There are many ways to save on a holiday meal without your guests ever knowing. Here are four tips to help you plan for a frugal Christmas dinner!         

Prepare your own appetizers. Ready-made appetizers may save time, but they will add an alarming amount to your shopping bill. Making your own can save a considerable sum. Get some inspiration from this list of 25 easy-to-make appetizers for less than $5!

Choose your bird wisely. It’s hard to imagine Christmas dinner in your house without a turkey. This will probably be the most expensive item on your table, so you should only buy the size of turkey for the number of people who are going to eat it. A good rule of thumb is to plan on about 1.5 pounds of turkey per person attending. That means if you are expecting 10 guests, plan for a 15-pound bird.

Make your own gravy. If you have been tempted to buy fresh turkey gravy in the past, then try saving money by making your own. The giblets and the roasting juices provide all the flavor you will need, along with a spoonful of flour and an optional chicken stock cube.

Take advantage of Benefits Plus®. Your Benefits Plus® checking account with SeaComm entitles you to an exclusive grocery coupon club with printable coupons, wholesale club savings, discounted gift and eGift cards, and much more. To upgrade your basic checking account, stop by your nearest SeaComm branch location. Click here to read our recent blog post for more ways Benefits Plus® can help you save money this holiday season!

For complete information, terms, conditions and exclusions please visit www.benefits-plus.org or call 866-329-7587.