This post is funded by The Beef Checkoff and brought to you by The Motherhood. All opinions in this blog are my own.

Ever since I got married, my husband and I have hosted pretty much every holiday. Don’t get me wrong, I love hosting holidays but boy can the costs add up. From the cost of the beverages to paper products to appetizers and main course, a holiday dinner is usually hundreds of dollars.

Did you know that just in time for the upcoming holiday meals, beef retail prices are down? This season, beef retail prices are down nearly 10 percent from the highest prices in late 2014. This is great news for those of us who have to shop for and plan holiday meals!

Are you meat-clueless?

A roast is an excellent cut of beef to serve friends and family. The Interactive Butcher Counter has a great list of options to suit whatever your needs are.

For help on preparation there is an oven roasting guide which will help take the guest work out of preparing the roast just right.

Not sure how much you need? Follow this guide to find out exactly how much beef to buy for your guests, no more, no less!

Need some ideas for cooking with beef this holidays season?

There are tons of great holiday recipes on the Beef Whats for Dinner website to check out to inspire some beef-cooking at home.

Citrus-Marinated Beef and Fruit Kabobs

Braised Short Ribs with Red Wine Sauce

Beef Stuffing with Apples and Cranberries

Tis the season for delicious cooking!

This recipe guide will ensure you are equipped with easy-to-make, versatile dishes that bring cheer to any occasion: http://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/holiday

(Click the image below to view a bigger version)

If you are not ready to cook with your beef, here are some great tips on beef storage and handling:

A good rule of thumb is: if it will take longer than 30 minutes to get your freshly purchased beef home, consider keeping it in a cold cooler.

Once you’re home, refrigerate or freeze beef as soon as possible after purchasing, and always place beef packages on the lowest shelf in your refrigerator on a plate or tray to catch any escaping juices.

For best quality, thaw steaks and roasts in the refrigerator—never at room temperature—and be sure to place the frozen package on a plate or tray to catch any escaping juices during the thawing process. Check out these refrigerator and freezer storage guidelines to ensure maximum quality.

Ground Beef can be easily and quickly thawed in your microwave in five minutes or less.

Shop for Beef!

Take advantage of lower prices at the meat case in your local grocery retailer as you shop for roasts, steaks and ground beef this season.

For additional holiday entertaining ideas, browse this recipe collection at beefitswhatsfordinner.com.

Images above all credited to credit The Beef Checkoff.