Guide to Hosting Thanksgiving on a Budget Tips, Ideas and Links

Is it your turn to host the big holiday meal in your circle of friends and family this year? Or maybe you are the perennial host? Either way, while wonderful and worth it to host such a special gathering, it can get very expensive. We're pulled together a whole list of ideas on how to do it well in a wallet-friendly way.

Be prepared. Plan your menu and guest list early so you know exactly what your tabletop needs are and can look for deals. The earlier you start, the more likely you are to discover inexpensive alternatives. It gives you time to hit the thrift stores for extra glassware, platters etc., or if buying new, to look for sales.

Borrow. If there are items that you need, ask friends who are going out of town if you can borrow from them. If they are traveling, they won't be needing that roasting pan!

Substitute. Let go of what you think you absolutely "need" for the table. For example, if you are low on vases, substitute drinking glasses or bottles. Check out all of our ideas for How to Set a Party Table Without Buying Anything New.

Potluck. Do a partial potluck - you can do the "mains" and let your guests help out with the appetizers, sides and desserts.

Candlelight. Nothing is more festive and beautiful than a candlelit room. Simple tapers (that you've stored in the freezer to prolong their burn time) and lots of tealight votives create a holiday ambiance for a few dollars. Check out our full list of simple, fast and inexpensive decorating ideas.

Consider Carnations. They may be thought of as a "filler flower" from time to time due to their inexpenisve pricetag, but they can be used beautifully for holiday floral arrangements. For inspiration and ideas, check out our How-To post on making several great looking arrangements.

Keep the bar basic. Our list of just the necessities is right here.

Go reusuable. It may seem more expensive at first, but will save lots of money in the long run. We have a full list of party necessities that you'll use year after year, and they are all under $5.

Finally, if you'd really like to host friends and family on the day but just can't swing the expense of a full dinner this year, you can be the designated "after dinner" spot. Invite friends to stop at your place last, after the big meal. Board games, coffee and dessert are on you!

(Top image: Porter Table Linens by Unison)

Comments (8)

I have been the designated Thanksgiving house for 6 years here and before that about 10 years holding "stray" Thanksgivings (for all my friends and others with no where else to go)

I usually do the entire dinner myself,but never going overboard with the number of items I serve. Plenty of food, but the basics-Turkey, dressing, potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, cranberries, biscuits. I usually make one desert, and have guests bring something- pie, a salad from their childhood, cider, etc.. for big, big groups we do a roasted turkey or ham and a deep fried turkey we get from a resturant that morning-they aren't that much more and you don't have the possibility of burning down your house.

I don't do a lot of table decor, and I serve wine with dinner, but it's a byob for everything else alcoholic.

This makes the dinner very budget friendly for us- and I've had as many as 30 people at the house!

does anyone know where i can find the black chairs in the picture?

I found it really only takes a trip to ikea. for a very small sum, you can easily stock-up on reusable glasses and platters.

I don't really have an issue with having enough china or glassware. My problem is with cooking a delightful meal without breaking the bank!

I've done Thanksgiving a few times and find that making a menu and shopping list help a lot. For a table setting one year I used some acorn squash, leaves and candles--it came out really nice.

We celebrate Thanksgiving by thinking up a non-traditional, totally gourmet menu and then we spend the day cooking together. This usually means less $$, less time, less stress, and a more intimate day. The best part? No one ever complains about the strange jello mold or compares my sweet-potatoes to her mother's.

Back before I lost my grandfather and Thanksgiving was held there, he insisted people bring things they were good at making - it was kind of being assigned a side to make. Since everyone knew what they were supposed to bring, there was almost never two of anything brought on accident. A few examples: stepdad gets assigned potato salad since everyone loves it, I got assigned deviled eggs, one aunt got assigned cornbread casserole, etc.

There was always more food than could have ever been eaten - and everyone was happy to have lots of choices of food. But again I've always been to Thanksgiving served buffet style, not formal. So there was no caring if all the plates and glasses matched, no alcohol was being served so need for wine glasses, and definitely no centerpieces or crazed decorations that serve no purpose.