has the economy hit you yet?

We went to H/R Block to get a refund anticipation loan. We have sucky credit, but have never been denied. Until this year. Thanksgiving dinner and christmas dinner each set us back a good chunk, figure a hundred bucks per meal. Then there's christmas, plus 4 birthdays of immediate family in January. We may have 50 bucks to put together for all of it.

Has the credit crunch, etc. hit you? If so, how?

 

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What bothers me is that so many things are costing so much more BUT cost less to make because they now are imported from overseas.

 

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That really sucks, how will you manage?

 

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We have to strongly consider not "celebrating" the holidays. I don't know what else to do.

 

People are often under the misconception that Thanksgiving dinner has to be extravagant and cost a fortune. This couldn't be farther from the truth. There are ways to enjoy a delicious meal without spending a fortune. If money's tight in your home this year, don't skip Thanksgiving. Instead enjoy a large Thanksgiving dinner for $30 or less.

Thanksgiving Dinner for $30 or Less: Main Course

During the Thanksgiving holiday, there are several great deals to be found at your local grocery stores. In order to get the best deals, you may have to go to more than one store, but it will be well worth it. For your Thanksgiving dinner, you will of course want to serve turkey. This actually works out to your advantage because many grocery stores will have turkeys on sale for anywhere from $0.19 to $0.39 per pound. Even if you have a large family, you'll be able to get the main dish for your Thanksgiving dinner for around $3.80 to $7.80. That's for a 20 pound turkey, which will easily feed a large family.

Thanksgiving Dinner for $30 or Less: Side Dishes

Thanksgiving dinner of course needs side dishes. I make a delicious cornbread dressing that can be made for around $4. Of course, you do have the option of serving a boxed stuffing, such as Stove Top. During the Thanksgiving holiday, you can find Stove Top for around $0.98 a box. Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce will also be on sale for around $0.98 a can. But, you can also make fresh cranberry relish for around $4. Potatoes are another item that can be found on sale at Thanksgiving. Even for a large Thanksgiving dinner you will only need around 5 pounds of potatoes. With a splash of heavy cream and a stick of butter this side dish will cost around $3. Last, you'll want a vegetable. You can find canned corn for around $0.25 a can or you can buy frozen corn and make fried corn from scratch. This side dish would cost around $3.

Thanksgiving Dinner for $30 or Less: Drinks

If you want your Thanksgiving dinner to cost $30 or less, I highly suggest serving inexpensive drinks such as water or sweet tea. Several large pitches of sweet tea will only cost around $3 to make.

 

I don't know where you live, but it doesn't wok that way here near Richmond, VA. Immediate family=10 probably another 3 guests, if we have "thanksgiving dinner". Last year it cost us 87$ to buy the fixins for dinner.

 

Then you can't shop very well, you should send someone else to do the food shopping because this article is correct IF you look for the sales at the right stores.

 

Hammie, don't do it all, there's a recession. 10 immediate famiy; well you can't ask them to bring anthing, but you could ask your 3 friends to bring the grog at least and trimmings.

 

<sigh> Let's talk money, shall we? 8 miles from my house is a grocery store. I can walk the distance, but it makes bringing groceries home a little awkward. The next closest place is a high dollar grocery store about 15 miles further away. Near this, or within 10 miles, are several grocery stores, one the same type as the one by my house, one is wal-mart. I'm hopeful that wal-mart proves cheaper, but it does cost 5 dollars for me to make the round trip in the family vehicle. I wish I could "shop well", but the fact is that the savings in food tends to be offset by the costs of travel. The prices you quoted were not anywhere within the realm of reality, in my experience. 49 cents to 69 cents is about average for a whole turkey by the pound.

2 boxes of stuffing is around 4 dollars, usually. 5 pounds of potatoes means that some go without. Maybe you should walk a mile in my shoes, ct, before telling me what is true for me and mine.

 

They aren't my friends-It's my 90 year old grandmother and two of her neighbors who are actually worse off than we are. They are squatters from way back.

 

I have been told there will be no raises this year.
Not havig a raise will hurt me, as I am going to be working a day shift coming soon, which means a $12,000/yr pay cut, but more importantly, I have to find a way to tell the guys who report to me.
I have been telling them all year that they have to put in the extra effort to get the extra money.
Some of them have been working hard to earn raises - now what?
Four of the people who were put in for promotions (half of the promotions in my department) are coming from my shift.
Now I have to tell them there are no raises, and keep up the good work if you want a raise NEXT year?

Sucks!

 

The economy hasn't hit me one bit. Why? My income hasn't changed and I live WELL below my means. I have only rent, electricity, gas, and cable bills to pay. When I sleep or I leave the apartment, I turn the heat off or way down. I do the same before sleeping.

I'm almost like that nerd Clark Howard.

 

It changes the power balance to the surviving employers out there. You no longer work to get more, but work to avoid getting nothing. It's a bitter pill, and I wish there was an easy way to put it.

 

Most vehicles can get 14 miles per gallon in the city so todays gas is about 2.00 per gallon so you should only spend less than that to go to the store and back. Even if you got 10 miles per gallon it would still only cost 2,00 for a gallon of gas to and fro.

 

That does suck Raven. Your the one that tell your people there won't be any raises?..oh that would really suck. Sorry dude.

 

Can you ship a turkey? I think we need a little fund raiser for my boy Ham.

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Hey Ham, you could always use....

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Just shape it into a turkey!

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...Or better yet...send me your shipping address via PM, and I'll ship you a fucking turkey first part of next week...seriously.

 

I appreciate it, Mac. I do. I have a chance for some stuff through a few charities, let me nail those down, before you go putting yourself out. Anybody know how to get in touch with sergeant santa, by the way? That's the big worry.

Depending on charity just absolutely sucks, though. After awhile, with so many in need, there won't be any charity to be had. Maybe I should start selling apples on the street.

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There are a few restaruants here that are making a complete turkey dinner with ALL of the fixens and pie and a drink for 12.00 each. I'm certain there will also be the same thing where you are if you just call around.