The major holidays will be rolling up on us very soon. If you’re planning to host a holiday dinner on a budget, you may already be sweating the increased costs of groceries, tableware, holiday decor and more.
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However, if you live near a Dollar Tree, you may be in luck. With a little creativity, here’s how you can host a holiday dinner using (mostly) only Dollar Tree finds.
Make All the Sides
If you can just relinquish making the main course, let your family or friends know you’re making all the sides, according to Dr. Joan Salge Blake, a nutrition professor and dietitian at Boston University (BU), author of “Nutrition & You,” and the host of the popular nutrition and health podcast Spot On! You’ll find a variety of tasty food items to make everything from instant potatoes, stuffing mix and frozen desserts.
You can also find appetizers and seasonings quite cheaply at Dollar Stores, whereas these items are often on the pricier side at regular grocery stores.
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Everything You Need (Except the Turkey)
If your meal is being planned around a turkey or other major meat dish, while you probably won’t find a turkey or chuck roast itself at Dollar Tree, you can probably find just about everything else you need, Blake said. From the roasting pan to frozen or canned veggies, pie filling, instant mashed potatoes, desserts and more, Dollar Tree will have you covered.
For reduced or free turkeys or other meat, she offered a tip: “Grocery stores often reduce the price of turkeys around the holidays to a ridiculously low price. They put the birds on sale and use it as a ‘loss leader.’ In order words, they don’t make any profit off the turkey, but they want to lure you into the store to buy everything else for the meal.”
Opt for Soup
You can’t go wrong at any holiday with a nice big pot of soup. Blake reassured that you can find all manner of things to make a hearty homemade soup, from canned and frozen vegetables to tomatoes, rice and beans.
“Bonus: the canned veggies are already cleaned and diced so they are ready-to-use. Double Bonus: make the soup in advance and freeze it to make the holiday less stressful,” she said.
Decor Comes Cheaply
Holiday decorating also comes cheaply at Dollar Tree. Blake pointed out that not only can you get decorations for your home, but you can also set a beautiful spread at your table with things like festive napkins and ribbon “that can make a dining table look fabulous for little expense.”
Plan in Advance
Additionally, Blake urged people who might host a Dollar Tree holiday meal to plan ahead and “use your freezer for more than just ice cubes.” She suggested stocking up on things you find at the store earlier in the month, but can freeze and use later.
For example, if you find canned apple pie filling and pie crust, as well as vanilla ice cream, she suggested buying them when you see them. Then, make the whole pie and freeze it, too. “This will not only save you moolah, but ratchet down the stress of having to make the entire meal all at one time during the holidays,” she said.
Stock up on things you know you’ll use at the holidays early.
Note What Is Actually Cheaper
While many items are less expensive per ounce at Dollar Tree, Brian Theis, recipe developer, cookbook author and food blogger at The Infinite Feast, warned “pay attention to package quantities. Dollar Tree may sell a smaller package of the same item for less in total, but the same or even more per ounce.”
Things that are often cheaper include: Canned goods, cake mixes, spices, sugar, flour, other baking supplies, water, fruit juice, frozen foods and condiments, he shared.
Meal Plan Creatively
If the Dollar Tree doesn’t have every item you hoped for, Theis recommended “[planning] a menu that stretches pricier ingredients like proteins by leveraging less expensive ingredients like canned vegetables and starches like potatoes, rice and pasta.” You can’t go wrong with casseroles as main dishes and as vegetable-based side dishes, especially on a budget.
Other hacks include dishes in the “dump and stir” category, Theis said, such as chilis, pasta dishes and rich dishes.
Potluck It
To stay budget-friendly but keep tradition alive, have a potluck with family, Theis recommended. “Have guests fill in the courses with dishes of their own,” he said. Even if you’re switching up a beloved recipe or two with less expensive Dollar Tree ingredients, be sure to keep other traditions alive, such as pre-dinner toasts or after-dinner games.
With a little planning and creativity, a Dollar Tree holiday dinner can be just as festive, delicious and memorable without breaking the bank.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 8 Dollar Tree Hacks for Hosting a Budget-Friendly Holiday Dinner
