Most holiday traditions are spent with family and loved ones coming together, making new memories, reliving old ones, and sharing laughs while enjoying a delicious meal. But with increased food prices, putting together a traditional holiday meal can cost families hundreds of dollars. If you’d like to prepare a holiday spread without breaking the bank, we have a few ways you can get creative with your holiday food budget.
Preparing a holiday meal when money is tight is stressful. But with a little bit of planning and creativity, you can stretch your grocery budget without stretching your wallet. Here are some cost-saving ways to make merry holiday meals in the kitchen.
Before deciding what to make, first consider how much you can afford to spend. Take inventory of any items you already have and can use, then determine what to prepare that day. For the remaining ingredients, put together a shopping list with only what you absolutely need. This will help keep you from overspending.
Ways to save money on your holiday meal:
With a bit of planning and careful sourcing, you'll uncover hidden savings for making a merry holiday meal this year.
While stores, advertisements, and the media may have you believing that everyone cooks the same meal for the holidays, don’t be fooled because this isn’t true. Different cultures celebrate different food traditions and with some online investigating, you may uncover new meal ideas that’ll be fun, tasty, and affordable to make!
Here are some creative, inexpensive, and untraditional meal ideas you can try:
Alcoholic beverages can easily spiral your holiday food budget out of control, especially when making festive drinks that require specific ingredients and spirits. Consider swapping alcoholic spirits for non-alcoholic beverages.
Here are some ways to add some spice (not spirits) into your holiday beverages:
Get into the yuletide spirit without the use of alcoholic spirits!
If you’re ready to save money but not willing to not skimp on flavor, here are a few untraditional holiday recipes you can make without sleighing your budget.
The options are endless when it comes to making a taco bar – from meats to toppings, to what you choose to put your taco in (or on). Here is a taco bar recipe from “Apple Slices” that gives you all the ins out of putting together a tasty taco bar.
Money Saving Tip: Substitute beef with ground turkey or chicken for additional savings.
Fun & Festive Tip: Serve only red and green toppings for an added festive treat!
Trade traditional turkey for the other (and less expensive) poultry – chicken! This roast chicken recipe from “The Spruce Eats” will save you money and time because the entire meal uses one sheet. Minimal costs, less work in the kitchen and less clean up. Less is definitely more with this holiday recipe!
Money Saving Tip: Use any vegetable on sale or subsite fresh for frozen. *Note: Frozen vegetables may affect cooking time.
Fun & Festive Tip: Serve only red and green toppings for an added festive treat!
Be the savior of soups and savings with this inexpensive potato soup with sausage recipe from “Good Cheap Eats”. At less than a dollar per serving, it’s comforting for your soul, belly, and budget.
Money Saving Tip: Substitute fresh for frozen or canned alternatives. *Note: This may affect cooking time.
Fun & Festive Tip: Add a side of pumpkin biscuits for an untraditional but delicious treat!
Preparing a holiday meal when money is tight can be stressful, but with a little bit of planning, creativity, and an un-traditional take on making a meal, it’s possible to make a merry meal without breaking the bank. For more budgeting tips and resources, visit www.peachstatefcu.org/blog/tag/budgeting.