How to save on your Thanksgiving dinner
From Pinterest to magazines to TV shows, the images are everywhere: Thanksgiving tables set with gorgeous flowers, lovely linens, filled wine glasses, heaping bowls of veggies and, of course, the glistening turkey.
Expensive, right?
Don’t worry. A cost-is-no-object stylist and chef aren’t necessary for an enjoyable holiday meal. Inviting fewer people or organizing a pot luck are sure-fire ways to conserve cash. Yet even those who prefer to curate their own Thanksgiving menu for a full house can host a lovely affair without draining the family food budget. The key is using coupons and rebates while shopping at select stores.
“This is a great time for coupons. Coupons on everywhere. Stores want you to shop,” said the co-owner of www.TheKrazyCouponLady.com, Joanie Demer
Her site brims with saving opportunities for a wide variety of products but she also suggests checking out individual retailers’ sites for other discounts.
Rebates are another savings avenue, and are often available at point of sale. Demer said anyone buying liquor should download the rebate apps Ibotta and bev|Rage. Obtaining the rebate can be as easy as sending in a photo of the liquor store receipt.
Trader Joe’s is a great place to shop for wines while Costco generally has good prices on a broad range of alcohol, Demer said. She added that, thanks to certain laws, nonmembers can buy liquor at Costco. Also look for specials such as by-the-case discounts anywhere you may be shopping for spirits.
Costco also offers deals on items like paper products and other staples. Demer said that nonmembers can shop at the retailer if they have a store gift card. Consider giving a friend cash to buy Costco gift cards for you to take advantage of the bargains.
Free turkeys are often available to supermarket customers who spend a certain amount of money, such as $100. Shoppers can typically reach the mark over a few visits and products like detergent and dog food count toward the total. Getting a bonus turkey on items you were buying anyway is a good deal, Demer said.
There’s an abundance of ways to decorate on a budget. Michaels, the craft store chain, holds regular sales and specials. Off-price retailers like T.J. Maxx and HomeGoods are loaded with holiday-themed serving pieces and festive figurines to add panache to the table.
Want to conserve even more cash? Scour the neighborhood for pine cones and colorful leaves to create centerpieces. Dot the room with your children’s art projects or give them butcher block paper and crayons and let their imaginations run wild. It’s better than cheap. It’s free.
