Has the economy bit you hard this year? You’re not alone. Thanksgiving is a great holiday but a big spread of food can really set you back. Fortunately there are ways to put a turkey and the trimmings on the table without going broke. Keep in mind, if you are truly poor, first try to find a free turkey or free holiday meal – usually these are offered by churches, the Salvation Army, food banks, civic groups, etc. Certain places may require proof of low income. Again, this is only for those who are genuinely poor; don’t take advantage of charity if you don’t honestly need it.
Now, assuming you do have a few dollars to spend on your meal, here are some great ways to save:
First, find the bargains. One of the best overall deals is at Wal-Mart, where they are selling a "$20 Thanksgiving feast" that feeds eight. The recession-busting deal includes:
- One 12-pound Grade A turkey, 40 cents a pound at most Wal-Mart stores (Prices and availability may vary in AK, HI, OK, NM, WI)
- Three 11 to 15.5-ounce cans Green Giant vegetables
- Two 14-ounce cans Ocean Spray cranberry sauce
- Three 6-ounce boxes of Stove Top stuffing
- One 5-pound bag of red potatoes
- One 12-count package of Sara Lee dinner rolls
- One 22-ounce pumpkin roll cake
Limit two turkeys per customer; weights and brands vary by store. Find your nearest Wal-Mart: Store Locator
Wal-Mart is not your only choice; there are other discount groceries such as Aldi Foods: Store Locator
Aldi’s turkeys cost more than Wal-Mart’s, but their side dishes are very cheap. Check out any other discount grocers in your area, and comparison shop all the sales fliers you get.
No matter where you buy your Thanksgiving food, there are numerous other ways to keep your costs low:
- Don’t do it all yourself! Make it a potluck and have each guest bring a different dish.
- Make a list and stick to it tightly. Supermarkets are hoping you’ll be tempted to buy lots of unnecessary items while you’re there for the turkey. Don’t succumb.
- Prune the menu. Do you really need that many side dishes?
- Check online for coupons for the items on your shopping list, such as cranberries, pumpkin, etc.
- Ask yourself: do you really need to generate a refrigerator’s worth of leftovers? Too often people throw out leftovers instead of finishing them. Make a realistic estimate and don’t buy more food than that
Photo courtesy of Flickr
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