This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through my link.

This post is all about how to host Thanksgiving dinner on a budget.

HOSTING THANKSGIVING DINNER:

The Holidays are my favorite time of year! The cooler weather, the fashion, the decorations, the festive holiday drinks and coffees, the closeness of family and friends and delicious comfort food all put me in the best mood! By the time November comes around, I'm really ready to get into the Holiday spirit after a rather long hiatus of no Holidays to celebrate (besides Labor Day and Halloween).

Growing up, my family would always have a delicious Thanksgiving dinner with either our immediate family or extended family and often times we would host it at our house.

Now that I'm an adult (*cries*), I realize how much work and MONEY actually goes into preparing a Holiday feast for family and friends. I love to be home and I love to entertain, so naturally I love to entertain in the comfort of my home. In true, by patrice marjorie fashion, I have to have a budget. It's just how we roll here.

Here are a few ways you can be a big girl (or boy) and host your own fabulous Thanksgiving dinner while sticking to your budget.

This post talks about the steps to take and what to do and buy to host a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner while sticking to your budget!

THINGS TO DO FIRST:

1. SET A BUDGET

The first thing I would do to host a Thanksgiving dinner is set my budget. Decide exactly how much you want to spend in total and then put that exact amount of money away into an account solely for the dinner. That way you're always on track with your expenses and you will be able to keep an eye on when you are getting close to your limit.

2. SEND OUT E-INVITATIONS WITH AN RSVP DATE

Sending out invitations to your invited guests that has an RSVP date is super important because the cost you spend has a direct correlation to the number of mouths you're feeding. Having a heads up of how many people to expect to feed and entertain will make shopping for food easier and save you money in the process.

3. PURCHASE DECORATIONS

Decorations and table settings really help to set the vibe and tone of your dinner and the overall experience that your guests have. It's not enough to just have good food if people have to sit on floor and eat from plates that are flimsy and way small. I believe that people always remember your food but they also remember the ambiance you create. That is why we often revisit restaurants with amazing ambiance and sub par food. Even if the stuffing wasn't amazing, your guests will appreciate the time you took to create a comfortable environment for them to dine in. But, make the food tasty too. That's important.

4. CREATE A MENU

I love the idea of having a menu for Thanksgiving dinner and sharing it with your guests. This way, if you decide to have a potluck, no one brings 2 of the same things. It also gives a chance for you to know if anyone has allergies to anything you plan to serve. Creating a menu also helps you save money at the grocery store. Without a menu, you're likely to overspend and overcook.

5. CONSIDER A POTLUCK

Potlucks are great because it disperses the workload. Now you, the host, can focus solely on the main dishes, most likely the turkey (or turkey substitute) and the decorations. The rest of the apps, sides and desserts can be taken care of by your the guests participating in the potluck. It's important to make sure that no one is assigned to making the same item. No one needs 2 pans of cranberry sauce.

HOSTING THANKSGIVING DINNER: ESSENTIAL ITEMS

Hosting dinner is all fun and games until you're the one paying the bill for it all. Here are a few items that I suggest when decorating your home and preparing to host a beautiful and budget friendly Thanksgiving dinner:

1. Lighted Fall Garland