8 Ways to Save on Your Thanksgiving Dinner This Year
While there’s a lot to be thankful for with the Thanksgiving holiday, one item that may not be so appreciative is your wallet. Between the meal itself, travel, decorations, and more, it may feel like the taps, swipes, and purchases never stop. However, with the proper budget and strategy in place, you can pull off a successful Thanksgiving that won’t empty your bank account.
Here are 8 tips you can follow to pull off a successful, budget-friendly Thanksgiving.
Plan Your Menu Early
To start, you’ll want to know what exactly you’ll be making for Thanksgiving dinner. There will most likely be turkey or another main course, accompanied by a few sides, drinks, and some desserts. Don’t feel the need to have an elaborate five-course meal—people love the classics for a reason!
Knowing what exactly you’ll be making ahead of time, you can map out your shopping and buy your ingredients as the big day approaches. Before heading to the store, take inventory of some items you may have leftover from prior years, especially for seasonings and canned goods. It may be helpful to choose dishes that use similar ingredients, to stretch your pantry and your budget.
Consider a Potluck Meal
Don’t feel like you need to take on the entire Thanksgiving meal by yourself. It’s incredibly common for family and friends to follow a potluck format when it comes to the November feast. A potluck is where guests bring a drink or dish for everyone in attendance to share.
Your guests may already offer to bring a dish, but don’t be afraid to ask for some help if you need it. It shouldn’t be asking too much of a guest to bring along a side or an appetizer. Think of some dishes that everyone will enjoy, as well as ones that will travel easily.
Look Ahead to Leftovers
When it comes to setting your Thanksgiving menu, think about leftovers. Many of the dishes you’re sure to make are typically special to the holidays, so your family should enjoy savoring these foods for a few days beyond the holiday itself.
Leftovers also are a way to provide some savings for your grocery bills. You may not need to buy as much as you generally would since you’ll have some items ready to go that simply need to be reheated. A turkey sandwich, a casserole using leftover stuffing, or a shepherd’s pie made with leftover turkey and mashed potatoes are all meals you could try to get creative!
Seek Out Rewards and Discounts
With discounts and rewards when grocery shopping there may be a chance to feel even more thankful for your Thanksgiving meal! Many credit cards offer cash back and other rewards, which can be a nice boost (especially with more holidays right around the corner).
If you have an American Heritage Cash Reward Mastercard, you’ll earn 3%* Cash Back on every purchase from now through January 31, 2026. This includes all purchases, which is perfect for the several trips you’re sure to make to the grocery store in the next few weeks. You will also be giving back with every purchase made with an American Heritage credit or debit card, as $0.01 is donated to the Kids-N-Hope Foundation through the Penny-A-Purchase Program.
While cash back and rewards are a great advantage when it comes to credit cards, remember to be responsible with your purchases. It’s not worth scoring these rewards if it means you’ll be spending more than you are comfortable with.
Limit Drink Selections
Thanksgiving is about spending time with loved ones and giving thanks, not an open bar. You don’t need to go overboard when it comes to the drinks for your meal. Water and some soft drinks, like a soda or two, should be perfectly fine for your guests. Consider those that will be attending your meal when it comes to serving alcoholic beverages.
It’s also normal to ask your guests to bring the drinks they would prefer. This way, there will be something that everyone enjoys.
Explore Generic Brands
When grocery shopping for your ingredients, don’t be shy about purchasing generic brands. Chances are your guests likely won’t be able to tell the difference. According to the Dinner Daily, “generics are often made by your favorite national brands.” They’re often made in the same location but just packaged in a different way.
Generic brands also represent cost savings, which can present a big difference when it comes to your entire grocery bill. You could generally save anywhere from 25 to 30% over name brands, per the Dinner Daily.
Scale Back on Decorations
Outside of the actual food itself, you’ll have a lot on your plate if you’ll be the main chef of your guests’ Thanksgiving meal. You shouldn’t stress about needing to go the extra mile when it comes to decorating your home. There are plenty of simple, inexpensive ways you can create a beautiful home without breaking the bank.
Centerpieces are a staple of Thanksgiving, and you can easily make your own! Fill mason jars with cranberries, acorns, leaves, and other popular fall pieces. You also could place LED tea light candles around your table, which are often cheaper and safer than candles.
Giving Back
It’s very easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of the holidays. If your time and budget allow it, consider dedicating some time to giving back to others who need it most this year. This may include cooking meals for a local shelter, donating canned goods and non-perishables to a food pantry near you, or organizing a used clothing drive with family and friends.
American Heritage is once again holding its annual Spirit of Giving Food Drive, which supports local food pantries and community organizations. You can bring a canned good or nonperishable food item to your local American Heritage branch from now through Saturday, November 29. Help us reach our goal of collecting 20,000 pounds of donations!
This kind of community support is what makes credit unions different from banks. Credit unions give back to the communities they serve throughout the year, not only during the holidays. This charitable giveback extends to credit union members, who receive profits back in the form of lower rates on loans and higher earnings averages on savings and money market accounts.
With the right steps and planning, you can take on Thanksgiving this year like a pro. Remember to plan out your menu in advance and take advantage of rewards when you can. This includes earning 3%* Cash Back with every purchase made from now through January 31, 2026 with your American Heritage Cash Reward Mastercard. From all of us here at American Heritage Credit Union, we wish you and your family a happy Thanksgiving!
*Offer valid as of 10/1/25 and available for American Heritage Credit Union Cash Reward cardmembers only. How to earn Cash Back: Earn 3% cash reward bonus for all transactions made between 10/1/25 and 1/31/26. After 1/31/26, the Cash Reward program reverts to 3% Cash Back on Essentials (Gas, Groceries, Pharmacies, Home Improvement Stores), 2% Cash Back on Travel and Dining (Hotels, Airfare, Ride Shares, Restaurants), and 1% Back on Everything Else. Essential merchants defined as gasoline, grocery stores, home improvement, pharmacies, dairy, or meat locker. Travel merchants defined as restaurants, cafes, fast food chains, airlines, ride sharing and hotels. Purchases made through third-party technologies such as P2P or mobile wallets may not receive higher reward depending upon how the technology platform is configured to process the purchase. American Heritage is not responsible for codes used by merchants. See American Heritage Credit Union Cash Reward Program Terms and Conditions for more information about your rewards. We reserve the right to cancel, modify or extend this offer at any time without notice. Membership eligibility required. All credit card accounts subject to approval. Member must be in good standing with a minimum of a $15 deposit in their Primary Share Account. Not a member? Join today.