Thanksgiving on a Budget

Thanksgiving. Not the easiest thing to dive into if you're un/underemployed.

Need to find a cheaper way to embrace this food-based holiday?

Dr Weil, NoJobSurvivor's favorite feel-better health guru has posted:

Budget-Friendly Thanksgiving Dinner

Being on a budget doesn't have to mean giving up Thanksgiving traditions. There are simple ways to help cut the costs of holiday dinners; read on - your wallet and your health will thank you!

Focus on vegetables. They are filling, nutritious and cost less than meat. Last Thursday's Daily Tip offered ideas for serving a vegetarian Thanksgiving dinner - read it for some delicious vegetable-based meal ideas.
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.
Make your own dessert. You can make pies a few days ahead of time and freeze or refrigerate them, eliminating the need for a more expensive store-bought version.
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.
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.
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! 

AND: View NoJobSurvivor's Cheap Crunchy Croutons  and Sweet Potato Pancakes (if you do have leftovers).

Thank you, Dr. Weil!

No Job Frugal Living - Frugal Ideas