Each year since 1986 the American Farm Bureau Federation has conducted the cost of Thanksgiving dinner survey. Shoppers from 35 states look for the best prices on a list of food that includes turkey, bread stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a relish tray of carrots and celery, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, coffee and milk. The national average for the cost of the Thanksgiving meal that would feed ten people is $49.20. This is $5.73 more than in 2010 or about a 12% increase.
The cost of a 16-pound turkey was $17.66 in 2010 and $21.57 in 2011. The price is higher because of an increase in demand both nationally and internationally. Other increases in price are mostly due to retailers passing the higher cost of shipping processing and storing on to the consumer.
In Missouri, the cost to feed 10 people for Thanksgiving is $47.41 or just $4.74 per person. While that is $4.89 more than last year, we can still take comfort that Missouri’s cost is less than the national average.
Tammy Roberts, nutrition and health education specialist with University of Missouri Extension says that you can greatly decrease your cost by taking advantge of store specials. “Farm Bureau shoppers are instructed to find the best possible price without taking advantage of special promotions. We all know that Thanksgiving is a time when stores offer great promotions on holiday foods”
“You can save money by taking advantage of special offers that significantly reduce the price of the Thanksgiving meal fixings, including the turkey.” There are usually limits on some of the best bargains but Roberts says that the savings for some of the Thanksgiving specials can carry over to other meals. For example, if turkey is on sale for .75 a pound, why not buy two? That would help save money on the Thanksgiving meal and other meals in the weeks to come.
When you think about being able to provide a good source of protein, stuffing, vegetables, bread with butter, desserts and drinks for less than $5 per person, you are doing pretty well. Add to that the opportunity to spend quality time with friends and family and there is much more value to the day than any survey could compute.
“You can save money by taking advantage of special offers that significantly reduce the price of the Thanksgiving meal fixings, including the turkey.” There are usually limits on some of the best bargains but Roberts says that the savings for some of the Thanksgiving specials can carry over to other meals. For example, if turkey is on sale for .75 a pound, why not buy two? That would help save money on the Thanksgiving meal and other meals in the weeks to come.
When you think about being able to provide a good source of protein, stuffing, vegetables, bread with butter, desserts and drinks for less than $5 per person, you are doing pretty well. Add to that the opportunity to spend quality time with friends and family and there is much more value to the day than any survey could compute.
