MEMPHIS, Tenn. — With Thanksgiving now one week away, it is good to make sure you are not breaking the bank on the holiday.
Lucky for buyers, the American Farm Bureau Federation said the average cost for a Thanksgiving meal went down, but it is still expected to cost more than $60 for a meal for ten.
Holidays can always be a stressful time, but combine it with grocery shopping for Thanksgiving dinner, and you have people trying to find the best deals.
“I thought I would beat the Thanksgiving crowd, but I was surprised when I got here,” said Memphian Loretta Whitmore.
ABC24 checked the prices at Aldi, Cash Saver and Kroger on seven Thanksgiving essentials: potatoes, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, green beans, cream of mushroom soup and turkey.
Aldi had the cheapest stuffing, gravy, green beans and cream of mushroom soup; meanwhile, Cash Saver had the cheapest potatoes and cranberry sauce. When it comes to a 16-pound turkey, you will get the biggest bang for your buck at Kroger using a Kroger card.
At Aldi, Thanksgiving comes to around $25 for a family of four, which is why Whitmore recommends splitting the cooking responsibility and having everyone bring a different side when they all come together for dinner.
“That’s the real meaning of it. And don’t forget to coordinate with your hostess,” said Whitmore.
If you feel up to it, experts recommend shopping around at different stores to find the best prices or letting the stores do it for you. Target and Wal-Mart offer holiday baskets of essentials to keep the meals below $30 or $25 depending on who you choose.
The American Farm Bureau Federation said the average cost for a meal for ten actually went down a couple dollars. The last time this happened was in 2020.
According to AFBF’s most recent survey, the average cost of a Thanksgiving meal averages around $6.12 a person. The biggest drop in prices in 2023 came from cranberries and whipping cream. The centerpiece of the meal turkey is also cheaper than in 2022. David Chavern with the Consumer Brands Association said this is because avian flu is not as much of a problem this year and inflation is more under control.
“You get a lot of layers of inflation built into food prices, and overall, we’re seeing inflation come down,” said Chavern. “So, they haven’t come down a lot since last year, it’s come down a little bit. But that’s a good direction.”