Smart Strategies to Save on Your Thanksgiving Dinner

Smart Strategies to Save on Your Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving dinner is a cherished tradition, but it can also be a costly one. Fortunately, there are several smart strategies you can use to save on your Thanksgiving meal without sacrificing quality or taste. Here’s how to do it:

1. Plan Your Menu Wisely

Start by creating a menu that balances traditional favorites with cost-effective choices. Focus on dishes that use seasonal and affordable ingredients. Consider substituting expensive items with more budget-friendly alternatives. For instance, opt for a turkey instead of pricier meats.

2. Create a Shopping List

Once your menu is set, make a detailed shopping list that includes all the ingredients you need. Stick to the list while shopping to avoid impulse purchases. Many grocery stores offer online shopping with curbside pickup or delivery, which can help you avoid in-store temptations.

3. Compare Prices and Shop Sales

Before heading to the store, compare prices at different supermarkets or online grocery delivery services. Take advantage of sales, discounts, and coupons to reduce your overall grocery bill. Look for promotions on turkey, canned goods, and baking ingredients.

4. Buy in Bulk

If you have the storage space, consider buying non-perishable items like canned vegetables, flour, or sugar in bulk. This can often be more cost-effective in the long run and reduce your overall grocery expenses.

5. Use Leftovers Creatively

Plan for leftovers and get creative with using them. Turkey can be repurposed into sandwiches, soups, or casseroles. Mashed potatoes can become potato pancakes, and cranberry sauce can be used as a topping for yogurt or oatmeal.

6. Potluck Style Gathering

If you’re hosting a large gathering, consider making it a potluck-style dinner where guests bring a dish to share. This not only reduces your cooking workload but also spreads the cost of the meal among your guests.

7. DIY Decorations

Instead of spending money on expensive decorations, opt for DIY options. Get creative with seasonal items like gourds, pumpkins, and leaves to create a festive atmosphere at a lower cost.

8. Avoid Over-Indulgence

Cooking too much food can lead to waste and higher expenses. Estimate portion sizes accurately to avoid leftovers that may go uneaten. Focus on quality over quantity when planning your meal.

9. BYOB (Bring Your Own Bottle)

If you plan to serve alcohol, consider making it a BYOB event and have guests bring their favorite drinks. This can significantly reduce your beverage expenses.

10. Shop Early

Start shopping for non-perishable items and ingredients you can freeze well in advance. This allows you to take advantage of early sales and avoid last-minute price hikes.

11. Consider Frozen and Generic Brands

In some cases, frozen or generic brand items can be just as good as fresh or name-brand products. Compare prices and quality to determine where you can make cost-effective substitutions.

12. Keep Energy Costs in Check

Be mindful of energy costs while cooking. Use energy-efficient appliances, cook multiple dishes at once, and avoid constantly opening the oven to check on the food.

By following these tips and planning ahead, you can enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving dinner while keeping your budget in check. Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude and togetherness, and smart spending can help you focus on what matters most during the holiday season.

4 tips to help you keep your emotions out of investments

Money is always an emotional issue, but often when our emotions will participate in our investment, we will make wrong decisions. This can be a costly mistake. Separate and maintain emotional investment for many investors seem almost impossible. When the reaction is too fast, let emotions cloud judgment, even the most professional and experienced investors do not make the best decisions. However, maintaining emotional investment decisions can give away your chances of success.

The following are four tips on how to keep emotions separate and investment:

1.Setting financial goals. The first step is to set financial goals, investment, financial goals if done correctly can keep emotions out of the picture. There is a plan that will help you keep an eye on his big photo T. For example, if you save to retire in 20 years, you know you have more time than that to make up any losses if you plan to retire in 10 years. These objectives also allows you to focus on what you need to do today to get there.

2. Fighting the urge to check the performance too frequently. You may be someone who has the urge to clean up your investments every day, it may be several hours. In this process, you will see more markets for maneuver than if you checked monthly or quarterly. Checking constantly this will not in any way beneficial to your portfolio, but this will cause more anxiety. If you own individual stocks or mutual funds it is more important in this account or any type of personal retirement accounts. Check these holdings can often cause you to PANIC, you may make the purchase or sale of a unit. Instead, make your check to monthly or quarterly, adhere to concentrate your entire plan.

