This is my $25 Thanksgiving Meal Plan

[Melissa Burnell]

Re: Budget101.com : Thanksgiving dinner – Every year we cook thanksgiving dinner

What areas are you spending the most in – food or drinks? For food, you could make the turkey and maybe one signature side dish and let others each bring another side/desert to fill it out. Or if its drinks, ask everyone to bring what they like to drink. Most people enjoy feeling helpful at a holiday, so don’t be afraid to ask.

Start looking for the sales now and stock up a few items at a time for your menu. Can goods, stuffing cubes, cranberries, any frozen veggies you might use etc. You’ll feel it much less if you add a bit to your groceries each week than doing it all at once.

I have Thanksgiving at my house every year and feed 14 adults and 6 children. I do most of the sides but my MIL and mom each bring a side as well. My guests bring appetizers or deserts and anything they want to drink besides the inexpensive beer, wine and diet pepsi that I provide 😉 Even with the alcohol, my most expensive part of the day is the turkey because we get a fresh 30 pounder so that there are plenty of sides leftover.

Monica in IL

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