SAVE SOME MONEY ON TURKEY DAY

***FIVE WAYS TO SAVE MONEY THIS THANKSGIVING***

Even if money's tight this year, you can still have a great Thanksgiving dinner. Here are five money-saving tips to help make sure your table is full, even if your pocketbook isn't . . .

#1.) GET A FREE TURKEY. A lot of supermarkets offer a free turkey if you spend enough money during their promotional period. Since the shopping period usually lasts for a while, it's not too hard to qualify.

--If you DON'T qualify and you're having guests over, ask one of them if they DO. Since they're not cooking Thanksgiving dinner at home, they'll probably be happy to help out.

#2.) LET YOUR GUESTS BRING SOMETHING. You don't need to make the whole dinner a pot-luck, but if a guest offers to bring a side dish, say yes. Ask for things like cranberry sauce or pie, since your guests can buy them pre-made at the store if they want to.

#3.) DON'T GET EXOTIC. Don't try to do too much with Thanksgiving dinner. Exotic side dishes usually cost more money and take more time to prepare, but are never as popular as the Thanksgiving standards.

#4.) BUY GENERIC. Things like mashed potatoes and squash should be made fresh, and if you're buying boxed stuffing or canned cranberry sauce, brand names aren't that important. The difference in taste is subtle, but the difference in price can be significant.

#5.) MAKE TOO MUCH. A little extra money spent on Thanksgiving will go a long way. Even if you're trying to spend less, you should still make too much food. All those leftovers mean you won't have pay for dinner or slave over a stove for the rest of the week. (eHow.com)