3. You know what to buy and target risk. know what you are buying is crucial to help you avoid frustration sentiment. Always do your own research before you buy anything, even if you have external assistance. Learn what investments are, how it can help you achieve your goals, what the risks are, and when and how to exit. If you do not own research, you will not take full responsibility for your trading, the negative emotions.

4. A professional assigned buffer. You can be a financial professional to create your own images between your investment and have aIn the middle of the two given distance Onal region. Commissioned by a neutral third party who can help you calmly look at their situation and encourage you to stay on track, you can hold your own thing, you can actually control more responsibility.

You know what? from large financial programs for small purchase decision, it often helps to write things down. Then, you can check how you decide – this should cause you to make better

When a “trust” is true for the Trust?

A lot of people have written a new department for most financial advisors work rules held a “fiduciary” standard. Until the rules take effect, most financial advisers held need to consult the “applicability” a watered-down requirements in the law. Two questions come to mind:

  • What is in line with fiduciary standards and recommendations This is just the difference between appropriate recommendations
  • How I know that, if a trust is truly as One? ?

The best way to explain these concepts are by way of example. Frank is 65 years old, very conservative, concerned about stock market volatility. He owes $ 300,000 on his mortgage, pay interest at 4%. He wanted to send ELL is $ 300,000 older rental house there is a potential income tax the sale of $ 50,000 IRA account is currently $ 400,000 in cash, $ 350,000.

A broker / dealer of “appropriate” consultation

First Frank sought to maintain the appropriate standard proxy opinion. Sarah applies to Wall Street based on a very large national companies. She knew that if she told Frank paid off the mortgage, she would lose potential business, and possibly her work. You see, because she held only a suitable standard, she owed her primary allegiance to her on behalf of the company, rather than investors.

In contrast, it is recommended Frank pay off the mortgage, but she brought out a graph showing how the stock and bond markets, trying to convince the people how to invest in the market will be paying off more than the history of the best retirement Mortgage. Finally, there is a lot of pressure 施加弗兰克 into cash, and the IRA were after-tax rental property in addition to stocks and bonds. Sarah will invest $ 1 million into the forthright costs $ 57,500 mutual fund commissions first antenna installed.

With 2:00 different opinions from the level of 2 RIA

Next, Frank fiduciary advice is recommended to keep the fiduciary standard two different registered investment advisor (RIA) is. RIA that he first heard from Sarah the same opinion, but will invest in no-load fund, so Frank can avoid paying a commission. RIA is recommended to pay off the second mortgage, investment and the rest for stocks and bonds. In these three meetingsFrank brought the fear of rising interest rates and questioning Ø˚F bonds are the best investment solutions. Similar reactions per consultant, citing the long history of bond performance statistics.

Sometimes you hold the same standard RIA does provide a completely different opinion? In answer to this question is absolutely yes. Take care of the fiduciary standards are not always applied consistently. One problem of this standard is that if you sell stocks and bonds for a living, you might believe that stocks and bonds everyone needs. If you sell annuity, rather than stock, you could tell how the stock market volatility frightening is that they go out with the world’s stock and bond investments.

Trustee suggested last piece has a different view

What could better trust search solutions ň look? Frank found the views of a RIA who is also a certified public accountant. The first recommendation is to pay off the mortgage. The second is a liquidity emergency access to credit, home equity lines. As for the rental of the house, instead of paying the sales tax, a tax deferred 1031 exchange is finalized, reinvested professionally managed apartment building. Finally, mixed stock and fixed-indexed annuity is recommended as an alternative to bonds.

Frank stored in income tax, improve cash flow, and has better growth potential risk was no significant increase in the overall portfolio.

Final word: I trust rules

I am usually very happy with the new DOL rules and its attempts to raise the bar to take my industry. However, I do not think the new rules is not enough. How adviser really provide the best advice, if they can not be licensed – and fully understand – stocks, bonds, real estate passive, insurance products and the impact of federal tax laws?

Finally, financial planning advice is based on your opinion of consultants. Based on the views of their familiar, their license and experience is varied between what advisors. Opinions can not be easily measured or compared.

Therefore, even if a new set of industry standards, it is still the best choice for their own financial advisers by the consumer when their due diligence.

