Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday among American families, often celebrated with friends and loved ones. Everyone gathers around the dinner table for an evening of delicious food and good times. It’s the time of year when many families are in need, and many families are starting to save up for their Christmas shopping. If this is the case for you, or if you just want to give back to the community, shopping at second hand stores for your Thanksgiving necessities will save you money and time. Here are 5 must-haves for cooking your Thanksgiving dinner that can all be found at second hand stores.

Table Settings

You will need your table to look festive if you are having guests over on this delicious day. A tablecloth and place mats can be found at a second hand store for next to nothing compared to the price at retail stores. The Arc second hand stores often have both of these items in stock, as inexpensive as .50 cents each. You will want to find fall colors such as red, orange, brown, or yellow if you are going for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

Casserole Dishes

Casseroles, such as green bean casserole or home-style macaroni and cheese are great things to have on your Thanksgiving table, as everyone will most likely be looking to stuff themselves with filling side dishes. Get glass or metal casserole baking dishes at your local thrift store for around $1 -$3. Throw together your favorite dish and no one will guess that the dish is from a second hand store. And if they ask, boast about the great bargains you found there and how you saved money.

Utensils

If you don’t expect your guests to serve and eat with their hands, you are going to need utensils at your Thanksgiving dinner. Find forks, spoons, knives, serving spoons, salad tongs, and much more at local second hand stores. The great thing about shopping at an affordable second hand store is that after your dinner, you can either store away these utensils or donate them back to prevent clutter. Buying them cheap makes them somewhat expendable.

Decorations

What would a Thanksgiving dinner be without traditional style decorations? A delicious dinner no doubt and that may not sound like such a bad thing, but you probably want to impress your dinner guests by dressing up your table and dining room in the name of Thanksgiving. Fall colors come to mind when thinking of a Thanksgiving table. Decorating with multicolor leaves and candles will certainly give the holiday feel. Here is a video with fun tips on how to decorate your table.

Crock pot

Cooking a Thanksgiving dinner can be very stressful and time consuming. You want to save a few solid hours for prep and cook time. A great tip for saving time and energy is to make a dish a day or just a few hours in advance, and throw it in the crock pot. For example you can make mashed potatoes the night before and slow cook them in the crock pot until it is time for dinner. A crock pot can add flavor, and keep your dish warm until you guests are ready to eat. The Arc second hand store generally has many crock pots in stock, and with the seven day store credit guarantee, you can’t go wrong.

Before you come into the Arc Store to purchase these 5 must-haves for cooking your Thanksgiving dinner be sure to bring a $5.00 off your purchase of $15.00 or more coupon.

Download and print the coupon below!