Holiday meals can be a lot of fun, a lot of work, and cost a lot of money if you don’t plan for your purchases ahead of time. Planning ahead will allow you to take advantage of the sales stores usually run on holiday meal ingredients for several weeks before the holiday. Here are some tips for keeping the costs of your meal to the minimum:
- Make a list of all ingredients needed and watch the sale papers as the holiday approaches.
- Consider making your meal a potluck. Ask others to carry in dishes to reduce your workload and costs.
- Focus on fresh foods that are in season, as they usually taste better and are more affordable. This is easy to do since many of the foods that are popular at holiday time are seasonal, as well (pumpkins, apples, potatoes, sweet potatoes).
- Avoid spending money on decorations, fancy napkins, etc. These things are not necessary and can increase the price of your dinner considerably.