Your Turkey's Money Secrets

While today is all about gratitude, family, and, let's be honest, an incredible feast, it’s also the perfect time for a financial wake-up call. No, we won't ruin your pumpkin pie. Instead, let's carve into the hidden money wisdom buried in your favorite Thanksgiving traditions.

Here are 5 financial lessons your Thanksgiving dinner is trying to teach you.

1. The Turkey: Don't Put All Your Eggs in One Basket.The turkey is the centerpiece, but what's a meal without the sides? The mashed potatoes, the stuffing, the green bean casserole—they provide balance and security. If the turkey is dry, the meal is still saved.

• Your Financial Takeaway: Diversify Your Investments.Never put all your money into a single stock, crypto, or asset class. A well-diversified portfolio (stocks, bonds, real estate, etc.) is your financial safety net. If one investment underperforms (a "dry turkey"), your others can keep your financial health strong and thriving.

  
  

2. The Potluck: Build Your Financial Team.Thanksgiving dinner is a massive undertaking. Nobody is expected to do it all alone. It’s a potluck—Aunt Susan brings the pies, Uncle Dave carves the turkey, and your cousin brings the legendary weird Jell-O salad.

• Your Financial Takeaway: You Don't Have to Go It Alone.Managing your finances can be overwhelming. Your "financial potluck" team might include a fee-only financial planner, a tax advisor, and a good insurance agent. Assembling the right experts ensures every part of your financial life is handled by a pro.

  
  

3. The Leftovers: The Power of Making More with Less. One of the best parts of Thanksgiving? The leftovers! That single meal gets repurposed into sandwiches, soups, and casseroles for days. It’s the ultimate lesson in efficiency and value.

• Your Financial Takeaway: Maximize Your Existing Resources.Before looking for more income, squeeze more value from what you have. This means:

  • Repurpose Your Skills: Get a raise or a side gig using the talents you already have.

  • Meal Prep with Your Budget: Reduce food waste and takeout spending by planning meals.

  • Audit Subscriptions: Cancel services you don't use. That's instant "leftover" cash.

    
    

4. The Gratitude Practice: Audit Your Financial Blessings.The core of Thanksgiving is taking a deliberate moment to express gratitude for what you have.

• Your Financial Takeaway: Conduct a Net Worth Meeting.Once a year, around this time, sit down and review your complete financial picture. Calculate your net worth (Assets - Debts). Don't do it from a place of stress, but from a place of gratitude. Acknowledge your progress, no matter how small. Did you pay down debt? Did your investments grow? Did you build your emergency fund? Thankfulness for how far you've come is the best motivation for where you're going.

  
  

5. The Black Friday Madness: Plan Ahead to Avoid Impulse Buys.The day after Thanksgiving is a frenzy of "deals" designed to make you spend impulsively. The best way to avoid this? Have a plan before you ever log on or walk into a store.

• Your Financial Takeaway: Use a Budget.A budget isn't a restriction; it's a spending plan that gives you permission to buy what you truly want without guilt. Before any major spending period, set a firm budget. Decide what you need, research prices beforehand, and stick to your list. This stops you from falling for "doorbusters" that bust your financial goals.

As you enjoy your dinner this year, pick ONE of these lessons and commit to applying it in the coming week.This simple act can turn a day of gratitude into a lifetime of financial stability. From our table to yours, Happy Thanksgiving.