Make time for medical retirement

One thing I have learned more than two years to my retirement is to deal with legal and financial matters can be a full-time job. Dealing with medical insurance, apply for social security, monitor your investment, reduce taxes, find the minimum distribution required to update your estate plan, and ended the aspirations of life … yikes!

Fortunately, Kipling is around to help. But I was interested recently when I received an invitation smart money to retire Expo, presented by Edelman financial engine of investment management companies, fund our Alliance for the Future in Washington, DC radio station WMAL, DC It sounds like a good opportunity to ensure I checked the box on the right to see what needs attention. There are so many useful reminder when I Atten of particular interest to people already retired and DED sessions leave.

For example, in the meeting to produce retirement income, based on an observation on the occasion, a jolt. Even if you have, say, $ 1 million in savings, you may have to pay taxes after withdrawal than much less. Part of your Social Security income may also be taxed.

About account for taxes and inflation, Edelman consultants believe that about 5% return on your needs, but the income effect can be generated from traditional investment income at or near historic lows. The answer is: a globally diversified portfolio. “After retirement your first inclination is to become more conservative, so chances are you do not because you have SH as much money in the stock Ould,” company founder Rich Edelman said. “This may be from 30 to 40%, instead of 10%.”

Future shock . If I had to choose a keyword from the discussion of estate planning, it will be the beneficiaries. You say you do not have a relationship, yielding assets, such as insurance and retirement accounts always go to your designated beneficiary. Therefore, make sure that you have named to the named person. If you have, for instance, named the main beneficiaries of life insurance for your adult children, you want your grandchildren to inherit the money, if you are a child should die than you do?

Review of the entire real estate plans, if there has been more than five years, because you see the file. Make sure your digital assets heirs have the password, SUCH for your photos or your e-bookLibrary (make sure you see your spouse’s password). It’s also a good idea to check your medical instructions every few years to account for medical advances.

Would pay in premiums when it comes to long-term care insurance, even if you are over 50, it may make sense to self -insure and save your money. If you decide to purchase coverage, consider a comprehensive policy that will provide death benefits to your heirs if you do not use the money. And couples can purchase, you can use the benefits of the pool by either party.

Has been rising premiums in its policy? This may change by a protective inflation buying fewer features or shorten the period of insurance, to reduce costs, for example. You might be able to use the money to pay long-term care insurance in your health savings account. Whatever you decide, talk about it with your family members, (see obstacles to avoid long-term care claims) If you have a walk in terms of policy.

I feel Xieaideman give advice man in his audience, when asked to select financial adviser: “Let your spouse in mind,” he said. According to statistics, the wife is likely to survive their husbands, so “make sure this is a family affair.”

Take care when they pay for medical expenses

When I was about to write a check to pay for medical expenses, I realized that I might not owe the amount shown on the invoice.

Bill is because it is a health check in late May. I provide my Medicare card at the time of testing. But I have a feeling, in fact, laboratory analysis of samples screened and did not try to give me a bill before its request submitted to my insurance company. This is because the bill arrived shortly after the test is completed, I have not received the statement of claim has been submitted to my insurance company.

All this as I was about to put pen to paper are sinking. So I picked up the phone, called the lab and asked if I had tried to get the insurance company to pay steps. “No,” the customer service representative said. As I expected to be.

So, before you pay for medical expenses, ensure that the requirements have been submitted to the insurance company. Do not ignore Bill – you do not want to knock on your door debt collection. Just make a quick call or to send a bill to your insurance company to see if they are really in a medical institution full of hooks.

How to earn more on your savings

For an extra layer of frosting on the cake of your cash, we often recommend the (relatively) high-yield savings accounts Avery banks. In fact, we commend allies savings account in December 2009, our list of the best stuff on the grounds that its competitive rate of return, lack of monthly fees or minimum balance requirements. (Elle now touting our advertising and on its Web site, www.ally.com recommended.)

There is only one problem – ally lowered its production. At 1.44%, it is no longer the best you can get. This does not mean you should rush to take your money out. But it pays to pay attention, because the bank to adjust interest rates all the time.

