Thanksgiving on a Budget

Updated on 1 Apr, 2024

Thanksgiving on a Budget

If you plan to host a Thanksgiving event at your home, it’s quite natural for you to be anxious about preparations, especially due to the rising prices at the grocery stores.

After all, everything from fresh herbs to potatoes and bread to beans costs more than it did even a few months back. 

To help you ease from getting stressed out, we have created a list of some money-saving ideas that help you plan a decent event without breaking the bank. Here they are:

 

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  1. Start Your Shopping Early

    During the holiday season, popular items run out quickly at stores and sometimes aren’t replenished fast enough.

    To dodge that potential problem, you should start your shopping for Thanksgiving cooking or hosting early. 

    You can order groceries online and can use card_name card for Earn 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x points on dining at restaurants including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out, and 2x on other travel purchases. Which can come handy to book your Christmas flights.

    Avoid the last-minute rush and possible shortages by starting your shopping as soon as you can.

    It allows you to make your favorite meals at home instead of going to the fall back option to buy Thanksgiving dinner.

    Many large retailers start putting out the key Thanksgiving staples early.

    So, it would help if you kept your eye on prices offered by different companies to get the best deals.

    If you are not too rigid about the menu, you can even plan the menu according to the ingredients that have the maximum discounts and better deals.

     

    Look for Grocery Sales and Coupons

     

  2. Look for Grocery Sales and Coupons

    Another useful tip that can help you make cheap Thanksgiving meals is to keep an eye on the sale flyers for the local grocery stores near you.

    A few weeks leading up to Thanksgiving usually offer the best sales on staples like pumpkin pie filling, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and many other delicious ingredients.

    All of this can yield a flat 1.5% cashback with card_name, which btw comes with no annual fee.

    It is also smart to choose generic products rather than branded ones, as the former costs up to 25% less than the latter. You also need to make the most of the price-matching policies companies offer at this time.

    For instance, Target has a list of competitors on its site, which includes but is not limited to Costco, Walmart, Walgreens, among others. 

    So, if you get a lower-cost item from one of the stores, Target will refund you the difference. Similarly, Walmart also has a policy that can help you save more.

  3. Compare Prices from Your Top 3 Grocery Stores

    If you are a planner who has created a list of ingredients you might need for Thanksgiving cooking, you need to spare some time to compare prices.

    The weekly ads of most stores begin on Sundays. So, it’s wise to be prepared to shop on Sunday to maximize your savings.

    And if you want to take it a step further get the no annual fee card_name that can bonus_miles_full

    It will provide you flexibility to pay over time.

  4. Buy Some Items in Bulk

    A wiser move to save money during Thanksgiving event hosting is to buy non-perishable items in bulk a few weeks before Thanksgiving. 

    For instance, you can buy marshmallows in bulk and freeze them, or you can go for frozen vegetables that can stay in your freezer for up to a year.

    To make savings even bulkier, use your card_name with 6% cashback at popular stores such as Albertsons, Food Lion, Fresh Direct, H-E-B, Hy-Vee, Kroger and more.

    If you have leftovers, you can use them during other events you plan to host, like Christmas.

     

    Potluck Style Holiday Meal

     

  5. Opt for a Potluck Style Holiday Meal

    In case you think that you can’t afford to host an event like a Thanksgiving dinner yourself, you can ask your guests to contribute too. 

    You can choose a potluck-style holiday meal where your guests will bring in a dish or two.

    When opting for this idea, make sure that you create a menu in advance so that people can sign up for the dish or dishes they bring and there are no repetitions.

    For instance, one person can bring roast turkey, and another can take care of the stuffing. Similarly, a friend can take care of mashed potatoes while you prepare a healthy green bean casserole.

    And yes, don’t forget the Cranberry sauce. Doing so will ensure that there is plenty of variety and no waste!

    If you still have to order something, use your card_name for 3% cash back on restaurants and groceries.

 

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Add-On Tip

When planning Thanksgiving on a budget, remember that you don’t jump on trending dishes to make your Thanksgiving cooking or events special. Always stick to what you do best and can easily afford.

 

Save More with Smart Credit Card Use

In addition to the aforementioned Thanksgiving tips for saving money, you should also know about the Credit Cards to use to get maximum benefits during Thanksgiving ingredients shopping.

Some credit cards that help you save more on every grocery shopping spree are:

Credit card
Uthrive rating
Intro offerRewards rateAnnual feeLearn more

Terms Apply

Rating

4.8/5
Best Travel Rewards Credit Card

Intro Offer

bonus_miles_full

Reward Rates

Up to 5x Points

Annual Fees

annual_fees

Terms Apply

Rating

4.7/5
Points and Perks on Dining, Groceries & more

Intro Offer

bonus_miles_full

Reward Rates

Up to 4x Membership Rewards® Points

Annual Fees

annual_fees

Terms Apply

Rating

4.6/5
Unlimited Cash Back Card with No Annual Fee

Intro Offer

bonus_miles_full

Reward Rates

Up to 5% Cashback

Annual Fees

annual_fees

Terms Apply

Rating

4.8/5
Maximum Cash Back for Everyday Spend

Intro Offer

bonus_miles_full

Reward Rates

1% - 6% Cashback

Annual Fees

annual_fees

Terms Apply

Rating

4.6/5
No Fee Cash Back Credit Card for Families

Intro Offer

bonus_miles_full

Reward Rates

Up to 3% Cashback

Annual Fees

annual_fees*

 

Final Words

We hope that the tips mentioned above will help you to host Thanksgiving events on a budget. To know more about which credit cards are perfect for the 2024 Thanksgiving offers, you can download the Uthrive app.

It helps you increase your savings while reducing your expenses and ensuring that you get the best rewards from each credit card swipe this Thanksgiving.