Thanksgiving on a Budget: Share your ideas!

Erin, Monica, and I hope you've enjoyed the ideas we've shared this week for the "Thanksgiving on a Budget" series. Our main goal was to show you how you could create a simple from-scratch Thanksgiving meal for your family without spending a fortune to do so.

To recap, here's the menu we shared:

--Turkey, gravy, and stuffing/dressing (I got a kick out of how many of thought dropping the dressing from your menu was ludicrous! Wouldn't it be a boring world if we all thought the same way about everything?!)
--Sweet potato casserole and make-ahead mashed potatoes
--Orange Ginger Cranberry Sauce
--Green Vegetables
--Pumpkin Dinner Rolls
--Pumpkin Pie and Apple Pie

While I'm sure not all of the recipes or decorations would be something you might use for your Thanksgiving celebration, we hope that our ideas will inspire you as you seek to have a memorable Thanksgiving celebration for your family this year.

I'm positive we've only barely scratched the surface when it comes to Thanksgiving ideas, though, and that's why today is the day for all of you--my wonderfully creative readers--to chime in with your own ideas for celebrating Thanksgiving on a Budget.

The floor is yours! Share your favorite recipes, helpful tips, ideas for simplifying the Thanksgiving menu, decorating how-to's, or special traditions your family has. If you have a blog, post about it on your blog and leave the direct link to your blog post below. If you don't have a blog, feel free to leave your ideas in the comments section.

Comments

[Jen@Balancing Beauty and Bedlam]

This will be lots of fun...can't wait to browse. I apologize for that smiley face being at the end of my link. I have no idea why it is on there or why it posts each time (but I guess there always is a smile in my heart, so I'll go with it, even though I don't see it anywhere on my info). :)

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Money Saving Mom here: Jen, just so you know, only you can see the smiley face. :) It denotes that it's your post that you posted and that you can delete it. If you check your post on another computer, it won't show up. It's just one of the quirky things about Mr. Linky!

[Make Life Delicious]

great idea! I look forward to reading everyone's responses! Happy Thanksgiving!

[Amy]

In case you didn't know, Dr. Pepper is giving away free DP coupons on Sunday...

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,455744,00.html

[Michelle]

Florida (Central) complete Thanksgiving dinner (including pie)for 10-12 only $11.50!!!! I don't have a blog, so I'm posting this here. This is a full traditional meal I think any family can afford:

*Turkey- Albertsons $0.78 lb. Buy a 12 lb Turkey (the honeysuckle white frozen) and use the $5.00 off Albertsons Turkey in-ad coupon combined white the $1 off printable on this site ($9.36-$5-$1) total = $3.36
*Gravy- free from drippings
*Sweet potato casserole- Walmart 3 lbs @ $0.25 lb, use Crystal's topping= $0.75
*Mashed potatoes-Publix 5 lb bag @ $1.99
*Stuffing- Albertsons- 1 box Albertsons brand @ $0.79
*Grean bean casserole-walmart:cream of Mush. soup $0.60 and 2 bags green giant green bean steamers @ $0.44 ($1.22 each-2 $1 off manu. coupons = $0.44),Walgreens: French's onions @ $0.64 ($1.19- $0.55 manu coupon=$0.64) and 3/4 cup milk @ $0.15. Total: $1.83
*Cranberry sauce- Walgreens: $0.79 with in-ad coupon
*Sarah Lee pie- Albertsons: $1.99
*Corn muffins- Free @ Publix (see older posts)

Grand total: $11.50
For Turkey, gravy, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, pie, and corn muffins!

[Bethany]

Dr Pepper to Deliver On Its Free-Soda Promise
Friday, November 21, 2008

E-Mail Print Share:

LOS ANGELES — Dr Pepper is making good on its promise of free soda now that the release of Guns N' Roses' "Chinese Democracy" is a reality.

The soft-drink maker said in March that it would give a free soda to everyone in America if the album dropped in 2008. "Chinese Democracy," infamously delayed since recording began in 1994, goes on sale Sunday.

"We never thought this day would come," Tony Jacobs, Dr Pepper's vice president of marketing, said in a statement. "But now that it's here, all we can say is: The Dr Pepper's on us."

Beginning Sunday at 12:01 a.m., coupons for a free 20-ounce soda will be available for 24 hours on Dr Pepper's Web site. They'll be honored until Feb. 28.

Dr Pepper is owned by Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.

[Davonne]

Mr. Linky disappeared! Today is the first time I've ever used it too - bummer!

[Lynette]

For some reason my computer will not display when people leave a link. I love to read other people's blogs thru the links. Can anyone help?

[Munger Mom]

Save fat and money by using apple juice as part of your "fat" in your stuffing. Gives it a wonderful slightly sweet flavor.

When I make applesauce I let the applesauce go into a colander with only a few holes from the strainer. Some of the juice will run into the bowl beneath. Free juice with all the good fiber still in it. I can this and use it later for baking.

[LANA]

I have some awesome recipes for leftovers, as well, since we celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

[LANA]

Hi Money saving Mom....#56 can be removed as my link did not work! sorry for the inconvenience! Happy Thanksgiving!

[Valerie]

hi target has there pototoes 10lb bags for $1.99 then use the coupon on the bag to get $1.00 off them if u buy cressent rolls. then u can use a coupon for them too

[Valerie @ Frugal Family Fun Blog]

What a great resource! Thanks!

--Valerie
Family Fun Blog
Good times on a budget!
http://www.frugalfamilyfunblog.com

[Beth]

Sweet Potato recipe!

[Michele Helms]

As always great information!

[Beth]

I'm bit curious why there is a smiley face by my linky (Feminine For Him), it wasn't anything I did. I didn't attend to draw extra attention to my link.

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Money Saving Mom here: Beth, see my note to Jen above. Hope that helps!