Frugal Family Thanksgiving

The holiday season is almost upon us, and with that, spending season. The two need not go hand in hand, however, even when planning Thanksgiving dinner with your extended family.

Here's a few simple tips to help you spend less:

1. Accept help. If Aunt Margie wants to bring something, let her. Even if she’s just bringing glazed carrots or sweet potato pie, it’s one less dish for you to buy ingredients for and cook.

2. Check sales flyers. has two, five-pound bags of Russet potatoes  for $4, and two Pepsi cubes for $11 this week. Weis has frozen turkey breasts for $1.89 per pound, if you don’t feel like dealing with carving; sweet potatoes for 99 cents per pound, two packages of Pepperidge Farms stuffing for $5, and four jars of Campbell’s gravy for $2.

is advertising frozen turkeys for 47 cents a pound, AND you get an additional 300 Gas Rewards points when you purchase one and use your bonus card. Shop ahead of time and save yourself stress later so you’re not running around at the last minute. always has great deals on produce.

3. Don’t forget coupons. This week’s Sunday papers offered a great selection to coincide with sales at the local grocery stores. Don’t forget to go online and print coupons as well! Keycode.com and CouponCabin.com are both popular sites for grocery coupons and more. Did you know you can use two coupons for the same item IF one is a manufacturer’s coupon and the other a retailer’s coupon?

4. Decorate 'on the cheap.' My home is still decorated with pumpkins I got at last month as well as a selection of gourds. Add a festive ribbon or set the gourds in a pretty bowl, and you've created a centerpiece. Let kids make pinecone turkeys and name cards for each guest to not only occupy them but also to add a cute and natural touch to the dining table. The Christmas Tree Shop has inexpensive decorations and even grocery items.

5. Make less food than usual, but even if you still have leftovers, be sure to use them. Do you really need the biggest turkey? Are a dozen side dishes necessary? I always make more than I need, but I’ve also learned how to use leftovers. Turkey can be shredded for sandwiches, the carcass can be boiled to make broth, and leftover meat and veggies can be added to make a delicious soup (that can be frozen for later). What about a turkey shephard's pie to use up those mashed potatoes and gravy?

And above all, have fun.

Don’t forget that the main point of the holiday season is to get together with family and friends. Don’t forget to sit back and watch a televised parade (whether it's Macy's 85th Annual Thanksgiving Day parade in New York or the oldest Thanksgiving Day parade, in Philadelphia and sponsored by IKEA), share a few laughs, take pictures and smile.