Top 3 Ways to Save on Thanksgiving Dinner -- Savings Experiment

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and if you're cooking a big holiday feast, it could gobble up your cash. Thankfully, we compiled some of the best ways to save from previous episodes, that will help you save this holiday season.

First, weigh your food to find the best deals. Pre-bagged produce all costs the same, so pick out the heaviest of the bunch to get more food for your money.

Next, don't be afraid of the canned food aisle, it's there to save you cash. A 1.5-cup can of store-bought, canned cranberry sauce costs $1.89, or only $1.26 per cup, whereas 3.5 cups of homemade cranberry sauce cost $10.25, or $2.93 per cup. That's a savings of nearly 57 percent.

Gravy doesn't have to strain your budget either. Turkey gravy by the jar or packet can cost up to $2.50. That may seem like a good deal, but if you're already cooking a turkey, just strain the pan drippings, skim the fat from a heated saucepan, add flour, whisk and then add the drippings back in. You can also add water or, preferably, stock to homemade gravy that can't be beat.

So, when you shop for your Thanksgiving dinner, remember these tips. Because knowing which ingredients to buy, will make you thankful for all the money you'll be saving.

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