Like many Americans, Jake Cousineau is busy preparing to host Thanksgiving dinner. As an educator and personal finance author, he’s applying some financial strategies to help reduce the costs.

For starters, he’s asking his guests to bring dishes to share.

“The typical model of Thanksgiving where one person cooks is wildly inefficient,” Cousineau says. Not only does the host take on the bulk of the work and expenses, but they often cook so much that food is wasted.

Cousineau, author of “Face Your Financial Fears,” isn’t afraid to ask his guests to bring side dishes to round out the meal — and containers to take home leftovers. That way, the costs are distributed more evenly and less food is wasted.

Money and food experts also suggest planning your meal in advance, shopping early and g

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