I know it feels like Halloween was yesterday and Christmas is a million miles from next Thursday. But Thanksgiving is next week.
Unless you want a frozen turkey, grumpy relatives and wasted leftovers, you need to plan ahead.
Luckily, most of the jobs can be broken down into day-by-day tasks to prepare your heart and home for a bountiful, wonderful day of celebrating gratitude with family and food.
Start today
Dividing the labor not only lightens your load, it allows you to focus your energies appropriately. Check these tasks off your to-do list starting now so you can concentrate on the more time sensitive duties closer to Nov. 24.Clean out your refrigerator and freezer: Let’s face it, not only will you be purchasing more groceries in the coming weeks, you’ll also need to free up some space to properly store leftovers. Now’s the time to dump outdated condiments and rearrange items to fit more efficiently. Go ahead and clean up the sticky mess, too. This task should take less than 30 minutes and you’ll be better prepared for your next grocery haul. Order or purchase a turkey: Don’t wait to pick up your beautiful bird. Your turkey needs plenty of time to thaw. A good rule of thumb is that it takes 1 day per 4 pounds for frozen turkeys to arrive at the appropriate temperature. You also don’t want to get caught in an onslaught of last-minute shoppers, diving through the bottom of the supermarket freezer. Plan ahead to get the perfect size of turkey.
Create a shopping list: Hitting the grocery store aisles without a list any time of the year is a bad idea. Doing so during the holiday season can be catastrophic. It’s easy to get caught up in the magic of the season and allow too many treats, too many classic favorites, and too much decor to hop right into your cart. Plan your menu and compile your list now.
Later this week
Time and oven space are at a premium the night before and Thanksgiving Day. If at all possible, check these chores off one week before.
Make and freeze pie crust: Homemade pies are the best. But making pie crust is tedious and messy. Instead of waiting until the last minute, make and freeze your crust ahead of time. You may even consider making and freezing the entire pie.
Clean your house and decorate: You can’t do it all. Or at least you can’t do it all at the same time. Don’t try to multitask cooking and cleaning. Spend some time the week before organizing, cleaning and setting up for your guests. You may even consider decorating your space. Remember your friends and family care more about the food and spending time with you than the perfect centerpiece.
Plan the oven attack: Knowing what items need to cook for how long at which temperatures is not a last-minute game. Get your oven jockeying plan in place well in advance to ensure everything is thoroughly cooked and nothing is burnt.
Buy non-perishable items: While some raw ingredients need purchased the week of Thanksgiving, other goods can be bought a week or two before the holiday. Think: paper goods, seasonings, packaged items, baking essentials and drinks.
On Monday
This is not a drill. It’s go time. The week of Thanksgiving means you need to get down to business and get these missions completed.
Buy perishable groceries: Go ahead and buy your fresh produce, herbs and side dish essentials. Use a targeted list so you don’t waste money.
Set your table: If space allows, go ahead and set the table in advance. If you’re using dishes reserved for special occasions, you may need to spend a bit of time polishing and sprucing things up.
Locate your serving dishes and spoons: Don’t wait until the last minute to dig out that pie server or find the butter dish. Go on a reconnaissance mission to unearth the utensils and dishes you rarely use.
Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be a stressful holiday. A bit of forethought and action can keep you from overspending and losing your mind on the fourth Thursday in November. Instead of being weighed down by the details, do your work in advance to have time to truly celebrate with gratitude the gifts you have been given.
Greenwood resident Cherie Lowe and her husband paid off $127,000 in debt in four years and now live debt-free every day with their two kids. She is the author of “Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After.” Send questions, column ideas and comments to [email protected]
