If you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year, you’re likely already thumbing through cookbooks for recipes, scrolling Pinterest pages for décor ideas, and mentally navigating sleeping situations for overnight guests.
Preparing in advance for the fun stuff is, well, fun! But it’s all too easy to get carried away with cute table decorations, elaborate pie ideas, and other fun frivolities. It’s equally as important, though less exciting, to keep your budget front and centre throughout the planning and purchasing stages.
Getting carried away and overspending can leave you feeling stressed and disappointed during and post festivities. But it is possible to keep credit cards out of the picture by creating a realistic budget and sticking to it.
Read on to find out how you can keep financial stress at bay this Thanksgiving while still wowing and delighting your guests.
Stick to the Plan
Consider taking your entire budget out in cash so that you have a tangible spending allowance. If cash isn’t for you, start an online wallet.
Have a Failsafe
If your budget is tight and you’re stretched to financial capacity, having a backup plan for unexpected emergencies can help keep you calm and collected should one arise.
Even with your best efforts, an emergency — like your oven breaking or your boiler calling it a day — can quickly throw even the best-laid Thanksgiving plans into tumult.
It’s always wise to allocate some money to an emergency fund to seamlessly cover unexpected costs like these. As an additional backup, have a safety net in mind. While big banks will close on Thanksgiving, you can apply to get an online loan in Canada with a reputable digital lender at any time.
Only Buy What You Need
It’s easy to splurge when you’re planning for a big event. Curb your spending and avoid food waste by calculating the specifics.
For example, an unwritten rule is that one and a half pounds of turkey is ideal per guest. If your attendee list is finalized, only buy the food that comfortably accommodates those coming.
According to the Vancouver-based organization Love Food Hate Waste, the average Canadian household wastes 140 kilograms of food every year. This equates to $1,300 every year per home.
By only buying what you need this Thanksgiving, you’ll save money, prevent spoilage, and maybe instill some new habits that you can apply to your weekly shopping trips moving forward!
Shop in Advance
Shop for non-perishables well in advance. If you wait until the week of Thanksgiving to buy cans and dried goods, you might find only a small and premium selection is left. Being forced to purchase luxury brands when you hadn’t planned to do so will immediately throw your carefully crafted budget into disarray.
Streamline Your Meal Plan
While it’s tempting to go all out and serve potatoes four ways, multiple vegetables, and an array of apps, sometimes the simple things in life work best.
Avoid financial and day-of stress by serving a pared-back menu that doesn’t stretch your budget or your cooking prowess.
The Bottom Line
By creating a budget and a pared-down menu, only buying what you need, and having a plan in case of emergencies, it’s easy to keep financial stress at bay this Thanksgiving.