If you want to get real savings for Thanksgiving, you will have to think outside of the box. Try the following sneaky ways to save on all of your Thanksgiving needs.
Travel
It certainly won’t be cheap to fly out to see family this Thanksgiving, but you can make it cheaper by choosing a flight that leaves on Thanksgiving morning, instead of one that leaves a day or two before. Expect a savings of $50 to $100 per ticket.
Another way to save on Thanksgiving travel is to fly out of an alternative airport. Sometimes a short drive of 20 minutes could save you big dollars off of your airfare. Don’t just chose the airport that is closet or biggest. Do a cost comparison and see how you might save.
Consider other travel options, such as driving or taking a train. It just might be cheaper for you, especially if you are going less than 300 miles.
Food
If food is your biggest Thanksgiving expense, you are good because there are so many cost cutting ways to save on the Thanksgiving meal. Planning it out as early as possible can help, although there are ways to save at the last minute, too. Use coupons and shop the sales and focus on less expensive ingredients. For example, serve dip with celery and carrots, instead of broccoli and mushrooms, unless you can get better deals on the more expensive items in your area.
Turkey is relatively cheap. You’ll pay less for a frozen turkey than a fresh one. It is the side dishes that tend to eat up the budget. Choose simple basic side dishes or ask guests to bring their favorites to share.
Decorations
There is no need to go overboard with decorations. Often the most simple can be the most elegant. Use a basket that you already have on hand to create a pretty cornucopia for the table. Pick up discounted pumpkins and hay bales for the porch. Hang pinecones from ribbon. There are so many ways that you can decorate cheaply or even for free.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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