The smell of turkey roasting in the oven, a pumpkin pie cooling on the windowsill, and leaves falling outside means it must be time to celebrate Thanksgiving!
If you’re hosting a Thanksgiving celebration, what’s meant to be a time of giving often winds up being a time to ruminate how expensive it can be to host a big dinner. Ditch the stress and celebrate with these tips to keep your wallet in check this Turkey Day.
We all know which must-have dish gets the center of the table on Thanksgiving. Fortunately, you can keep the main course on the menu without compromising your budget.
One of the hallmarks of Thanksgiving is that sleepy feeling you get after eating your big celebration meal - a sensation caused by the tryptophan found in your turkey. No holiday celebration would be complete without it!
Turkey generally costs around $2.36 per pound. You can feed 10 people for as little as $23.60.
You can prepare turkey in several ways.
Pro-tip: check with your grocery store to see if they offer the option to trade in your grocery points for a free bird. Then, you won’t spend a dime!
Many food lovers believe the real stars of Thanksgiving are the side dishes. It’s easy to keep them delicious and budget friendly. When planning your Turkey Day menu, consider what’s in season. That should be an easy task - most of the classic sides you love happen to be made with in-season ingredients.
You can’t stuff yourself on Thanksgiving properly without potatoes. These starchy tubers are highly affordable at around $0.96 per pound.
You can prepare potatoes in countless ways.
A staple on a southern Thanksgiving table, but delicious served anywhere, sweet potatoes ring up at about $0.65 per pound.
Depending on who’s cooking, you might even find multiple sweet potato options at your Thanksgiving Day meal!
Canned, frozen, or fresh, chances are your Thanksgiving table features green beans. They cost about $2.13 per pound fresh.
Get creative with your side dishes this year. Try one of the ideas below:
The other orange veggie making its way to your table can be cooked in a variety of ways. And, carrots can be prepped ahead of time, saving you precious minutes day of. They cost about $0.70 per pound fresh.
You can chop and steam your carrots or try one of the yummy options below:
Likely the only thing we eat today that was actually served at the first Thanksgiving dinner, corn can’t be left off your menu. Since late November is past the season for fresh corn off the cob, you’ll probably end up using canned or frozen corn. Regardless, there’s a ton of ways to prepare it:
Pies are a ubiquitous Thanksgiving dessert. When it comes to your wallet, the most budget-friendly options are apple and pumpkin because they’re both in season at this time of year! Apples and canned pumpkin puree both cost around $2.00 per pound. Pre-made refrigerated pie dough is also affordable, coming in at around $4.00 for two crusts.
Don’t stress about money during the holidays. You cooked for Thanksgiving on a budget and delivered a sensational meal!
Want to save even more while you’re shopping? Make your Thanksgiving meal purchases with our Founder’s Rewards Card, which allows you to earn 2%* or 1.5% cash rewards on every purchase.
Want to learn how to save after Turkey Day? Find more money management tips and resources on our website.
*You can earn 1.5% cash rewards on purchases. You can earn 2% cash rewards on purchases if you maintain a PSECU checking account and qualifying monthly direct deposit(s) of at least $500. Some exclusions may apply. See the Visa® Founder's Card and Visa® Alumni Rewards Card Rewards Program Terms and Conditions for full details.