Plan Ahead for Holiday Meals

Home Lifestyle Holidays Christmas Entertaining Plan Ahead for Holiday Meals

The weather might not be cold enough for a glass of eggnog, but now's a good time to start planning your holiday meals. With food prices on the rise and the seasonal shopping rush forthcoming, you'll toast yourself for thinking ahead.

• Where will you be dining? If you're going on a trip, start setting aside money each week, so you'll be prepared to dine out in style. If you'll be dining in someone else's home, consider if you'll be bringing a dish or buying something to supplement the meal, then budget appropriately.
  
  
• If you're the one preparing the holiday meals, it's time to figure out how many people you're likely to serve. Is it just going to be you and your immediate family, or will you host the in-laws, your parents, and/or siblings? What about other guests?
  
  
• Once you have the number of diners in mind, start listing the dishes for your menu. Is your stuffing a must-have? What about your desserts? If no one likes the tray of raw veggies, then re-purpose them for another meal. Do you need appetizers? Although some family cooks provide both a turkey and a ham, you might to select just one this year.

• Most people love to help. If your cousin's famous for his mashed potatoes, then ask him to haul them in if he lives in your area. Those who aren't inclined to cook can bring the drinks or bakery treats. Have several friends and family members help you prepare some dishes a day early instead of relying on more expensive convenience food.
  
  
• Now that you know your menu, write up a shopping list. For the groceries, split the list into a perishables section and a non-perishables section. Shop for the non-perishables a bit at a time while you do your regular grocery store trips in the weeks leading up to the holidays. Save the perishables until the week of your holiday meal. Do you need china, crystal, or serving pieces? Try the antique shops, thrift stores, or ask to borrow from a willing relative or friend.
  
  
• Your holiday table doesn't have to be perfect, and your table doesn't have to resemble your grandmother's incredible feasts. If you don't want the expense of a dozen side dishes, then pick the top three. Don't be afraid to test-drive new holiday meal traditions; you might learn that you prefer brownies to pumpkin pie.
  
  
• The day after the meal, list what worked, the dishes people avoided, and what you'd like to incorporate for the next holiday meal. Use the leftovers to the best of your abilities instead of letting them turn into a New Year's science experiment in the back of the fridge.
  
  
• Don't forget that you can swap or share ingredients, techniques, recipes, and dishes with like-minded relatives and friends. For instance, if you bought a twenty-pound bag of potatoes, offer to trade the five pounds you don't need for a dozen of your neighbor's homemade rolls. If you're a wine expert and your coworker makes the greatest chocolate truffles ever, offer your expertise in exchange for a lesson in making candy.

Keep up the networking after the holidays, too. You and your money-saving associates can benefit each other long after the holiday table's been cleared.

Take the Next Step:

• Print FREE Coupons at Home at Coupons.com. You'll also find some more printable coupons here.

Discuss "Early Holiday Food Planning" in The Dollar Stretcher Community

Share your thoughts about this article with the editor: Click Here

Copyright 1996 - 2013 "The Dollar Stretcher, Inc." All rights reserved unless specifically noted.

Contact the Dollar Stretcher at:
Dollar Stretcher
PO Box 14160
Bradenton FL 34280
941-761-7805

"The Dollar Stretcher, Inc." does not assume responsibility for advice given. All advice should be weighed against your own abilities and circumstances and applied accordingly. It is up to the reader to determine if advice is safe and suitable for their own situation.

Also In This Week's Issue

• How to pay debt while improving credit score
• Avoid making this common investing mistake
• Life insurance from marriage into midlife
• Affordable life insurance after 50? Or 60?
• How to track unclaimed life insurance money
• How to quickly boost your credit score
• Why good manners can boost financial success
• When it's OK to tap your IRA
• 6 cheap, effective home security solutions
• 5 excuses why people don't save for retirement
• Can a 'rapid rescore' help you get a mortgage?
• 5 types of credit unions worth joining

In The Dollar Stretcher Community

• Homemade smoothies
• Dollar Stretching Recipes: Slow cooker refried beans

Reader Favorites

• Natural homemade shampoo
• Homemade cat food
• Removing pet urine smells
• Cheap dates and family activities
• Auto loan prepayment penalties