Thanksgiving is just around the corner and many students are struggling with finances, but if you've got six bucks and nine friends, you can put together an exceptional Thanksgiving feast. Here are some tips to help you make a delicious and affordable holiday meal for 10.

Turkey
$2.24 per person

Turkey can still be the focal point of Thanksgiving dinner when you're cooking on a budget. With proper execution of the recipe below, you can make an exceptional turkey without the use of expensive herbs and spices.

Before you choose your turkey, check your guest list. Be sure to choose a size that is big enough to feed your guests, while not spending more than you need to. A 13 to 15 pound turkey is large enough to feed 10 to 12, with fairly generous servings.

With stuffing inside of it, the turkey will take a longer time to cook. The longer it cooks, the more likely it is to become dry. Preparing a stuffing substitute will allow the turkey to remain moist while retaining a similar seasoning. Combine half of an onion, peeled and chopped, a whole sliced lemon, a bundle of parsley, two chopped carrots and a little over a cup of celery heads.

Allow the turkey a sufficient amount of time to defrost before you begin. Remove the neck and giblets from the turkey and set them aside. Rinse the turkey thoroughly. Stuff the turkey with the vegetable mixture and fasten the legs together, which will prevent the mixture from falling out. Insert a generous amount of butter under the skin. Cover the turkey in a thin layer of olive oil and then season with a fair amount of salt and pepper. Cook the turkey in accordance with its weight. Let the turkey rest for around 15 to 20 before serving. After the turkey is cooked, there will be juices left in the bottom of the pan. Save these juices to flavor the stuffing.

Save the giblets to prepare a stock. Add giblets and a teaspoon of salt to about three cups of water and simmer. After about an hour, remove mixture from heat, strain and discard giblets. This homemade stock can be used in place of store bought chicken or beef stock and will save you the expense.

Stuffing
2 boxes will serve 10 guests at 35 cents per person

Purchasing packaged stuffing will save you time and money. Each box will produce around three cups of stuffing. Add one and a half cups of the turkey stock to each packet of stuffing and cook as directed. When it is finished, pour the juices from the turkey over the stuffing as a sauce. The combination of the stock and sauce will flavor the stuffing as if it had been cooked traditionally.

Cranberry Sauce
2 cans will serve 10 at 30 cents per person
Cranberry sauce is a classic condiment for turkey. Canned cranberry sauce is available in whole and jellied varieties and can be purchased at around $1.50 a can. You can either heat the sauce on the stove or serve cold.

Gravy
3 packets will serve 10 guests at 40 cents per person
Gravy packets are an inexpensive alternative to homemade gravy and are available at any grocery store. These packets produce about a cup and a half of gravy. Heat each packet in about a cup and a half of water or turkey stock as directed. To enhance flavor, thinly slice about a half cup turkey and add to gravy before serving.

Mashed Potatoes
21 cents per person
Idaho potatoes are sold at a relatively low price. To serve 10, peel and boil five pounds of potatoes until soft. Then add a half cup of milk, a quarter cup of butter, three-fourths teaspoon of salt, and a quarter teaspoon of pepper. Mash the mixture until thick and creamy. Packaged mashed potato mixes are also available, but real potatoes are less expensive.

Green Bean Casserole
46 cents per person

Making a simple and economically friendly green bean casserole takes only five ingredients. In place of fresh green beans, canned beans can be used as a less expensive substitute. A traditional green bean casserole can be made using two cans cut green beans, one can Cream of Mushroom soup, a half cup of milk, one cup of French Fried onions and the optional teaspoon of soy sauce. Combine beans, soup, milk and soy sauce, top mixture with the fried onions and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

Candied Yams
48 cents per person

You can save money on a classic candied yam dish by using canned yams in the place of fresh. Combine one 40 ounce can of cut sweet potatoes and yams, two teaspoons butter and a quarter cup brown sugar in a baking dish. Top mixture with a half cup of marshmallows and bake until golden brown.

Dinner Rolls
40 cents per person

With a little effort, store bought dinner rolls can taste as if they were baked from scratch. Check out grocery store bakeries for prices on dinner rolls. Many of these bakeries offer rolls in bulk at low costs. Just before dinner is served, arrange rolls on a baking sheet and cover with foil. The foil will allow the rolls to heat while preventing them from burning. After a couple minutes, remove foil and place a small pat of butter (about one-eighth teaspoon) on top of each roll and serve.

Pumpkin Pie
63 cents per person

Pumpkin pie is available at nearly every grocery store around the holidays. You can prepare a memorable desert by taking a plain, nine-inch pumpkin pie and adding your own topping. Add a bit of whipped cream and cinnamon to each slice and serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. All of these ingredients can be found at low prices.