Thanksgiving: Make a big splash on little cash

You scaled back the family summer vacation and expect to curtail spending on holiday gifts this year. Still, you would like to do something special for the holidays, even if your budget isn't as grand as it once was.

Thanksgiving is one holiday when you can make a big splash without spending a lot of cash. Food is still relatively cheap in America - compared with other places in the world - and great food is the centerpiece of Thanksgiving. Serving a feast to family and friends doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg; you just have to be willing to invest the time in planning and preparation.

You'll find plenty of Thanksgiving ideas online at websites like Better Homes %26 Gardens (www.BHG.com). Look for do-it-yourself decorating ideas and Thanksgiving recipes that will help make the holiday special. Focus on ideas that will work well whether you plan far ahead, or wait until the last minute to pull everything together. Be sure to cover the two most important elements of a Thanksgiving feast: food and decor.

Save by making your own decorations

Creating your own decorations can help set the stage for the holiday, get you in the spirit of the season and save you money. Thanksgiving crafts can be as simple or grand as you choose. Getting kids involved in making crafts is also a great way to make them feel engaged in holiday celebrations and to get the work done more quickly with many hands involved.

First, dress up the front door, as it will be the first thing guests see when they arrive at your home. You can find directions for making a variety of holiday-themed wreathes and swags online. Remember to incorporate plenty of autumn colors - from rich oranges to burnished golds - in your door decoration.

Next, focus on the tabletop, where guests will sit down for the feast. Whether you opt for a festive centerpiece of pumpkins and autumn leaves or candleholders made out of ornamental corncobs, keep the emphasis on bright but easy. Finally, sprinkle touches like fall-themed garlands and holiday banners throughout the house. You'll find plenty of Thanksgiving ideas at www.BHG.com.

Focus on the food

Thanksgiving recipes are more than just directions for dishes, they're part of a family's holiday heritage. Whether it's Grandma's pumpkin pie recipe or Great Aunt Gert's secret for succulent stuffing, Thanksgiving food creates memories and shared bonds.

The turkey will, of course, be the centerpiece of any Thanksgiving feast. The good news is, turkey is an affordable main dish, costing as little as $1 per pound, and one good-sized bird can serve as a main course for a large family. It is, however, easy to dry out a turkey or underestimate cooking time, so make sure you brush up on your turkey 101 before you begin heating the oven. A quick online search will yield plenty of good advice and ideas for preparing the perfect bird.

Don't forget traditional side dishes liked mashed potatoes, stuffing (also known as dressing or filling in some parts of the country), sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, honey-glazed carrots and yummy dinner rolls. Whether you go strictly traditional or spice things up with variations on popular favorites, side dishes will be essential to round out the meal.

Courtesy of ARAcontent