A Socially Distanced Thanksgiving

Baby in a turkey costume for Thanksgiving

Here we are in November. A quick peek at the calendar will tell you that Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away, which means that it’s time to start thinking and budgeting for the holiday season. Our winter holidays may look very different this year, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t celebrate! Here are some ideas to get you into the spirit of the holidays without compromising health and safety.

Virtual Thanksgiving

Virtual Meeting Photo Credit/Unsplash

If you are skipping the large family gathering this year, you aren’t alone. Sure, you can prepare a meal for your nuclear family and table the big festivities for next year, or you can get a little creative. Why not embrace the current times and opt for a virtual get-together? You can coordinate with family so you can all sit and enjoy your meal together. Whether you choose Zoom, FaceTime, or another service, you’ll still be able to see your family members face-to-face for the holidays. Best of all – no kids table!

Socially Distancing

Not feeling the tech this year? State health officials are beginning to provide their recommendations on how to celebrate in-person. If you have the ability and the climate to accommodate an outdoor meal, that would be ideal. If weather or space doesn’t permit an outdoor gathering, you can help reduce the risk of exposure by creating a strong cross-ventilation current. Open windows, turn on fans, open screen doors whenever possible. Set up a handwashing station and have plenty of hand sanitizer ready.

Regardless of your venue, remember to space out the seating so that guests are at least six feet apart (excluding members of the same household.) A general rule of thumb for in-person gatherings is to limit guests to three households, including your own.

You will also want to wear a mask at all times during the gathering, excluding during eating or drinking. Likewise, this is not the time to have a “family-style” buffet. Serving utensils, flatware, plates, and glasses should be single-use only to limit the transmittal of germs.

Schedule a Meeting

Couple cooking together Photo Credit/Unsplash

This may be harder to pull off if you have chatty relatives, but it might be worth a shot. :) If you have a large family, you might consider scheduling a rotating guest list. Be sure to give yourself time to disinfect surfaces between groups, and stick to social distancing guidelines. Keeping a smaller guest list and rotating throughout the day ensures everyone has time together without being exposed to large groups.

The holiday season can be stressful outside of a pandemic. Adding COVID to the mix makes it even more so. If cooking for relatives is too much to take on this year, skip it altogether and stay home with your nuclear family. Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be sad or lonely because of our “new normal.” Plan a traditional meal, or shake it up with some new traditions - the choice is yours! Have fun, make the best of it, and…can you save me some stuffing?

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Krista Kyte is a personal finance blogger and personal banker with over 18 years of experience in the financial industry. Krista is passionate about helping our members understand their financial situations. She writes tips that will help consumers reach and maintain financial security, and start living the life they’ve always wanted.