Thanksgiving is a time for sharing and giving thanks. Although enjoying time with family and friends makes this an enjoyable holiday it sometimes comes with the stress of creating a festive holiday meal on a limited budget.

There are many ways to make your preparations and decorating stress-free by using a few easy shortcuts that won’t stretch your budget.

Budget friendly decorations:

• Buy inexpensive decorations at the many dollar stores near your neighborhood. Most of these bargains are sold at other stores at a much higher price and are of a similar quality.
• Go to Pinterest or other websites to find innovative ways to make your own Thanksgiving decor.
• Check out books from your local library.
• Trade last year’s decorations with friends and family. Most people keep holiday pieces for future use.

Save preparation time:

• Buy boxed stuffing and add your favorite spices for that fabulously unique taste.
• Short on time? Deli’s at many grocers will provide a meal complete with sides and desserts. Although this may cost a little more, it may be worth the time saved to create a successful holiday.
• Everyone can bring their own special dish or dessert to the family dinner. Many families do this so mom can spend quality time instead of slaving in the kitchen.
• Many frozen rolls have similar quality and flavor of homemade rolls with little or no preparation time.

There are many other ways to save time and money while creating a memorable Thanksgiving holiday. Get creative by talking to friends and family about unique ideas or check out the many websites dedicated to creative decorating ideas from over the world. Have a party to share ideas and have fun crafting creative decorations with friends. Just keep in mind that Holidays should be fun not stressful.