by Sheri Lorenz

Created on: November 10, 2009   Last Updated: November 11, 2009

Creating a beautiful and sumptuous Thanksgiving dinner on a budget is easy and can be a lot of fun. Whether your dinner is for four or fourteen, following a few simple suggestions can make your dinner a success and it won't put you in the poor house. I come from a large family and always seem to be on a budget so I have learned a few money saving tricks over the years.

The first thing that should be done: Try to get an estimate of how many of you're friends and family will be attending, this will help with making your shopping list. Before making your shopping list you must decide on a menu. I have put together a sample menu for you to use as a starting point. So just because you are on a budget you can still create a traditional Thanksgiving meal fit for even the most critical relative. Depending on how many will attend and your budget you can try one or all of these easy appetizers. These recipes can be found in any cookbook.

Appetizers: Colorful vegetable tray with a spicy ranch dip, Sharp cheddar cheese ball and crackers, chips and French onion dip.

Dinner: Roasted turkey, fresh green beans with bacon and toasted slivered almonds, (or green bean casserole which is one of the things I always expect to see} mashed potatoes and turkey gravy, fresh cranberry sauce or canned if that's how your mom did it, and candied yams.

Dessert: Pumpkin pie and fresh whipped cream or cool whip, toasted almond whipped cream fruit salad and coffee.

So when you have decided on the menu start thinking coupons and sales. Stores start putting Thanksgiving items on sale weeks before the holiday. Most grocery stores will give you a free turkey if you spend fifty dollars at their store or if you don't they are only pennies per pound. Starting with your shopping a few weeks ahead of time will allow you to find all your ingredients at a low, low cost.

The dollar store is the best place to find your serving platters and pretty bowls for your dips and sauces. This is also a great place for all your decorating needs. These stores have many wonderful items to decorate your home candles, colorful silk fall flowers, and cornucopias. You can find some nice fall table clothes and the best thing about this, at the end of dinner after pie of course, you can just throw it in the recycling bin. If you have a lot of guests coming, you can also find extra plates and glasses both ceramic and paper.

If you follow even a few of these guidelines then you will have a simply fabulous and low cost Thanksgiving dinner that will have them talking about next year. So don't let yourself get stressed out just because you are on a budget, relax and enjoy the company of family and friends.

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