| | There are several factors that drive up the price of a Thanksgiving dinner. These include inflation, weather, and disease. The avian flu has caused shortages and raised the price of turkeys. Covid supply chain issues have also contributed to higher prices. The cost of a traditional Thanksgiving feast is expected to rise by between 9 and 10 percent, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). |
It is not the cheapest day of the year to celebrate. However, there are a number of tips and tricks that can help you save on this year's feast. Aside from buying local and organic, there are a few ways to save.
Whether you are hosting the Thanksgiving dinner for your family or for your friends, there are several ways to reduce the cost of the meal. Using fresh produce and vegetable cuts can be a great way to save money while still enjoying the holiday. Meat is expensive, so opt for vegetarian alternatives.
Carefully set your menu- what you want to serve
Buying vegetables for Thanksgiving dinner can save money if you know where to look. The most obvious tip is to buy in season. You will be able to find sweet potatoes, asparagus, and green beans for a cheaper price than their out-of-season counterparts. The best time to buy produce is in the fall.
If you are a vegetarian, you will be able to find many of the same holiday-themed ingredients. You can even buy a vegetarian lasagna for less than half the price of the traditional dish.
There are also a number of vegetables and fruits you can buy in bulk that will save you money. Some of the most cost effective options are potatoes, onions, and sweet potatoes. Aside from potatoes, you can find more affordable vegetables in the fall, such as green beans, corn, squash, and apples.
If you have a tight budget, there are many ways to save on a holiday meal. For example, you can make a smaller turkey, invite fewer people, or serve less food. Also, you can purchase all-inclusive packages, such as a Thanksgiving dinner in a box. If you have a smaller budget, you may even be able to save by omitting the carving out of a whole turkey and substitute it with other turkey meat alternatives.
You may also want to buy a smaller turkey in order to save money. If you are hosting an intimate gathering, you may want to serve just the breast or wing.
The best way to save money is to use what you already have on hand. and saving leftovers to be re-created into new scrumptious dishes later in the week. You can freeze some of the leftovers for use within a week or two. This will also allow you to enjoy a big pot of turkey soup without breaking the bank.
Make a conscious choice between store bought pie and baking one at home
Buying store-bought pies for Thanksgiving dinner can be expensive. But there are ways to save money on your pie. If you buy a pie at a grocery store, you can save as much as $5 on a pound of typical squash.
The first step is to plan ahead. The last thing you want to do is run out of pies on Thanksgiving. The best time to buy pies is two or three days before Thanksgiving.
If you are buying pies from a bakery, be sure to order early. Some bakeries will have extra shifts during the holiday season. The more time you have to wait to order pies, the more money you will have to pay. There are also some delicious store-bought pies available from supermarkets.
Pie ingredients can be expensive, especially if you are buying a variety of flavors. Pie shells also tend to be expensive, not to mention the added cost of other key ingredients like whipped cream and condensed milk.
Even though baking your own pie can be very healthy and satisfying, when it comes to cost, many a times, it is cheaper to simply buy a pie at a supermarket instead of buying all the required ingredient to bake one up... this is particularly true if you are not a frequent baker... as in that case, those remaining ingredients will probably go waste.
Shop early, compare prices and look for sales...
Despite the recent rise in food prices, there are still ways to shop early to reduce the cost of your Thanksgiving dinner. In fact, you may have already discovered that there are a few simple tricks that can help you save.
For starters, you can check your pantry. It is important to make sure that you have all the ingredients you need before heading out to the store. It is also a good idea to watch for sales. You might even be able to use your pantry's items to help you budget for the items that have skyrocketed in price over the past year.
You can also save by shopping locally. You can find some great deals on Thanksgiving staples by visiting stores in your area. In fact, many categories will experience a significant lift in sales leading up to the holiday. You can find some great deals on turkeys, hams, sweet potatoes, and more.
You can also save by using coupons to get the best deals on your shopping. Make sure that you align your coupons with the sales that are happening at the stores you shop at. You can further maximize your savings by using rewards credit cards for making your purchases. You can also try out reliable rebate apps to see how much money you can save.
The best way to shop early to reduce the cost of your Thanksgiving dinner is to look for deals. This can save you money and help you spread out the cost of the entire holiday meal.
You can also look for deals on non-food items. This includes party supplies, outdoor seasonal items, and even dollar store party goods.
