when you’ll only have 10? We like leftovers, too, but there is a limit.
  • See what you already have on hand. You might have a bunch of canned green beans and French-fried onion that go in that recipe from grandma and don’t need to buy any more.
  • Know what you’re going to do with leftovers. My daughter likes to make turkey soup. And leftover mashed potatoes are great for Sheppard’s pie.
  • Get your groceries early from multiple stores. You may find Thanksgiving-related items on sale at competitive prices earlier in November, plus you won’t run the risk of not getting what you need. Have YOU ever had to buy whipped cream from the convenience store on Thanksgiving morning? The markup is crazy. And, if you buy your turkey frozen and make time to let it thaw out, you’ll save quite a bit per pound.
  • Make things from scratch. Homemade pie crusts, rolls, and mashed potatoes are so much better than the premade stuff, anyway.
  •  Buy generic vegetables or recipe ingredients. When it comes to making my family’s favorite frozen side dish that requires cream cheese, non-name brands are the same as Philadelphia.
  • Use last year’s table decorations, or find something fun in nature.
  • Assign different dishes to guests who will be attending.
  •  Borrow cookware or dinnerware from friends and family who are not playing host this year. If your neighbor doesn’t need their large roaster, call in a favor.
  • To save on utility bills, coordinate cooking items, don’t hand-wash dishes, and turn down the thermostat. Chances are all the cooking and extra bodies in your home will warm it up.

Don’t let the financial burden of the holidays be your main focus. Plan well by incorporating some of these ideas early and then enjoy the time with family and friends.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

It Happens Like That

And, in what seems like the blink of an eye, Memorial Day is over, school is out (or almost out), and my favorite time of the year is here! I love summer. I love it when the sun comes up early and wakes me. I love flip flops and shorts. I like to be warm (ok, not HOT, but warm). This is when I thrive. And I think it’s an excellent time to take a vacation or road trip. That being said, I plan a long time in advance for a vacation because I won’t finance one–and I’ve taken some pretty amazing vacations! I don’t usually just take off on last-minute road trips, either, but I’m learning to be more flexible in my old age. So I have done that on occasion, too.  Now, this blog post isn’t about the last-minute drives I’ve engaged, cruises I’ve embarked, or the countries I’ve explored (being a debt-free, self-employed, budget-loving, young, empty-nester has its perks!). This post is about getting you to a point where you, too, can take vacations without stressing about paying for it late...
Post a Comment
Read more

Timing is Everything

I was told that a good time to buy a car is January or February. Why? I would guess it’s because many people are financially destitute right after Christmas (because they have not yet been introduced to my blog!) so car sales are down. I do think there is another reason. I think that most people have yet to file their taxes and receive their tax returns (a.k.a. overpayment that they loaned interest-free to the government ) with which they plan to make a down payment. Now it’s March, and many people have already filed their taxes and received said overpayment that we common-folk refer to as a return, and it’s burning a hole in their pockets. This can be good news for you if you have things you want to sell. Now is the time to capitalize on the extra influx of cash. What do you have around your house that you no longer use that you can sell? Speaking as someone who has done this very thing, I must warn you. Selling stuff you don’t need anymore and collecting the cash can be addicting...
Post a Comment
Read more

Know Your Limits

When I was 17, I drove a 73 Nova. It used to be really easy to do things like changing taillights myself. That is no longer the case. If I tried that on my later-model vehicle (which is more like a computer than a car), I’d do more damage than good, because there are some thing you should just not do yourself. It will cost you more in the long run. That being said, there are probably some things that you usually pay someone else to do that are not getting done right now. My advice is to just be patient; depending on what it is and your skill level, it might end up costing you more to fix your mistakes. Let’s discuss some of those… Obviously, most if not all car repairs are just better done by a licensed, trained professional, including oil changes. They can also correctly dispose of used petroleum products. Depending on your tax filing status, a professional can help you avoid overpaying the IRS. I remember cutting my daughter’s hair when she was little, and I made a me...
Post a Comment
Read more