Topping deposit account our latest highest yields of the list is American Express Bank, Colorado Federal Savings Bank and NewDominionDirect.com, all yielding 1.5%. Of the three, American Express Bank is the most common – it has no minimum balance requirement, no charge. To access your money, you need to American Express account to link to an external bank account and transfer your funds. The other two accounts have more rules and hidden costs.

You can turn it into a more through high-yield checking accounts in online banking, credit unions or community banks to improve your cash earnings. (Cheap flights, check www.bankrate.com and www.depositaccounts.com. For checking accounts, but also try www.checkingfinder.com.) These accounts often come with more rules of the. For example, free banking (www.bankliberty.com) recently announced 3.51% of “eSmart Check” speed, but you need to use at least 15 a month to buy a debit card, and register at least one direct deposit or automatic withdrawal.

Buy the best and worst holiday warehouse clubs in

If you belong to a warehouse club, such as Beijing’s wholesale, Costco or Sam’s Club stores, you should have your membership benefits, a variety of items to save money this holiday season. You know, though, all is not bargaining in these retailers

Help you figure out what – not – a good deal, we asked for money for their picks. Here are seven things you should buy at warehouse clubs holidays, and the seven things you should not buy, because you can get a better price elsewhere.

What to buy

Cells. Make sure you have enough battery so that your child can virtually any battery-operated toys, they get to play this holiday season. Mark from Sam’s Club members set of AA batteries Lauren Ward, told CreditDonkey.com research analyst, you back each cell (48 pack for $ 12.98) is only 27 cents per battery about 58 cents gold King brand in Target ($ 19.99 for the 34 packages) were compared. We also found that the battery is cheaper in warehouse clubs, retailers Wal-Mart’s low-cost (see the worst things to buy Wal-Mart).

Chocolate. money Andrea Woroch said:

It will cost you to buy a similar treatment than in the supermarket or drugstore drop of nearly 40% – large resort chocolate store sales at warehouse clubs gift box can easily be repackaged into more gifts desserts. If you need a pumpkin pie for your Thanksgiving dinner, grocery shopping expert Teri Gault recommended to buy from a bakery warehouse club. A fresh pie, for 12 people and about $ 7 to $ 9 at the warehouse clubs cost – the price it is hard to beat the quality of dessert Gault, who is the CEO, said grocery game. You can also find cookies, chocolate and other snacks disk to achieve up to 50% lower than at the grocery store warehouse clubs, Woroch said.

Food fingers frozen. If you want to stuffed mushrooms, bacon-wrapped shrimp or similar hot appetizers, playing in allClub store freezer department, to get the best price, Gault said. These frozen finger food to about 30% of the warehouse clubs than similar packages in the supermarket, Woroch said.

Gift card. Warehouse clubs sell gift cards about 20% lower than the face value. For example, you can get two $ 50 gift cards ŧØ California Pizza Kitchen to $ 79.99, he said at Costco, Woroch. You can get movie tickets for $ 33.99 four-pack, making less than $ 8.50 per ticket Ward said.

Napkins and paper plates quality holiday theme. You can find cheap Thanksgiving and Christmas plates and napkins at a dollar store. But you get what you pay for, Gault said. So, if you only need light holiday treats such as cookies or cake plate, picked up a bag of $ 1 at a dollar store. However, napkin quality and robust holiday-themed plate that can accommodate a full meal, you will pass buy these in bulk at warehouse clubs get the best price, she said.

Wine. If you are not picky label, try to Costco’s Kirkland Signature brand wines and champagne, Ward said. You can get a bottle of attention Sonoma County Chardonnay from California less than $ 7, or try Cabernet Sauvignon $ 7.99 per 1.5-liter bottle. Costco’s store brand of liquor also cost about 30% ~ 40% less than other premium brands, Woroch said.

What not to buy

Baking supplies. baked related ietms supermarkets holiday sales and trading can not be beat by months now, Gault said. In addition, the grocery chain Aldi have Thanksgiving in this category good deal, such as flour is $ 1.49 5 lbs bag.

Blu-ray DVD. If you are a member of Amazon or free shipping by spending $ 35 or more, Amazon.com blue light should you go to find an average savings of $ 3 to $ 5 provides for the most popular film of the year, Ward said.

