Guide to a Thrifty Thanksgiving

November 6, 2009

Free eBook helps consumers enjoy a budget-friendly holiday

HOUSTON, Nov. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season and many people start their holiday by serving a delicious Thanksgiving dinner and end it by shopping. Unfortunately, an expensive Thanksgiving weekend means less money left over for the weeks ahead. Like most expenses, there are quite a few ways to keep costs down, and as usual, the most important one is to plan ahead.

To help trim the fat from your Thanksgiving weekend budget, Money Management International (MMI), the nation's largest nonprofit full service credit and debt counseling organization, today announced the release of their latest free eBook --Thrifty Thanksgiving.

"When thinking about holiday spending, most people typically fast-forward to December's big budget busting holidays," said Cate Williams, vice president of financial literacy for MMI. "However, it pays to think thrifty all season long -- starting with Thanksgiving. While a turkey alone might not tip your financial scale, holiday food, travel, decorations, and entertainment can really add up."

Thankfully, Thrifty Thanksgiving includes a lot of ideas to help you trim the fat from your Thanksgiving budget. In addition to ideas on how to stretch your dinner and budget, Thrifty Thanksgiving covers:

    --  Step-by-step instructions for decorating on a dime
    --  5 ways to keep tradition
    --  5 ways to break tradition
    --  Travel tips
    --  Tips for staying in the black on Black Friday
    --  How to make the most of leftovers

    --  Ways to incorporate "thanks" into your Thanksgiving

Thrifty Thanksgiving also offers a holiday checklist to help you organize your plans. After all, a little planning can help you enjoy and tasteful and thrifty Thanksgiving. The Thrifty Thanksgiving eBook can be downloaded for free by visiting http://thanksgiving.moneymanagement.org/.

About Money Management International

Money Management International (MMI) is a nonprofit, full-service credit-counseling agency, providing confidential financial guidance, financial education, and counseling services; including housing counseling, bankruptcy counseling and education, and debt management assistance. MMI has been helping consumers trim their expenses, develop a spending plan and repay debts since 1958. Counseling is available by appointment in branch offices and 24/7 by telephone and Internet. Services are available in English or Spanish. To learn more, call 800.432.7310 or visit www.MoneyManagement.org.

SOURCE Money Management International