Life happens fast – and Thanksgiving, even faster. Preparation for the big holiday (it’s November 23 this year) can accelerate at a breakneck pace. If you’re hosting, there’s no shortage of things to do, buy, prepare and plan. It’s wise to tackle it piece by piece, and having a few efficiency tricks up your sleeve will save you valuable time, money, energy and stress.
Learn more: Don’t Make These Common Thanksgiving Mistakes
To ensure a smooth affair, we’ve put together a Thanksgiving cheat sheet full of our best shopping, planning, prep, and cleanup tips. And since it’s always advisable to put the oxygen mask on yourself first, we’ve included simple ways to prioritize your general concerns. health and wellbeing during the holidays, and maybe even catch a few killers Black Friday deals while you are there.
Below you’ll find the ultimate Thanksgiving cheat sheet. Think of it as your holiday helper – and our little secret.
How to prepare Thanksgiving dinner stress-free?
Thanksgiving is a meal with a multitude of dishes that guests expect. Cut down on meal prep and legwork with a Thanksgiving meal kit stocked with all the ingredients for Thanksgiving dinner. Or save yourself a few trips to the store by purchasing your turkey and other groceries online.
How to Make Thanksgiving Dinner More Delicious
This next set of tips is full of easy ways to defrost and cook a large bird for Thanksgiving. We’ve even offered some suggestions for those who want to cook something other than turkey this November.
No need to spend your monthly budget on Thanksgiving shopping.
I’m hosting Thanksgiving. What are the best ways to clean for guests?
Being a host is not easy. A ton of work goes into cleaning and preparing for guests. Even though cleaning your house can take a whole day or more, we have some reliable tips that can make the cleaning process much more efficient.
Home Cleaning Tips:
A ton of work goes into cleaning and preparing for guests. But here are some simple tips to help you.
Tips for Cleaning Appliances and Kitchen Utensils:
How can I prioritize my health and well-being this Thanksgiving?
The holidays only come once a year, so it’s understandable to want to splurge on all that decadent food and drink. But Thanksgiving can also be an anxiety-inducing time for those looking to improve their health and diet.
The important thing is that you don’t need to deprive yourself or restrict yourself. Instead, you can put some of these wellness tips into practice to enjoy your Thanksgiving weekend guilt-free.
It can be difficult to prioritize your health during the holidays, but there’s always time to take for yourself.
Where can I find early Black Friday deals and holiday gift ideas?
When preparing for the holidays, it can be easy to let things slide, but buying gifts is one thing you won’t regret planning in advance. Whether you’re shopping for a parent, sibling, significant other or friend, our CNET experts have the inside scoop on the best deals and gifts available for Black Friday and beyond.
To make sure you don’t miss any deals, check out CNET’s full roundup first Black Friday deals. And for all the best gift recommendations, explore CNET ultimate gift guide to start browsing your list.