Vegetables and canned soup. If you’re going to do a traditional green bean casserole with cream of mushroom soup, supermarketYou will need canned food, Thanksgiving sales volume, Gault said. Canned vegetables are usually sold in supermarkets Thanksgiving cost about 70 cents per can, to close at member stores and 50 cents or less, she said. With the coupons, Gault said, you can get canned or less – low in basic earnings of $ 17 cents and 24 cents in Albertson, for example. In these lowest price, it pays to stock up too much after the holiday meal, if you are in your pantry.

Electronics . In the warehouse club electronic price may be attractive, but they will not hit retailers such as Amazon.com and transaction provided Best Buy on Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday, Woroch said. Check the site, such as BFAds.net or DealNews.com, to see which retailer will have during the Thanksgiving sales of televisions, laptops and maximum preferential high-tech products.

Gift wrap. You will find all sizes of rolls gift wrap, ribbons and gift bags in the dollar stores, including Dollar Tree, Family Dollar and Dollar General buck. (For the holidays more $ 1 see what seasonal trading on what to buy, at a dollar store)

Holiday decorations. You will find beautiful, bright holiday display at warehouse clubs, but they are at full price, Ward said. You’d better have frequent promotions and coupons, as more and more shops lights, reindeer and artificial trees Michaels or Hobby Lobby, or try a dollar store or home improvement center. For example, Woroch said she found at Costco 9-foot Christmas tree is lit before the $ 399 Home Depot similar tree $ 239 if you have enough through the holidays, to make it, wait until the holidays to make a holiday decoration best prices. Prices will drop as much as 90%.

Turkey. Most club stores do not sell fresh turkey, so you may pre-Thanksgiving sales of the supermarket and buy frozen turkey about half the price or less, Gault said. In these sales, turkey is the cheapest meat in a year – usually 54 cents to 79 cents per pound, she said. Therefore, the stock, if you are in your freezer compartment.

When Will the end of the bull market?

As the second-longest bull market in history makes its way into the ninth year, many investors are understandably ask: when to stop? We had a rich, if there is a foolproof method to find out. However, we can make some guesses.

One thing to remember is that the bull market is not old age to die alone. Something must kill them. And the most reliable weapon is economic recession. This is not always the case. There have been no bear market decline is the collapse of the 1987 program. But many of the most severe recession accompanied by a recession – or, more precisely, by one. The Great Recession began in December 2007, is a bear market in October of that year, ie before the beginning of the conversion price then in Lop Nur 57. Ť his recession began in March 2001, the peak of the market and then launched a 49% stock decline in March 2000.

Frequent false alarms, economist and market strategist Ed Yardeni Yardeni Research said. And proved to be correct -. “When the bear market in the next market is expected to start once the recession is expected to have a large number of market downturn since 2008 has proven to be buying opportunities,” Yardeni said.

When the recession and the stock market is doing on the mountain, they can do so immediately, with the start of the recession and bear market in July 1990, after more than a year can lollygag. On average, the stock market peak of 7.7 months after the recession began, according to market research firm Investment Technology

If we only know that the next recession will begin. So, Yardeni has a heart Date: March 2019, he was based on the average number of months after the economy continues to reach its previous peak, dating back to the early 1970s, expanding his determination. From November 2013, which is when the economy finally surpassed the 2007 pre-recession peak date, Yardeni arrive in March 2019.

The date is not official forecasts, Yardeni, who added that it comes with no guarantees, and that a large number of problems. “Then we today show that in March 2019 is a realistic date, or recession sooner or later, you know? Right now, in March ’19 modeling realistic,” Yardeni said. “But if pressed,” he added, “I would say it mayIt could be in the future. “If you insist on the economic cycle and if the average stock market has the same effect – whether it is a big” if “- then investors should be looking for a top of the market

The four signs of recession in the next year in August

Sam Stovall, chief investment strategy investment research firm CFRA, look at the four indicators, the recession on the horizon of his search. Stovall said that since 1960, every recession Housing starts decreased from previous years over the same period. these pits dropped from 10% to 37% decrease in range, they have an average of 25%. the latest report on housing starts showed that less than 3% decline. “Therefore, we yellow alarm, not red, “Stovall said.

