Saving Money

Although "eat, drink and be merry" may be your mantra this upcoming Thanksgiving, doing so on a budget is probably a mandate of the feast.

Even if you are greatly concerned about this expense, now is not the time to try less expensive or alternative fair. Thanksgiving is a national holiday that can be celebrated by all and atraditional meal is part of the game plan and the overall fun for the day.

With careful planning, preparation and shopping it is quite possible to have a spread fit for royalty, all on a paupers budget. With a budget of $80-$90, happy homemakers of all shapes and sizes can feed 8-10 people a traditional Thanksgiving meal complete with appetizer, fresh roasted turkey, tons of sides and of course delicious deserts.

Like with any other type of shopping, costs can be controlled by planning accordingly. That means making your guest list, planning a menu and then comparing prices getting the freshest and most delicious goodies for the big day. Some additional tips for keeping your Thanksgiving Budget on track are:

• DIY-Although items like mashed potatoes, pre-washed and cut vegetables, pre-made pies and even buying an oven roasted gobbler directly from the store are great time savers, you will pay extra for the convenience. Commit to making everything from scratch and you will certainly be able to stay within your budget
• Buy Seasonal Produce- As the seasons change, so does the selection of produce. Instead of fighting nature and insisting on a fresh berry pie or a fiddlehead side dish, buy produce that is both seasonal and local. Farmer's markets are a great resource for finding both.
• Choose a Supermarket Bird- A trip to your local market and buying a fresh turkey is all you need to buy the main guest of honor for your Thanksgiving celebration. By using the Butterball Portion Planner you can properly estimate what size turkey you need for your feast and avoid having any go to waste
• Make Your Own Pumpkin Pie- Canned pumpkin is a great bargain and making a pie from scratch should only cost about $5.
• Go Generic- Store brands are just as good (if not better) then their food designer label counterparts. When it comes to canned goods, stocks, fresh produce, milk, butter and bread (for stuffing) there is no need to pay extra for a name brand.

From the day after Halloween until the new year kicks in, stores start changing over their merchandise, commercials promote the "must haves" for the season and from your local pharmacy to the biggest mass retailer, there is a battle for your hard earned dollars.

It is no wonder that many find holiday's stressful. From social obligations, family gatherings and monetary expenses, the pressure can feel overwhelming. That is why planning for the holidays will give you the guidelines and parameters needed to keep it all in check.

Perhaps you already learned from the ghosts of Christmas past that your biggest stress comes from not having a holiday budget and spending way to much on everything from gifts to travel. If so, you were probably wise enough to have already started a Christmas Club and are now actually in the process of receiving your disbursements from the investment. This year was an especially fruitful year for those looking for savings plans specifically for holiday expenses as several major retailers like Sears, Kmart and Macy's all got into the act.

No need to kick yourself if you did not put money aside, as you still have time to plan accordingly. We have some ideas how you can save money on all your holiday expenses including ideas on how to get the best prices for:

• Travel
• Menu Planning
• Decorating your Home
• Shopping

Buy carefully minding your holiday budget you can more easily face whatever holidayconundrum may be lurching. Familial criticism, loneliness and exhaustion and it will all be easier to handle when you have full control of your finances.Only by taking the steps now can you ensure that you have a happy, healthy and affordable holiday season.

Thanksgiving through New Year's day marks the traditional American holiday season. For many, that time is stressful because of the expenses associated with the celebrations.If you are old enough to realize that Santa Claus is not real and it is up to you to fill the stockings of your friends...

With unemployment rates at record highs and money not growing on trees, celebrating the holidays on a budget is the goal of most Americans.

One of the biggest expenses of holiday celebrations is the cost of food. Generally, the turkey isthe biggest expense of the meal. However by making some...

There is nothing like celebrating the holidays with friends and family. When it comes down to it, it is the conversation, act of celebration and general merriment that makes this time of year most memorable.

Regardless of what your plans are for the big day or days, one way to getting the...

This current economic downturn has forced everyone to put themselves and their spending behaviors under the microscope. No longer are the masses lumped into one large demographic category of "consumers."

With less money flowing through the economy and through our hands, man people have...

A new study has found that sending people cellphone reminders via text messaging has helped increase savings balances by 6 percent. The study was conducted at Dartmouth University and looked at the difference it made to be reminded that you need to save your money.

The Basics of the Study

The...

Those who have yet to take advantage of the hefty $8,000 First-Time Homebuyer Credit may have more time than they think to get in on the action. It seems that Congress is hard at work trying to extend the credit past its current deadline of Nov. 30, 2009. If the extension is passed, the credit...

At American Eagle Credit Union , new customers only can earn up to $100 with the Bonus Bucks Checking Account . In order to earn the bonus bucks, you must add one of the following within 30 days of opening the account:

• Visa Check Card (earns $25)
• Direct Deposit plus one transaction (earns $25)
• ...

If you, or a generous relative, has set up a trust or other interest-bearing account for your minor child, you may be facing some unique problems related to unearned income when tax time comes around. How do you report your child's interest income? Should you file a return on behalf of your...