5 Tips for an Inexpensive Thanksgiving Table Decor & Printable Cooking Schedule

Tips for cozy Thanksgiving table decor on a budget + free printable cooking schedule & why ButcherBox is our favorite delivery service.

While Instagramland has moved on to Christmas, I’m still over here busting out the plaid and fall leaves one more time.

Thanksgiving looks very different for so many this year, and with budgets being extra tight especially lately, I thought it would be fun to pull together everyday items I already had around the house to create a cozy Thanksgiving tablescape that would be easy to replicate…

…and a printable cooking schedule and a way to get a free turkey at the end of this post.

When I was growing up, my mom always gathered items from around the house and foraged the yard to make our table as welcoming for family as possible on Thanksgiving. 

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree when it comes to all of the budget-friendly solutions she instilled in me over the years.

5 Tips for Inexpensive Thanksgiving Table Decor

1. Use heirloom serving ware or vintage dishes from the thrift store

The other day my mom called me to tell me she pulled my late grandmother’s wedding china out of storage to give to me. It was my one “official” inheritance from her.

I immediately knew it needed the spotlight on our Thanksgiving table as it had been for so many years growing up to visit her before she passed.

If you don’t have special serving ware from your own family though, I find lots of pretty vintage patterns at the thrift store practically every time I stop in.

2. Repurpose a throw blanket as a table cloth or use a scarf as a table runner

I’ve had this plaid throw blanket for years and just spread it out on the table for a cozy backdrop.

3. Snip a few stems from trees or bushes in your yard.

We have a bush in our backyard with these pretty purple/green leaves that I cut a few branches from. Spreading them out around the table sprinkled with a few feathers adds a little “life” for totally free.

4. Add a couple of candle sticks for ambience.

These brass candle holders were antique shop finds several years ago. Any kind will do to add a little glow, and most of the time you can find them for just a dollar at the dollar store. (You can even spray paint them like I’ve done in the past.)

 5. Stick to the classics.

We received these white dishes as a gift for our wedding nearly 10 years ago. You can never go wrong with timeless pieces like white dishes, linen fabric napkins, and brass accents.

Like lots of things this year, Thanksgiving is probably going to be a little different. Whether you’re making new traditions or keeping the old ones going, there’s one thing we can all count on: a yummy turkey. ButcherBox™ is here to make Thanksgiving a little less stressful and a lot more convenient.

This year for a limited time, ButcherBox™ is giving a FREE 10-14 lb, free-range, all natural turkey in your first box when you sign up between now and November 15th.

And today only, you will receive a FREE turkey + an additional $10 off using the code TURKEY10 at checkout.

If you’ve never heard of ButcherBox, it’s a service that delivers high-quality, sustainable meat to your door, shipping in eco-friendly, recyclable materials.

Our family has loved using ButcherBox™ since we discovered it last year. It’s not often I talk about anything food-related on this blog, but this is one I love recommending that has saved our family time and money, and we feel good using it for our health, our planet, and the farming/fishing community.

This year, ButcherBox™ wants to help people focus on what matters most. They’ll deliver a delicious, high-quality turkey you can feel good about roasting, smoking, frying, carving, eating, reheating, and more—for free! It’s your Thanksgiving, and they’re here to make it even better.

You can find more information about how it works here.

The average cost is less than $6 per meal. (I’ve calculated it myself and usually save an average of $40 per grocery visit when using ButcherBox™. That adds up to a $1,000 per year savings for our family.)

Once you have a ButcherBox™ membership you’ll have access to great member deals, new products (like their lobster, bison and cod) and an amazing community that believes in better.

Get a FREE Thanksgiving Turkey 

If you plan on cooking the big meal this year, you can snag my free printable Thanksgiving Cooking Schedule here to make the job a bit easier too.

It’s straight from the pages of my Stress-Free Holiday Planner that makes this time of year so much easier to navigate all of the events around Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Have you ever used ButcherBox? Or have any budget-friendly table decorating tricks you’ve done before? Or treasured family heirloom dishes that make you well up every single time?

I’m a total sap over here.