Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate and enjoy a wonderful meal with family and friends. But, there is often so much to do and the last thing you want is to be running around all day, missing the fun. Last week we took a look at how to plan wisely for your Thanksgiving feast, and today, we’ll talk about tips for how to shop and still having time to enjoy the day. You’ll be thankful for all the money you’ll save!

• Shop on Friday or Saturday. Most store flyers are released on the weekend – this is also when the stores have the most stock and the best choices, so shop as early as possible.  Now it is going to be busy so wear comfortable shoes and bring a coffee.  Shop and compare in advance.

• Know the brands. Generic brands can be just as good in quality as the national brands, but can save you money and this can especially be true for the side dishes for Thanksgiving.  Also look high and low on shelves when you shop as highest price items are usually at eye level.

• Take advantage of great deals. If you find a good deal on turkeys, why not pick up a second one for the next holiday. Or donate one to a homeless shelter or food program. You may also want to check back after the holiday when the turkeys go on sale – this is a great time to pick one up for December holidays as well.

• Know how much turkey you need. Quantities vary depending upon whether you have a group of big eaters and want to have leftovers, but plan for approximately 1.3 to 1.5 lbs or 0.6 to 0.75 kg per person. For 6 people that’s an 8 to 9 lbs or 3.5 to 4.5 kg turkey.

• Buy in bulk and share.  Shop with a friend and make it a great chance to chat and catch up while you shop and wait in line.  Get together with friends to buy staples on sale in larger quantities then share them with everyone.  Or cook a few pies and your friend cooks other items and share.  

• Shop around. Check out flyers for different stores at Flyerland.ca to find the best deals, especially on staples you can buy in bulk. This is a great time to stock up on ingredients for the holiday season.   Remember 3 times the quantity at 2 times the price is the average savings.

• Know how much to cook. You don’t want to run out of food, but you don’t want to overcook and have it go to waste either. Be sure to read labels for recommended quantities, bearing in mind that you’ll be offering a selection of dishes.

• Try new recipes. Check out Canadian Living or Chatelaine to find new and exciting variations on traditional recipes. You can also have recipes ready to make use of any leftovers. A bigger turkey cooks more evenly and also provides the leftover for lunches other meals.  Why not pick 3 great recipes all from different cuisines or get the kids to help and search online for recipes they like and can help out with?  Then you can save some time and keep them busy.

Debbie Frye, General Manager, Flyerland.ca