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How to Host Thanksgiving on a Dime 5 Easy Ways to Make Your Holiday Celebration Affordable and Cozy We all know that the holidays aren’t just about food and decor — they’re about spending time with family and friends. But a beautifully decorated table topped with scrumptious dishes can also make our celebrations more jovial. How do we achieve the perfect ambiance when our budget is tight? Here are a few tips to do just that! No. 1: Make your own pies. It’s actually really inexpensive to make your own pie crust and filling. If you have flour, sugar, butter, and your favorite fruit, then you have the essential ingredients! Of course, you don’t want to wear yourself out — making cookies and/or pudding can make your family just as happy and fulfill that Thanksgiving sweet tooth. No. 2: Consider buying a large turkey. This might seem counterintuitive at first, but the larger the bird, the more inexpensive it tends to be by weight. Consider that your grocery store butcher can cut a 22-pound turkey in half, even if it’s frozen. You can use the extra half for slow cooker recipes in the upcoming months or even at Christmas if you wanted to! No. 3: Borrow decor and equipment. If you know someone with a roasting pan, why buy your own if your budget is tight? Or maybe someone has napkin rings you can borrow since you’ve never gotten around to buying any. Ask your friends, family, and neighbors if they have any decor or equipment you can borrow to make Thanksgiving a little easier and prettier. No. 4: Serve only a few key sides. The turkey, or whatever your protein of choice may be, is the foundational dish at the dinner table. Serving only a few key sides — comfort foods like mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and cranberry sauce — might be all that you really need! Streamlining your side dishes will also make your cooking and cleanup process simpler. No. 5: If you’re having guests, invite them to bring salad or extra dessert items. Guests certainly brighten up a celebration, and if they bring something delicious along, it’ll make your job hosting easier. But in case a guest forgets to bring their dish, don’t assign any dishes that’ll be sorely missed.
“Chris took care of my mother’s Medicare plan. Now he is taking care of me.” –Fredericka M.
Zesty Orange Cranberry Sauce
Skip the can-shaped cranberry sauce this year and bring a jar of homemade sauce to Thanksgiving instead. This easy recipe can be made ahead of the big event and keeps for 10 days in the fridge.
Ingredients
• 1/2 cup orange juice, freshly squeezed • 1/2 cup water • 3/4 cup plus 2 tbsp sugar • 12 oz fresh cranberries • 2 tsp orange zest • Salt to taste
Directions
1. In a medium saucepan, heat the orange juice, water, and sugar to a boil. Add other ingredients, then bring mixture back to boiling. 2. Reduce the heat to medium and cook gently for 10–12 minutes, until the cranberries burst. 3. Transfer the sauce to a bowl or jar, cover, and refrigerate until serving.
We hope these tips help make your Thanksgiving a little more affordable and comfortable! Have fun!
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