Thanksgiving feasts can still be (relatively) cheap! If you’re trying to save money around the holidays this year, you might be alarmed by the news of food inflation and scarcity. Fortunately according to Consumer Reports, there are plenty of ways to conserve cash while you shop for the big day.
As it turns out, your standard Thanksgiving food items are actually cheaper this year than the previous two years. You can get a basket of root vegetables and name brand items (like Ocean Spray cranberry sauce or Pillsbury pie crusts) for $22.31, down 36 cents from 2020. And the prices of big turkeys (16 pounds and up) have dropped around nine percent, making it an economical choice and a great source of leftovers.
Other tips to save money? Check your store for promotions around the holiday, but don’t get tricked into spending over budget just to snag a cheaper turkey. Buy in advance rather than getting caught in the crowds and to take advantage of “while supplies last” deals. And don’t feel the need to spend a lot on pricey appetizers, since the Thanksgiving meal is known to be super filling on its own.
As you’re shopping for holiday meals in general, it pays to get a store loyalty card, which often offer gas deals, too. You can take advantage of tech in the aisles by using a Consumer Reports recommended shopping app, like Basket, Ibotta or Flipp, which help you shop for the best savings. Finally, store brands tend to be 20 to 25% cheaper than their name brand counterparts and often taste nearly identical.
—Sarah Shebek
Featured image courtesy of Nicole Michalou, Pexels
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