Consumer confidence index is another signpost. before the recession kicked in, you will usually see the 9% average decline in Monte University of Michigan hemolysin climate index relative to the previous year Tovar Bies said current reading: up to 2.4%

In the six-month period leading economic indicators in the Conference Board’s drop meant trouble, also fell 3 .%, On average, ahead of the economic downturn in the last six months of registration changes: an increase of 3%

Finally, when the one-year note yields below the 10-year bond yields dipped – is called inverted yield curve -.. look out Stovall said worse, long-term interest rates has been under pressure recently, the Fed pushed short-term interest rates to rise, “we get a flat yield curve, but nowhere near the vicinity of the reverse,” Sri Lanka Tovar said his conclusion is: there is no recession in sight

Look at your risk of double-dip recession and bear market, consider a third risk – early exit in the last year of a bull market bull market the return is the history of generous return, including dividends, in the last six months, an average of the last 12 months, 25% and 16%.

Nevertheless, investors have every reason to be ascribed right at this stage Note level of the game. now is a good time to make sure your portfolio reflects your life stage, your risk tolerance. adhere to a regular schedule rebalancing, to lock in gains, and maintain stocks, bonds Other assets, an appropriate balance between home and abroad. Whatever you do, make sure your portfolio is that you want it to be summer vacation you goBefore next year.

How can investors get out of the rut of low income

Bloomberg put a little scare investors in October last year, reported the research study found associated with the traditional 60/40 mixture, yielding stocks and bonds to even 5% real rate of return over the next 10 years is slim chance in your 401 (k).

Story, “The next 10 years will be ugly people, your 401 (k),” would have been a conversation starter. If you increase your risk? Save more money each month? Change your entire investment plan? Or should as a writer warns that “got used disappointed”?

This is an interesting topic, but hardly a surprise to anyone who has been following the market.

Things have been very good for a long time. In the end, love is a compromise – this could be your bottom line. Issue

Today’s “buy and hold” strategy

Traditional stock, bond portfolio refers to a negative correlation: when stocks rise, bonds go down. People will tell you it is to invest 101: You play as a hedge against the other.

But stocks and bonds is high, and now – the way it has been for many years. This makes diversification more difficult.

The value of bonds are up, but production is not.

The 10-year yield varies, of course, but let’s say for example’s sake, (June 6 rate of) its 2.21%. If you return 2.21%, minus 1.6% inflation rate (the number used in the related research report company, although it is within the range of 2%), you can not see the return of 1% of the effective interest rate.

In addition to production, the only way to strengthen the bond returns through capital appreciation bonds. The only reason almost always rise in value of the bond is due to lower interest rates. We are currently in a low interest rate environment, interest rates seem more likely to rise over time, not down. Therefore, if interest rates rise, bond values ​​may decline, it is possible that the total return on a bond is negative.

As for the stock – we are in the second longest bull market in history. But the length of the bull market does not necessarily mean as much as stock valuations. And now, the market is certainly not cheap.

Various websites (including Multpl.com, which providesEarnings ratio (P / E) the number of monthly) reported tio RA is somewhere between 25 and 26.5. This only happens a few times in history: P / E numbers during the collapse of the Internet bubble in 2008 and 2000, this high when the stock overvalued crazy, it often means that the market correction due …… or a more severe fall. This is unlikely to be able to continue at this pace for the next 10 years.

It’s all together, which means that the traditional buy and hold, the US stock and bond loaded passive investment strategy is not likely in the next six or seven years significant net returns.

Some alternative strategies

So, how can you do?

  • Rather than relying on passive management, take a look at tactics do not depend on just follow the market. For example, the department RO tation or investment momentum can take advantage of market trends. Identify these trends and corresponding investment often lead to enhanced returns.
  • Consider some of the money market cheaper valuations. Research data has international branches and emerging markets outperformed the US market, strictly because they are cheaper. But if you do, you might assume more risk, so …
  • Balance with other non-traditional investments, something you do not typically a 60/40 stock / bond portfolio to see movement. For example, preferred shares have a decent production could offset the impact of rising interest rates; if you hold to them, they can create a good amount of revenue. Real estate and commodities are often different than the next way to market mobile E – they do not have the same relevance bond market.

Talk about your financial rut of these professionals and can guide you around the low return on the investment portfolio and other strategies. There are ways to make money there – you just need a box of traditional stock / bond investment look outside.