When they sit around the table on Turkey Day, all Grandma and Cousin Katie see is a beautiful, bountiful spread. All you can see, however, are dishes layered with a generous dose of your cold, hard cash.
The annual Thanksgiving dinner costs a hefty $50 average each year with prices slowly creeping upwards. At Security State Bank, we want to help you prepare Big Meal flavors without Big Budget prices with these money-saving food hacks:
Spread the wealth: Many hands make light work – and full wallets. If you’re playing Hostess with the Mostest, feel free to supply that centerpiece turkey. However, ask your guests to bring a side dish or dessert. Not only does this free up time that you or loved ones would have spent slaving away in the kitchen, but it lets everyone do one thing really well rather than creating an entire sub-par spread alone. If you have a competitive family, stoke the friendly fire by making members vote on the Dish of the Year, and add the recipe to an on-going family favorites recipe list.
Strategize your spending: Pull out your scissors and start clipping coupons sooner rather than later. The week before Thanksgiving is packed with last-minute sales on smaller items like canned goods and bread, but that draw for smaller sales means big-ticket items have been marked up in price. Pre-order your turkey at the beginning of the month, and load your shopping cart with all the trimmings when they go on sale.
Go generic: With so many sights and aromas filling your table, Aunt Ethel won’t notice if you use store-brand cream of mushroom soup in the green bean casserole. Go easy on yourself (and your wallet) if you don’t buy name brand ingredients for the annual feast. They taste similar to off-brands at a fraction of the cost.
Make from scratch: You pay more for pre-packaged or assembled foods not because of the ingredients, but the convenience. Carve an extra twenty minutes into your cook time by making items like piecrusts, breadcrumbs, and chicken stock from scratch for cheap. If you have little ones running around the event, let them blow off steam and make memories by giving you a hand.
Thanksgiving dinner doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg to make it taste heavenly. As you shop smart, check that your budget is squared away on the run with our Mobile Banking option – and have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Security State Bank, Equal Housing Lender, Member of the FDIC