
Even
on a budget, you can achieve a beautiful and elegant atmosphere for
Thanksgiving dinner. Cover the table with a brown cloth. Search for a tablecloth that is on sale, or if you have access to a sewing machine, purchase some cheap fabric and sew a tablecloth.

To save money on drinks at
Thanksgiving, ask guests to bring a bottle of red or white wine. Head to
Trader Joe's, they have a wonderful assortment of affordable wines, and purchase a couple of bottles to add to the collection. Instead of offering bottled water, fill pitchers with ice and tap water.
Thanksgiving isn't Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie. While you could ask guests to bring dessert, I think the hostess should take on this sweet task. If you don't do much baking, it's more economical to purchase a ready-made pie dough.

An easy way to cut the
budget of your Thanksgiving feast is to make the dinner a potluck. You supply the appetizers, turkey, and one side, then ask the guests to fill in the blanks. Not going overboard on side dishes is another great way to trim costs.

Just because the economy is in a downward spiral that doesn't mean you should call off your plans for an amazing
Thanksgiving dinner. Now, more than ever, is a time to get together with loved ones. This week I'll be discussing my ideas for a Thanksgiving dinner that won't break the bank.