Cooking for a group is a great part of the holidays. Whether it’s family, friends or in-laws (and yes, that can be three different groups), preparing a holiday meal is a really satisfying feeling – but it definitely doesn’t need to be expensive. Grab a notepad and apron, and lets get in touch with your inner-Martha. It’s time to plan now for a Thanksgiving dinner later. We’ve talked about this before, but a little planning goes a long way when you’re doing anything that involves money. Setting out a plan for your meal, knowing how many guests will be present, and setting a budget are all equally important for making the meal a success for your taste buds, table and pocket book. The Menu & Budget It doesn’t matter if you’re doing a traditional turkey, trying a holiday lasagna or chicken dumplings – figure out the meal and the number of guests as far in advance as possible. If you realize now that you’re cooking a meal for 8 people and it’ll cost around $50, don’t wait to start shopping. Add a few extra (non-perishable) holiday ingredients to your regular shopping and