The holidays are a time for gathering, celebrating, and sharing meals with loved ones—but they can also bring financial stress, especially when it comes to preparing meals. Between skyrocketing grocery prices and the temptation to splurge on elaborate spreads, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. The good news? With a little creativity, planning, and some budget-savvy strategies, you can serve a holiday meal that’s both memorable and affordable. From making the most of seasonal ingredients to finding clever ways to stretch your dollars, these tips will help you prepare and serve a delicious holiday meal without emptying your wallet. Read on to discover how to keep your holiday table (and your wallet) full of cheer!

1. Use in-Season Produce
Winter produce like sweet potatoes is probably already on your holiday menu, but why not explore other in-season produce too like squash, carrots, Brussels sprouts? In-season means less expensive and these tasty winter veggies can all be turned into hearty side dishes!
2. Focus on a Main Dish
Use a cost-effective protein like a whole chicken, pork shoulder, or ham instead of pricier meats like beef roast or lamb.
3. Cook Casseroles
Casseroles were made for holidays! Green bean casserole or a cheesy potato bake will stretch your ingredients to feed more people, and they’re delicious!
4. Buy Whole Ingredients
Purchase whole chickens, whole carrots, and unprocessed cuts of meat instead of pre-cut or pre-packaged options. They’re usually cheaper and you can use the other bits for stocks and broths.
5. Cook From Scratch
Buying premade items like pies, rolls, gravy, and appetizer trays can add up quick. Making these items from scratch saves money and they usually taste better too!
6. DIY Appetizers
Skip the store-bought platters and create simple finger foods like classic deviled eggs, veggies sticks with hummus, or ham and cheese pinwheels. Get creative with simple ingredients, but leave the ready-made appetizers on the store shelves.
7. Add Cost-Effective Crowd Pleasers
Serve a filling dish like risotto, pilaf, or even baked ziti. Guests love these classics and they’re great when you need to stretch a smaller budget.
8. Shop Store Brands
When buying canned goods, spices, and staples, choose store-brand over name-brand. They’re usually just as good as name brands for a fraction of the price. Every little bit adds up big!
9. Plan Your Menu Around Sales
Check out weekly ads and plan your dishes based on sale items, especially for staples like turkey, potatoes, or canned vegetables.
10. Use Coupons, Apps, and Loyalty Programs
Take advantage of coupons, loyalty programs, and cashback apps like Ibotta or Rakuten for discounts. Many stores have these deals online or in their app that you can quickly add at will. No need to clip from a newspaper – but those coupons work great too!
11. Avoid Specialty Ingredients
If you need an expensive or one-time-use ingredient for a dish, skip it. Find a substitution using what you already have on hand.
12. Make a Veggie-Centered Dish
Whip up a hearty, delicious veggie-centered dish like roasted or stuffed veggies like acorn squash or bell peppers. This will keep your vegan friends happy and offer a great alternative to meat-heavy options.
13. Buy in Bulk, Y’all!
Hit up your favorite big box store and buy staples like flour, sugar, potatoes, and canned goods in bulk to save on costs.
14. Host a Brunch or Lunch
Who says you have to host Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas dinner? A brunch or lunch will be just as fun! And breakfast and brunch ingredients like eggs, bread, and fruit are cheaper than dinner proteins and sides.
15. Cut Expensive Extras
Don’t go overboard on appetizers or desserts. Appetizers like cheese board and charcuterie boards can really break the bank. And homemade desserts will always be cheaper than fancy desserts from a bakery or specialty store.
16. Skip the Decorations
Don’t spend any more money on fancy table decor. Instead, decorate with fruits and vegetables like cranberries, oranges, and nuts for table décor that double as snacks or ingredients later.
17. Host a Potluck Party
Ask guests to bring a dish to spread the costs. If you take care of the main dish, and guests bring appetizers, sides, and desserts, it will lighten your load and save money.
18. Skip the Fancy Drinks
Who says you need to serve alcohol, wine and beer at a holiday party? If you buy for everyone’s tastes, half your budget will be spent on liquid! Guests can BYOB, and you can set up a station with lemon water, homemade iced tea and simple hot cider.
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