10 Ways to Save Big on Thanksgiving Dinner

New York, NY – November 20, 2008 – Thanksgiving is just one week away and it’s time to start planning the meal. Commonly thought of as one of the most expensive meals of the year, it’s actually quite easy to spend just $5 or less per person on such a large meal without going pot luck.

Shortcuts.com, a free, totally paperless electronic coupon service, offers ten ways to save serious money on Thanksgiving dinner this year.

1) Make a List. One of the easiest ways to over-spend on the Thanksgiving meal is to over-shop. Make a list of what you need and stick to it to keep money in your pocket.

2) Seek Out Coupons. You’ll find more coupons than normal in the Sunday paper and online at sites like Shortcuts.com that can be used on the holiday dinner. Alone these can cut costs significantly, but pair sales with coupons to save major dollars. Also, check out the Thanksgiving Dinner Meal Deal on Shortcuts.com to save big on turkey, mashed potatoes, crescent rolls, pie crusts and whipped topping.

3) Buy a Frozen Turkey. You can save 30-40% by choosing a frozen turkey over a fresh turkey. Allow four to five days for the turkey to thaw completely in your refrigerator.

4) Know How Much You Need… Take a headcount of how many people will be at the table and visit a site like AllRecipes.com to calculate a recipe based on the number of people eating dinner.

5) …Then Make Less Than You Need. There are so many must-have side dishes – mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole – that guests won’t be taking their usual helpings. Make 10-20% less of each dish and you should still have plenty of food. 

6) Save on Side Dishes. There are simple ways to modify traditional favorites to save money. For green bean casserole, mix frozen green beans with frozen corn. Once cooked, top with Parmesan cheese and bread crumbs to save money on cream soup and canned fried onions.

7) Cut Costs with Dinner Drinks. If you plan to serve wine with dinner, consider boxed wine that can cost about half as much as bottled wine. For added cost savings, mix red wine with club soda to create sangria and serve in a carafe.

8) Make Your Own Pies. Pumpkin pie is cheaper to make than to buy. Plus, frozen pie crusts can be found on sale. Pumpkin pie is surprisingly easy to make and tastes better than store-bought too!

9) Look for “Loss Leader” Items. Grocery stores are advertising more holiday-related “loss leaders,” or deeply discounted items, on the front pages of their ads. You can easily score major savings on stuffing, rolls, potatoes and pie crusts this way.

10) Know Price Matching Policies. Some stores will match the advertised prices at other grocery retailers. This will keep you from driving from store to store if you can get most everything at one store.

About Shortcuts.com
Shortcuts.com, a free service of AOL, is a totally paperless electronic coupon program linked to store loyalty cards. Shortcuts.com makes it easy for consumers to click, shop and save on the products they buy every week. For more on Shortcuts.com, visit http://www.shortcuts.com.