Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of year, a time to be grateful for what we have and to share, love, laughter and food with those we love. But what doesn’t get talked about often enough is how stressful Thanksgiving can be for those of us who don’t have a pocket-full of money. If you live on a tight budget, Thanksgiving can blow that budget all to heck and back if you are not careful, and the biggest thing you will be served is maximum stress.

However, there are many ways to serve a great holiday meal without breaking the bank. Below are tips on how to serve a great Thanksgiving meal on a budget:

• Make it a potluck – Many families opt for potluck dinners on Thanksgiving. If you have never been involved in a potluck meal, it means that each person brings a dish, with designations being made in advance for who brings what. For instance, one person is in charge of the dressing, another the turkey, someone else designated as the dessert person, possibly assigning special desserts to the best bakers, making it fun. What you end up with is a complete and bountiful meal that everyone took part in.

• Stay abreast of grocery store sales and use coupons – If you are smart and frugal, you can find great deals on turkey this time of year, and all of the fixings. Just keep up with the latest sales papers from your grocery store and clip coupons offered by grocery stores, both offline and online.

• Concentrate on vegetables – Most of us are trying our best to live healthier, so making vegetables the main attraction of your Thanksgiving meal rather than the meat is both healthy and acceptable. Using spices smartly, and being inventive with staple vegetables such as potatoes, green beans, corn, broccoli, and rice can provide a meal that is hearty, delicious and very affordable.  You will find a wealth of great recipes online for vegetables that delight. Eggs are always on sale this time of year too, and who doesn’t love deviled eggs?

• Prepare homemade desserts – Although rich folks pride themselves on buying luxury desserts delivered through the mail, and it is easier to buy pies and cakes at the bakery, homemade desserts can triple your savings and also show your guest that love went into the making of your pies, cakes, cookies, and homemade candy. Take a page from your grandmother’s Thanksgiving and create a baking wonderland that will be remembered forever, while pocketing great savings.

• Decorate from discount stores – No one at your Thanksgiving meal is going to know the difference if your centerpiece and place settings came from the dollar store, and neither will they care. Love is the object of this most grateful of holidays, so concentrate on this as you pay discount prices for Thanksgiving decorations.

What are you doing this Thanksgiving to save money on food and decorations? Share your tips and ideas with our readers. After all, every dollar saved on a Thanksgiving meal aimed to please means more money for Christmas shopping!