- Get a frozen turkey. The biggest price tag at a Thanksgiving meal is the turkey: it makes up about 40 percent of the overall cost. You can save money by choosing a store-brand frozen turkey instead of a fresh bird. Don’t forget to allow enough time to thaw the bird: one day in the fridge for every five pounds.
- Speaking of 40 percent of the cost of the meal, are you sure you need an entire turkey? You may be surprised to learn you only need a turkey breast instead. The preparation is faster and easier too! To calculate how much you need, check here.
- If you’re making the stuffing yourself, buy day-old bread. It’s just as good and a fraction of the cost.
- Potatoes are cheaper by the bag. Split them with a friend or donate extras.
- We’ve probably all got a jar or two of herbs in the cupboard that we’ll never use up. Instead of paying for more than you need, get herbs out of bulk bins where you can purchase only the small amounts you need.
- Buy canned goods ahead of time. Thanksgiving canned goods usually go on sale the week before Thanksgiving.
- Choose frozen over fresh. Like canned goods, frozen ingredients can cost a lot less than fresh. Not convinced they’re just as good as fresh? Check out this article.
