Whether the country is in an “official” recession or not, it’s a fact that prices for this year’s Thanksgiving feast have skyrocketed. The bird itself is about 20% more expensive than it was last year, and a basic meal for 10 is up to $65. So how can you host a Thanksgiving dinner without coming across as a cheap Scrooge? These five tips will turn you from Bah Humbug to the host with the most.

Plan Ahead

Work out your menu ahead of time, including how much you can afford to spend. This means making a list of everything you’re serving, down to the whipped cream for the pumpkin pie and paper products (if you’re using them). When you’re making your shopping list, don’t forget to include the quantities.

Pro Tip: Read up on substitutions. If a recipe calls for 1/4 cup of buttermilk, don’t buy a quart that you’ll wind up throwing out. Substitute sour cream or plain yogurt with a splash of lemon juice.
The more detailed your plan going in, the less likely you are to succumb to picking up random things because they look interesting.

Stick to Your Plan

There’s a difference in being a gracious and generous host and going completely over the top with place cards, party favors, seven sides and four desserts. All those scrumptious looking displays in the store are just tempting you to buy more than you’ll possibly consume, even if you plan on leftovers. Leftovers only last so long, after all. This isn’t to say you should be cheap, just be thoughtful in your spending.

Shop Your Pantry

Do you wonder why you have two containers of powdered garlic, a jar of minced garlic in the fridge, and six cloves on the counter? Because you don’t check to fridge, freezer, and pantry before you go shopping. Go through your stored rations and check off everything you’ve already got in house, take it out of the pantry for review, and you’ve just saved yourself a fair amount of money because you found the nutmeg and sage. If you’ve got green beans on the menu and have four cans with four labels, rest assured the beans—and your guests—don’t care. In short, only buy what you need.

This is when knowing how to substitute comes in super handy. Home chefs know all this already, but there’s an app for that—kitchensubs had four stars and is free!

Shop Around

Shop around for the best deals virtually—no wasting gas driving around for the best deal on stuffing mix. Figure out which stores have the best prices, and make more than one stop if necessary. Buy generic or store brands—they taste pretty much the same, and are lots cheaper. Super discount European grocery stores, such as Aldi and Lidl, are popping up all over the US and are also cheaper than name brands.
Start your shopping a few weeks early to stock up on staples—you’ll get pre-holiday prices and can spread the cost over several paychecks.

Host a Potluck

Remember, the first Thanksgiving was basically a potluck. Keep the tradition going by asking your guests to bring something to the party. If they don’t have wild boar handy, desserts or appetizers are a good option since those won’t interfere with your main menu. If they don’t cook, they can certainly bring the wine, flowers, or paper products.

Thanksgiving is about being thankful for what you have, and sharing with those you love. When you plan ahead and stick to your budget, you’ll serve up a delicious dinner and enjoy the day without budget-busting stress.