10 Tips for Hosting a Holiday Meal on a Budget

Holidays are often when we break out our fanciest dishes and cook Grandma’s recipes. But big celebrations don’t have to come with a big price tag. Keep your holiday entertaining costs down to stay focused on your financial goals, whether that’s completing a debt relief program or saving up an emergency fund.

Smart planning can lead to an amazing time while you put up a great spread without breaking the bank. These 10 tips can help. 

1. Create a budget in advance

Creating a budget is always helpful in keeping costs down, and that's true even in situations where your goal is simply to make a holiday meal on a budget. 

If you don't want to go overboard, set a clear limit on how much you'll spend. This helps you avoid buying too much at the grocery store. Limits could also steer you away from tempting purchases that are simply too expensive.

To create your budget, consider:

• The number of people you're feeding 

• What you already have in your pantry

• Grocery store sales and specials

• How much money you can comfortably spend for the holiday meal without borrowing.

By considering these factors, you can go to the grocery store with a clear maximum in mind. You can make sure you don’t end up needing credit card debt relief because you've run up a big bill you can't pay off easily. 

2. Stock up and buy in bulk

Many holiday staples keep for a while, so pay attention to sales in the months leading up to the event. You can stock up ahead of time on the dry, frozen, and canned goods you’ll use for holiday dishes.

Also, remember that buying things in bulk—either from bulk bins at your local grocery, or from a big-box store like Costco—can be significantly cheaper than buying individual items from your grocery store. 

3. Use coupons to make a holiday meal on a budget

Clipping coupons may seem like a relic of the past, but really they’ve just changed form. These days, there are lots of couponing and deals apps for smartphones. Learning how to coupon effectively could help you save a ton of money on the items that you need for a delicious holiday meal on a budget. 

Apps like Ibotta, Coupon Sherpa, SnipSnap, and Saving Star are easy to use and can save you a lot of money at the grocery store—especially during the holiday season. And you can still check the newspaper and weekly flyers for coupons before you head to the grocery store.

If you combine manufacturer coupons and store coupons, or use coupons to buy items on sale already, you can often pay pennies on the dollar. Shopping for discounts could also make it easier to plan your menu as much as possible around the items that you have coupons for, and limit the total amount you spend. 

4. Cut back on meat

You might expect to stick to your grandmother’s traditional spread, but if a traditional holiday meal would break the bank, it might be time to switch up your menu.

For example, there’s no reason to buy a turkey and a ham this year. For most of us, a lot ends up as leftovers anyway. Pick one and save yourself money, time, and effort. Or get creative and check your local butcher shop or grocery store for deals on other kinds of meat. You might be surprised to find reduced pricing on pork, beef, or chicken right around the biggest holidays.

If your family is feeling extra thrifty, why not eliminate the meat entirely and try a vegetarian meal?

5. Ask guests to bring a dish or beverage

Potluck-style holiday gatherings are more and more popular these days. A potluck could help you change your spending habits and stick to your holiday meal budget. Potlucks are also a great way for friends and family to share their traditions and favorite recipes.

It’s easy to rack up a huge bill on alcohol for your guests. To save money, ask visitors to contribute their favorite drinks to the bar this year. You’ll end up with a nice variety of beverages and spend a lot less by not hosting the alcohol. 

6. Shop locally and in-season

Holidays are about celebrating the season. With that in mind, plan your meal around what’s in season, and buy from local farmers. Foods that travel a shorter distance often cost less, so it’s possible to support local businesses and save on your grocery bill if you focus on getting as much as you can from those who live and grow around you. 

7. Only make what you need

It’s tempting to go overboard on the holidays and whip up as many dishes as you can think of. But then you’ll also have to deal with all the leftovers, which might end up in the trash. If you plan ahead, you can make sure you have leftovers for a few work lunches, but not so much that you’ll have a ton of food in your refrigerator that can go bad before you eat it. 

One way to do this is by looking up portion sizes online. For example, you could search up how many pounds of turkey or ham to order based on the number of people. 

8. Make everything from scratch

Some packaged foods save you so much time and effort that they’re worth the expense. But it’s usually cheaper to make things like stuffing, mac and cheese, gravy, and other foods from scratch.  

9. Limit your dessert options

Instead of accommodating every guest’s potential dessert preference, a pie and a tub of ice cream might be good enough. A massive spread of the sweet treats everyone loves may look impressive, but focusing on the classics could keep everyone happy and keep your holiday meal on budget.  

10. Plant a garden in your yard

Growing your own garden could be a great way to cut down on food costs year-round—not just at the holidays. Research what grows best in your area, then plant a garden in your backyard. Even an herb garden in a window box could save you significant cash when the time comes to prepare your meal. 

These tips will help you make a holiday meal on a budget

Holidays can bring a lot of expectations, but you don’t have to sacrifice a great meal to be savvy with money. Plan ahead, get creative, and shop smart to cut out stress and allow you to truly enjoy the time with your friends and family.