Holidays are geared for huge meals but not everyone is planning a grand banquet for guests. What are some frugal ways a couple or single person can enjoy a little festive food without the crowd?

I work with the crowd this year cindy stays home away from everything and I waitress that day so cindy gets a diet coke and sits with my brother sil and their dd and mom and dad.

I'm not sure how this year will go.  I'm on the outs with my children and was hoping things could be solved by now, but I just don't know.

Thanksgiving will be spent at home.  I've had some invites from friends but my heart wants to be with my family so it would be difficult.  I'm going to make some of my dad's holiday mushrooms, mashed potatoes and green bean casserole and call it a meal. 

I'm forever optimistic, so I'll go ahead and plan as if we'll all be together for Christmas.  Time will tell.  I'll bake cookies and make candy to give away and have on hand for any visitors. My tree will go up, maybe on Thanksgiving, and I'll put up some lights. 

It's going to be a good holiday season!

Volunteer.

Get together with friends.

Be daring, try meet.up for holiday get together groups!

Grannie_Sue:

I'm not sure how this year will go.  I'm on the outs with my children and was hoping things could be solved by now, but I just don't know.

Thanksgiving will be spent at home.  I've had some invites from friends but my heart wants to be with my family so it would be difficult.  I'm going to make some of my dad's holiday mushrooms, mashed potatoes and green bean casserole and call it a meal. 

I'm forever optimistic, so I'll go ahead and plan as if we'll all be together for Christmas.  Time will tell.  I'll bake cookies and make candy to give away and have on hand for any visitors. My tree will go up, maybe on Thanksgiving, and I'll put up some lights. 

It's going to be a good holiday season!

Susan, I like your optimistic attitude. I hope you and your children resolve your differences before the holidays get here.

My idea of a festive meal is cornbread stuffing and cranberries( canned are good). If you don't want to cook a turkey a chicken is good, you can even buy one already roasted from the grocery store. The leftovers are great, you can have several meals from it. Since I rarely have desert, chocolate chip cookies or a store bought pumpkin pie is a special treat, since it is a holiday, I don't limit myself on the desert for that day.

You can buy a small turkey. At 10 pounds they aren't much bigger than a large chicken, and right now around here Meijer has buy $20 of other items and get $10 off a 10 pound turkey, so you can get them for a little over $5, I think. You can freeze the leftovers. Cornish hens might also be fun. Aldi has had tiny ones in the past that would be great for one person. Today I saw some large ones at Meijer. I like the rotisserie (sp?) chicken idea too if you don't want to mess with cooking. A can of cranberry sauce, a box of stuffing and a can of sweet potatoes are all inexpensive, easy and festive. Pull out your prettiest plates, light some candles and put on some nice music and be thankful for peace and quiet. :-) Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

Grannie_Sue:

I'm on the outs with my children and was hoping things could be solved by now, but I just don't know.

I wish you resolution then.

Mimi:

Cornish hens might also be fun. Aldi has had tiny ones in the past that would be great for one person.

 

DH & I had a Cornish hen our first Thanksgiving together because we couldn't afford a turkey, so it is a happy memory for us to do that.

This year I am cooking a turkey from the freezer, because I need to put up bottled turkey, but none of the children can come, so if I didn't need the bottled turkey, we would do a Cornish hen.

Cornish game hens are a great idea, I see others beat me to the chase to mention it! I also recommend the personal romantic setting idea, making it special. My first suggestion though is volunteering. It is the most rewarding experience on Thanksgiving. Go help those in need, be useful and grateful! You won't be alone either!

If volunteering can't happen though and one is literally alone on Thanksgiving I recommend doing whatever they can to make the day more enjoyable... cook a nice small meal or splurge and order a little take out, cuddle up on the couch with a warm blankie and have a movie night. Take it as an extra "me" day out of the year. Ps.  A lot of folks go to Chinese places on Thanksgiving or Christmas. Most are open all day for lunch or dinner - go early and get the lunch specials. They are cheaper and some last two meals. Get one to go to reheat for dinner.