6 Tips for Cost Effective Holiday Meals

The pressure of spending money for big holiday meals can be overwhelming even when you're gainfully employed. When you're unemployed... well, it could make you just want to go hide under the bed!  (Then perhaps NoJobSurvivor MoodFood should be on the menu.)

To help take the pressure off, here are 6 tips from well-being guru, Dr. Andrew Weil, a favorite with NoJobSurvivors:

1. Focus on vegetables. They are filling, nutritious and cost less than meat. Yesterday's Daily Tip offered ideas for serving a vegetarian Thanksgiving dinner - read it for some delicious vegetable-based meal ideas. Also see NoJobSurvivor Frugal Foods.
2. Make it a potluck. If you are having family and friends over, assign each to bring an item. It will help keep your costs - and stress levels - manageable.
3. Make your own dessert. You can make pies a few days ahead of time and freeze or refrigerate them, a good way to cut down the bottom line.
4. Use your leftovers. Turkey soup, potato pancakes, casseroles that combine some of the side dishes, cranberry sauce on whole grain toast for breakfast - there are plenty of ways to use traditional Thanksgiving leftovers.
5. Calculate how much food you really need. The more food you make, the more it costs. If you aren't a fan of leftovers, consider making just enough food to feed the number of people who will be eating.
6. Clip coupons. Whether from your local paper or a website, there's no downside to the cost-savings coupons offer. Many stores offer double or triple the value around the holidays, so do some homework and take advantage!

Pictured: NoJobSurvivor Cheap Crunchy Croutons (recipe)
Good luck and hopefully your friends and/or family and even your pets will be able to help out and get you through it. Remember... you're not alone!  And, there's always NoJobSurvivor Comfort Food.

For tips and laughter on stress-free family holiday gathering, check out this guide from The Onion!

No Job Frugal Living - Frugal Ideas