Thanksgiving is closing in, and you’re hosting the gathering. Talk about stress, what with the meal planning, shopping, cleaning and, finally, the meal prep. This year, trying to do it within your budget, given the rising cost of groceries, has multiplied the stress.
By Jami Farkas
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But if you need to cut back, you can do so without your guests ever noticing. Through planning and cost-saving measures, your Thanksgiving table still will be filled with a cornucopia of color and a bevy of delicious dishes.
Remember the holiday is about enjoying friends and family — sitting around the dinner table just adds to the festivities. You can throw a fabulous Thanksgiving feast without stretching yourself, or your budget, too thin.
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The Turkey
For most Americans, turkey is the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving meal. The cost of turkeys has risen this year because of the one-two punch of inflation and avian flu, but retailers aren’t necessarily passing the cost increase on to consumers. That’s because grocers traditionally use turkeys as “loss leaders,” meaning they’ll take a financial hit to get shoppers in the store, where they’ll buy all the other ingredients for their holiday feast.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture acknowledged that in its national turkey retail report on Nov. 10, when it said the average price of Tom turkeys was 95 cents a pound, up just six cents from last year, due to “several lucrative priced offers.”
However, you might not even need to pay that much for your turkey. Stores from coast to coast advertised turkeys this week with lower prices. Some required a minimum purchase of at least $25. The best deal was at Wegman’s, where loyalty club members can get their birds for just 29 cents a pound without a minimum purchase. The price of a nearly 14-pound turkey? Just $4. An approximately 22-pounder? $6.50.
While you might be considering a protein alternative, you probably won’t do any better than turkey. According to the USDA’s recent report, the cheapest ground beef averaged $2.36 per pound, rump roast $4.98 and filet mignon $16.27.
TIP: To save money, don’t buy more turkey than you need. The Food Network says 1.5 pounds per person should be plenty — so, for 10 people, a 12-pound bird should do just fine. If you want to be extra sure you have plenty — or a bit left for some Black Friday turkey sandwiches — add just a couple of pounds. You don’t want to throw away leftovers that go uneaten.
Before Shopping for the Turkey
When you grab your bird, you’ll probably buy the bulk of your necessities at the same time. Before heading to the store, inventory what you have on hand. Clean out the cupboards and pantry, and you just might find the can of cream of mushroom soup you need for your green bean casserole. Why buy it again when you already have it on hand?
TIP: As you’re cleaning out the pantry, you can look for items to donate to the local food bank. Remember when you bought 12 cans of tuna at a great price? If you still have an abundance, the food bank would welcome the donation.
Tailor the Menu to the Ads
If you have a special side dish you serve every year, like the stuffing recipe handed down through the generations, don’t give up the tradition. But if your traditions allow for flexibility to try new sides, there’s money to be saved by building your Thanksgiving menu around sale items at your favorite grocery store or warehouse club. Remember to also check the digital coupons linked to your loyalty card for extra savings.
For example, sweet potatoes are plentiful this year and cost less than 50 cents a pound at some grocery stores. With russet potatoes about $1.50 per pound, mashed sweet potatoes are an economical substitute at a third of the price. Shoppers also can find butternut squash for less than 50 cents a pound. Delish recommends cutting the squash into cubes and roasting it in the oven with olive oil, salt and pepper.
Kyle James, the founder of Rather-Be-Shopping.com, scoured the ads and found prices he liked at Aldi.
“Hard to beat Aldi, which is rolling back Thanksgiving prices to 2019 levels,” he said. “You can buy a 10-pound bag of russets for about $6.”
TIP: Aldi potatoes are way cheaper than the supermarket price, but it isn’t a deal if you won’t use all 10 pounds and wind up throwing them out. It would be wise to plan post-Thanksgiving meals that can use the excess.
Skip the Expensive Appetizers
Hosts typically put out plates of appetizers to occupy guests while they wait for the main meal. You can’t beat the convenience of ready-made fruit and vegetable platters from your local supermarket, but you can beat the price; you could easily spend $60 for a pair of platters that serve 12 people each.
Or, you could go all out and make Buffalo chicken dip, served with veggies or sourdough bread — but that, too, can be pricey when you add the cost of chicken, green onions, cream cheese, wing sauce and ranch dressing together. Instead, switch up the appetizers to those that are unique and inexpensive.
Cheapism recommends cutting seasonal apples and pears into chunks, sprinkling them with lemon juice and cinnamon and then putting a chunk of each on a toothpick. You can make 30 skewers for about 20% of the cost of a party tray.
Or, make simple cheese quesadillas and serve with a side of salsa and sour cream. Each quesadilla costs about $1 to make and can be cut into six pieces. You’ll have 30 little appetizers for about $5. Or, Cheapism also suggests preparing ham and cheese wheels by rolling out store-bought pizza dough, lining it with deli ham and cheese, and rolling up the dough. Bake it at 450 degrees until the dough turns golden brown, then slice into bite-sized rounds for a fun appetizer.
Rethink the Alcohol
The price of beer, wine and cocktails is up this year, too. As a host, you might not be in position to foot the alcohol bill. Instead, it’s acceptable to cut out the alcohol and replace it with fun “mocktails” or non-alcoholic sangria, for example, etiquette columnist Marge Perry said.
“When you invite them, tell guests that ‘non-alcoholic beverages will be plentiful; you are welcome to bring any alcohol you would like to drink,’” she advised on TheKitchn.com in 2020.
Saving money and serving a memorable Thanksgiving dinner can happen with planning and preparation. There’s no reason you can’t do both.
