How To Host Thanksgiving On A Budget

By Sarah Christine Davis on November 23, 2015

This article is brought to you by Kaplan, the leader in test prep for over 90 standardized tests, including the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and MCAT.

As we delve deeper into adulthood, many of us are beginning to host our own Thanksgiving dinners.

Whether it’s because your family wants to travel to your college town or because you and your family live too far away from each other to visit for just a day or just because you’ve got a knack for hosting, you or one of your friends will inevitably find yourselves hosting Thanksgiving dinner one year or another.

For grad students who can barely afford to eat out on the weekends, cooking an entire decadent full meal for a large group of people is an understandably daunting task.

However, there are several simple ways to make this task easier so that you and your guests enjoy an immaculate Thanksgiving despite your smaller budget.

Read on to learn about some of the ways that you can use your business school skills to host a great Thanksgiving on a budget.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Image via Europe Up Close

If even The Beatles admitted that they get by with a little help from their friends, you shouldn’t be afraid to do the same thing this Thanksgiving.

Whether you want to have a potluck Thanksgiving where everyone brings their own dish — a risky decision, but one that saves you tons of money — or you simply want a friend or two over to help you cook before everyone else arrives, teamwork is a surefire way to save you both money and stress.

You can also ask friends and family to temporarily donate items that you may need, such as silverware, serving plates, or lawn chairs in the event that it’s nice enough to sit outside (and because having too much seating for your guests is better than not having enough).

My Home Ideas suggests that you can “hit up friends and family who are heading out of town [because] you know they won’t be using their plates and silver pieces during the holiday.”

If that’s not an option or you simply want to do this all by yourself, consignment shops such as Goodwill almost always carry a variety of silverware at a low cost that you can use just for the holiday.

But if you’re going to go to Goodwill, go as soon as possible — this is a secret tip that many Thanksgiving hosts keep in mind this time of year!

Use your imagination and what you already have to decorate.

Image via Woo Home

You don’t need to go all out when decorating your house for Thanksgiving, but a few holiday decorations here and there or perhaps a nice-looking painting in the dining room will surely add a touch of cheer to your place.

Candles, festive table runners, and small trinkets are little things that can make a big difference in your home or apartment this Thanksgiving.

You can also use craft supplies that you have lying around to create cute Thanksgiving decorations.

This is an especially good idea if you have younger children coming over who undoubtedly will get bored with the adults’ grown-up conversations. While the food is cooking and the adults are chatting, kids can create decorations to hang up or place around the table.

Check out this page from Woo Home that features a variety of DIY Thanksgiving decorations, from the most silly kid-friendly crafts like a turkey made out of a pine cone to more classy adult-friendly crafts like a Thanksgiving garland or candles made out of green apples.

Don’t be afraid to take a less traditional route.

Image via Apartment Therapy

It’s naïve to think that you’ll be able to fit 25 people in your tiny home or apartment. There’s no need to buy new furniture or even new folding tables.

Plenty of companies rent out folding tables and chairs to customers who need extra seating. Slap on a tablecloth and suddenly you have extra seating on the low!

While folding tables aren’t incredibly conventional or necessarily attractive, keep in mind that it’s perfectly fine for you to steer away from the traditional and towards a more casual setting.

You can also accept the fact that it’s fine for people to stand and sit around on couches or outside. You don’t need to have that picture of Thanksgiving that comes to mind of tons of people sitting down at a long dining room table.

You are the host, after all: you can decide to host a casual Thanksgiving!

Remember to have fun.

Image via Pixabay

While this is easier said than done, it’s a good thing to keep in the back of your mind during planning and hosting. Thanksgiving only comes once a year.

It’s the one time of year when you are encouraged to stuff yourself with turkey, green bean casserole, and apple pie. It’s also one of the few times per year when so many of your loved ones all congregate in the same place.

Don’t take it for granted!

Learn more about Kaplan’s test prep options and start building the confidence you need for Test Day.

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