Thanksgiving on a budget: Money-saving recipes

Thanksgiving is nearly upon us, which means it’s time to enjoy the three F’s: Football, family and food! If you are in charge of preparing some good eats this year, but are working with a smaller budget than you’d like, you are not alone. The good news is you can still have a great Thanksgiving on a budget. So before finishing your food list, take a look at some dishes (as well as shopping and preparation ideas) that can help you save money on dinner.

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Thanksgiving on a Budget: Succulent Turkey

You’re going to have to spend a bit for a Thanksgiving turkey, unless you find a store offering a great deal (some grocery stores offer turkeys for less than $.70 per pound if you spend $50 to $100 on other items). However, once you’ve purchased your turkey, your savings account doesn’t have to suffer when preparing it:

• Make your own stock: If you use stock to create a succulent turkey, try making your own as an alternative to store-bought stock and save $3 or more per 32 oz. container.
• Visit a farmer’s market for spices and seasonings: Instead of paying for expensive store-bought spices, visit a local farmer’s market to purchase fresher spices in larger quantities at cheaper prices.
• Buy non-perishable ingredients early: If you’re adding brown sugar, vegetable oil or long-lasting ingredients like butter, catch them on sale early to make turkey baking cheaper.
• Purchase items in bulk: By visiting wholesale stores like Sam’s Club or Costco, you can purchase items that will be needed in your turkey, as well as other recipes, at a lower cost.

There are endless ways to cook a roast turkey, but you can bet it’ll taste even better when you haven’t paid an arm and a leg for it.

Budget-Friendly Thanksgiving Dishes: Savory Sides

No Thanksgiving plate is truly full without tasty side dishes to go with the turkey. So here are some great recipes for a discount Thanksgiving dinner:

• Stuffing: Stuffing is traditionally an inexpensive side. Whether you’re making traditional bread stuffing or a cornbread stuffing, you can get away with spending as little as $5, especially if you’ve purchased onions, celery, butter and other ingredients in bulk.
• Potatoes: A great side dish that costs very little is mashed potatoes. Purchase bulk bags of potatoes at a farmer’s market, boil and mash them up, add a bit of salt for taste and top with delicious turkey gravy for a fantastic and inexpensive side.
• Rolls: Pre-made rolls can add up pretty quickly when purchased from a grocery store. So why not try to make your own with a simple dinner rolls recipe that requires basic ingredients and calls for no kneading?
• Veggies: It’s fairly easy to find bulk carrots (10-12) for as little as $1. Add some orange juice, brown sugar and butter in this glazed carrots recipe and you’re sure to enjoy a great veggie at a low price. Also, if greens are your thing, this traditional comfort vegetable can be purchased for as little as $0.50 per pound at a farmer’s market. Greens can be challenging to make because they are traditionally bitter in taste, but with the right recipe, you can have a dish your family will love.

For additional low-cost side dishes, consider red cabbage, roasted Brussels sprouts and homemade cranberry sauce.

Don’t Forget the Best Part: Low Cost Desserts and Drinks

To complete your Thanksgiving meal, don’t forget dessert! Here are some ideas your family and wallet are sure to enjoy:

• Cakes: There are a number of cake recipes that families cherish. Carrot cake is a staple in many homes because it is so moist and sweet, and it doesn’t have to be expensive, either. A gooey butter coffee cake is inexpensive and delicious as well. But if you’re not locked into baking from scratch, why not buy a couple of pre-made cake mixes for $1? They cut out a lot of ingredients and still taste great.
• Pies: If you’re a pumpkin pie lover, making this treat can be pretty inexpensive. Canned pumpkin is a cheap item, so making your own pumpkin pie with generic ingredients can be a great deal. If pumpkin isn’t really your thing, there’s also a low-cost sweet potato pie recipe you might enjoy. Or you can try an easy cobbler recipe that only requires a few ingredients and the canned fruit of your choice.
• Cookies and more: Some people like to veer from the traditional chocolate chip cookie dessert. If this is you, try tasty and cheap peanut butter cookies. A couple of other treats that require only a few ingredients are lemon bars and rice pudding. And as with cakes, if you’re not against mixes, consider buying your cookies, brownies and other treats as mixes to save a few bucks.
• Drinks: Whether you’re into eggnog or fruit punches, there are some great drinks out there. However, before going out and buying expensive gallons, consider making your own at a lower cost.

There’s no doubt that making Thanksgiving dishes for the family can be financially straining, even when you cut the greatest of corners. But if you create a budget for your meal ahead of time, check your weekly circulars to find which retailers are offering the best deals, don’t be afraid to clip coupons and take advantage of store discount days, you could make paying for this holiday a lot easier.

Happy Thanksgiving!