Every Thursday, I share my thoughts on Family Finances.

If you are the person in your home responsible for the cooking, let this serve as your one week warning:  a week from today you’ll be sitting down to a sumptuous feast that could take hours to prepare and minutes to consume.  If the cook is also the family budget keeper, Thanksgiving feast sticker shock could also give you a serious case of indigestion.  So plan ahead to take advantage of saving opportunities.  Scour this week’s papers for special deals and avoid lack of selection by planning make most of your purchases this weekend.  A few additional ideas for saving both time and stress on the big meal include:

• Invite guests to join in the fun by bringing dishes to share - most people who visit someone’s home for a holiday want to bring something that will be of help to the host.  Oblige them and cross a few items off your list.
• Don’t overbuy - Does your family of four really need four pies, just because each person likes a different type?  Purchase slices or compromise on one that everyone will like.  Do likewise with side dishes and gauge your turkey purchase according to the number of people to be fed.
• Consider package meals available from grocers and supplement with a few family favorite recipes.
• Don’t try to be "Martha Stewart" - stick to items you know your family enjoys and don’t spend money purchasing spices for one recipe that will never be used again.
• Have fun!  Making great memories with your kids costs nothing and lasts a lifetime. Involve them in meal planning, cooking and even clean up.  Your enjoyment of the day will be enhanced and you will have time to ponder the things for which you are truly thankful.

Here are some helpful tips for saving money on Thanksgiving dinner from ThriftyFun.com.