Thanksgiving Party or Thanksgiving Potluck
And last but not the least, you can also save on your Thanksgiving dinner by hosting a potluck. This will allow your guests to bring a dish to share, saving you from buying a lot of extra food.
Whether you are hosting the Thanksgiving dinner for your family or for your friends, there are several ways to reduce the cost of the meal. Using fresh produce and vegetable cuts can be a great way to save money while still enjoying the holiday. Meat is expensive, so opt for vegetarian alternatives.
Carefully set your menu- what you want to serve
Buying vegetables for Thanksgiving dinner can save money if you know where to look. The most obvious tip is to buy in season. You will be able to find sweet potatoes, asparagus, and green beans for a cheaper price than their out-of-season counterparts. The best time to buy produce is in the fall.
If you are a vegetarian, you will be able to find many of the same holiday-themed ingredients. You can even buy a vegetarian lasagna for less than half the price of the traditional dish.
There are also a number of vegetables and fruits you can buy in bulk that will save you money. Some of the most cost effective options are potatoes, onions, and sweet potatoes. Aside from potatoes, you can find more affordable vegetables in the fall, such as green beans, corn, squash, and apples.
If you have a tight budget, there are many ways to save on a holiday meal. For example, you can make a smaller turkey, invite fewer people, or serve less food. Also, you can purchase all-inclusive packages, such as a Thanksgiving dinner in a box. If you have a smaller budget, you may even be able to save by omitting the carving out of a whole turkey and substitute it with other turkey meat alternatives.
You may also want to buy a smaller turkey in order to save money. If you are hosting an intimate gathering, you may want to serve just the breast or wing.
The best way to save money is to use what you already have on hand. and saving leftovers to be re-created into new scrumptious dishes later in the week. You can freeze some of the leftovers for use within a week or two. This will also allow you to enjoy a big pot of turkey soup without breaking the bank.
Make a conscious choice between store bought pie and baking one at home
Buying store-bought pies for Thanksgiving dinner can be expensive. But there are ways to save money on your pie. If you buy a pie at a grocery store, you can save as much as $5 on a pound of typical squash.
The first step is to plan ahead. The last thing you want to do is run out of pies on Thanksgiving. The best time to buy pies is two or three days before Thanksgiving.
If you are buying pies from a bakery, be sure to order early. Some bakeries will have extra shifts during the holiday season. The more time you have to wait to order pies, the more money you will have to pay. There are also some delicious store-bought pies available from supermarkets.
Pie ingredients can be expensive, especially if you are buying a variety of flavors. Pie shells also tend to be expensive, not to mention the added cost of other key ingredients like whipped cream and condensed milk.
Even though baking your own pie can be very healthy and satisfying, when it comes to cost, many a times, it is cheaper to simply buy a pie at a supermarket instead of buying all the required ingredient to bake one up... this is particularly true if you are not a frequent baker... as in that case, those remaining ingredients will probably go waste.
Shop early, compare prices and look for sales...
Despite the recent rise in food prices, there are still ways to shop early to reduce the cost of your Thanksgiving dinner. In fact, you may have already discovered that there are a few simple tricks that can help you save.
For starters, you can check your pantry. It is important to make sure that you have all the ingredients you need before heading out to the store. It is also a good idea to watch for sales. You might even be able to use your pantry's items to help you budget for the items that have skyrocketed in price over the past year.
You can also save by shopping locally. You can find some great deals on Thanksgiving staples by visiting stores in your area. In fact, many categories will experience a significant lift in sales leading up to the holiday. You can find some great deals on turkeys, hams, sweet potatoes, and more.
You can also save by using coupons to get the best deals on your shopping. Make sure that you align your coupons with the sales that are happening at the stores you shop at. You can further maximize your savings by using rewards credit cards for making your purchases. You can also try out reliable rebate apps to see how much money you can save.
The best way to shop early to reduce the cost of your Thanksgiving dinner is to look for deals. This can save you money and help you spread out the cost of the entire holiday meal.
You can also look for deals on non-food items. This includes party supplies, outdoor seasonal items, and even dollar store party goods.
Thanksgiving Party or Thanksgiving Potluck
And last but not the least, you can also save on your Thanksgiving dinner by hosting a potluck. This will allow your guests to bring a dish to share, saving you from buying a lot of extra food.
