Though retirees have all the time in the world, they’re still aware of the calendar pages flipping toward November. It’s time to start preparing for Thanksgiving — which, for lovers of food, friends and family, football and fantastic parades, truly does herald “the most wonderful time of the year.” Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving festivities this year or you’re going to be the guest of honor wherever you go, as a retiree on a fixed income, you’ve got to find budget-conscious goodies.
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One of the best places to find cost-effective items that can help you prepare Thanksgiving dinner or bring it to other homes — not to mention decorate your own home and table — is Dollar Tree. GOBankingRates explored some of the best finds that financially savvy retirees should grab before Thanksgiving.
Glazed Finish Thanksgiving Pumpkin
- Price: $1.50
Having good food on your table is important, but so is having beautiful décor for guests to admire between mouthfuls. This gorgeous white pumpkin with a glazed finish — bearing one of three images, including a pattern of falling leaves or the phrases “happy harvest” and “autumn breeze and falling leaves” — will do the trick. At the low price of $1.50 each, you could easily get all three and create your own centerpiece.
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Idahoan Four Cheese Instant Mashed Potatoes
- Price: $1.50
Mashed potatoes are a staple of any Thanksgiving dinner. But as a retiree, your knees don’t want you standing in the kitchen for hours making a huge batch. Instead, be thankful for these delicious, cheesy instant mashed potatoes. They’re as easy to make as they are inexpensive — and your family doesn’t have to know they’re not an original recipe passed down through generations.
Home Select Big Chef Turkey-Size Oven Bags
- Price: $1.50
Though these turkey-size oven bags are perfect for the main attraction on Turkey Day, financially responsible retirees also know it’s important to get the most use possible out of any purchase — even one as inexpensive as $1.50. You can use the leftover bags for your Christmas turkey or ham, or for bigger meals throughout the winter, like Sunday chicken dinners.
Gold Plastic Charger Plates With Beaded Rims
- Price: $1.50
Just because you’re living on a fixed income doesn’t mean you can’t add some glamour and style to your table. Your guests might not eat off these gold beauties, but they’ll appreciate the elegant ambiance these charger plates bring to your setting. If you’re looking to add holiday colors to your home, you can also use charger plates on mantels as décor.
Lexington Water Goblet
- Price: $1.50
If there’s one thing any responsible host knows about Thanksgiving, it’s that anything that can happen likely will — including damage to dishware. Fortunately, you can get these water goblets for a low price, so if something does happen, you’re not losing expensive drinkware. However, reviewers on the Dollar Tree website praise these goblets for their durability, so you might not need to worry about them breaking.
Editor’s note: Pricing is accurate as of Oct. 29, 2025. Pricing and availability are subject to change.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Dollar Tree Items Responsible Retirees Should Buy Ahead of Thanksgiving
