Six Tips for an Affordable Thanksgiving

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Local NewsWhile the holidays can be a stressful and expensive time of year, you don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving. Marquette Bank offers the following suggestions to aid individuals who will be hosting Thanksgiving celebrations.

Less is More – Families across America waste nearly 35 percent of all food prepared on Thanksgiving. Don’t insist on making all the “traditional” dishes, when they may go uneaten. Limit the size and variety of sides. Also, if you are cooking for a small family, don’t overdo it and cook enough for a dozen people.

Do-It-Yourself Decorations – For centerpieces and table settings, gather natural materials such as branches, gourds, pinecones and autumn leaves. You can save a lot of money not purchasing ornate decorations you will only use once a year. Get young children involved and create an art project for family fun and memorable decorations.

Go Potluck – Instead of preparing the entire meal and the sides by yourself, have your guests come with a side dish or dessert. Then all the work and expenses won’t fall on one person. Have your guests bring multiple copies of the recipe for their dish and have a recipe swap.

Go For What’s in Season – Buy produce in season and you will get much more for your money, not to mention livelier flavors.

Get guests to RSVP – Although leftovers are a hallmark of every Thanksgiving dinner, you don’t want to spend money buying food for guests who won’t show up. Confirm your guest list in advance so you know exactly who you’ll be cooking for.

Help Others – Helping others is what the season is all about. Consider volunteering at your local soup kitchen for the holiday. You will not only be helping those less fortunate and volunteering, but you also might get to eat for free.

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