We’re pleased to share the following guest post from Niki at Free 2 Be Frugal.

To many, Thanksgiving is the kickoff to the holiday season, but unfortunately it can also be the start of mounting holiday stress. Thanksgiving conjures up images of abundance - bountiful amounts of food, plenty of family. How can you create this euphoric feast without breaking the bank? Here are several ways that will keep the magic in your holidays, while leaving enough money left in your pocketbook for Christmas shopping.

That Festive Feel

One great thing about Thanksgiving is that it is not traditionally a holiday that is big on decorations. No multicolored lights, no garland, no glittering baubles. You can pretty up your dining area with natural items to give it a harvest feel. Gather up pinecones, gourds, pumpkins, and fall flowers to spruce up. I would suggest that this is one time of year you pull out all the stops and bring out the nice dishes and serving pieces. This will not only add to the ambiance of the meal, it will also save quite a bit since you can avoid using lots of disposables like plates, cups, and napkins. A few doilies under the platters add a nice touch too.

Focus on Family

This year try to take the emphasis off of the menu and place the focus on family. Start some new holiday traditions. Have everyone write down what they are thankful for before dinner is served and read them aloud. Volunteer to help others together. Go to the city and catch the parade. Watch football. Whatever it is you and your family agree to, be sure to share your love and gratitude with each other. You know what they say…the best things in life are free!

Poultry Portions

Of course what would Thanksgiving be without a turkey? There’s no denying its crucial role in this holiday. Ninety-five percent of Americans carve up a turkey on this day. One great way you can save is to take advantage of grocery store special offers to earn a free turkey. Most of these are based on how much you spend in the weeks prior to Turkey Day. Of course it is not worth it if you go out of your way to spend extra money to get your freebie. But if you can get your shopping done at one of these chains it is a bonus. If you don’t end up scoring your bird gratis you can be sure there will be sales. And surprisingly it is still cheaper to buy a whole turkey as opposed to a breast. Just be sure not to overbuy! A general rule of thumb is 1 pound per dinner guest. If you want leftovers, go with 1.5-2 pounds per person.

Simple Sides

When planning side dishes try to keep it uncomplicated. Plain old classics like mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and vegetables make just as nice a meal as fancy fixin’s when you are in good company. Stick with homemade and avoid buying ready-made goods for extras like gravy, cranberry sauce/relish, frozen pie crusts, canned biscuits/dinner rolls, and canned broths. In the weeks before the holiday keep all your typically unwanted bread (ends, stale slices, supermarket markdowns) and stash it in the freezer. It will make for great stuffing. Still have pumpkins hanging around your house from Halloween? Gut, cook, and puree it and bake a pie! And please don’t rule out the idea of letting your guests bring something to dinner. Most people really want to contribute something so graciously accept their offers to bring potluck side dishes, desserts, or wine.

Gearing Up for Christmas

Everyone knows that the day after Thanksgiving is Black Friday, the craziest day of shopping. But it is a little known fact that this day of the year is also the best time to get deals on the things you’ll need to make your Christmas feast. Shop early at your local grocery stores and get rock-bottom prices on turkeys, hams, everything else you could want for a great meal. Freeze them for the following month and you can rest easy knowing that you’ve checked off one more thing on your holiday to-do list.

Thanks for sharing these wonderful tips with us Niki.

Make sure you stop in at Free 2 Be Frugal for many more money saving tips.

For more Frugal Thanksgiving tips and ideas, head over to Money Saving Mom.

**Make sure to enter our “Troublesome Turkey Tales” contest for your chance at winning some fabulous prizes.

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