What's your estimated thanksgiving week spend on travel, meals, black Friday, et.

[rennigade]

Fun fact: $64.05, that's the 2022 projected cost of Thanksgiving Dinner in the US. Guess that doesn't include alcohol!

Good point. It's nearly impossible for most people to be around family that long without drugs, aka alcohol.

[riverwed070707]

Fun fact: $64.05, that's the 2022 projected cost of Thanksgiving Dinner in the US. Guess that doesn't include alcohol!

This sounds exceptionally low... is it a per person cost? For 2 people? Hosting 10?

[disneysteve]

I just heard on the news that a survey said 45% of people expect to order their Thanksgiving meals from a restaurant rather than cooking. But the reason given was because of higher grocery prices. That makes no sense at all. Grocery prices are up but so are restaurant prices. It would still be way cheaper to do it yourself. If you want to have your dinner catered for convenience, that's fine, but it's certainly not going to save you any money.

[riverwed070707]

Fun topic!

We do not have any family locally and Thanksgiving is the only holiday we travel to see them. This weekend we'll head west to see DH's family overnight (staying on points so no accommodation cost) and next Thursday we'll head east to see my fam. This weekend trip is 425 miles round trip and our food cost will be covered. Its approx a 360 mile round trip for next week and we'll travel out and back same day. Family opted to do lunch at a golf course and everyone is responsible for their own food cost (this is new! Guess we're all adults now lol). Estimated expenses:

$110 gas for both trips
$85 Thanksgiving meal ($36/person + tip)
$20 misc gas station snacks, etc
$215 total

More than I'd like to spend for a holiday I don't really care about, but we make up for it by not traveling for xmas which has several financial benefits. 1) no travel cost 2) don't have to buy presents for family we only see 1-2x/yr (for the family we're close with and nieces, etc we'll ship their presents) 3) no elaborate food cost, prep time or entertainment expenses - we usually do a non-traditional meal, just have a relax day and we're pretty light on gift giving

[kork13]

This sounds exceptionally low... is it a per person cost? For 2 people? Hosting 10?

That doesn't seem low at all, assuming your don't go bananas with decorations or huge amounts of food.

I assume that $64 average is for an average family of 4-5 people. Turkey can be had pretty easily for ~$1/lb in many grocery stores (loss leader), so $10-$15 bird. Most sides & desserts are cheap, just $3-$5 apiece for 5 people -- potatoes, stuffing, carrots (or other veggies), cranberry sauce, rolls, pie, ice cream. Maybe $40 on the high end for that stuff. And hey, look at that, I just did a great family Thanksgiving dinner for $55!

[ua_guy]

Normally in the days following Thanksgiving I'd try to order any gifts I planned to give, deals or not, just to get it done. This year, the fam agreed we'll skip the gift exchange. The gift exchange brought my mom a lot of joy over the years, but surprisingly, she's the one who proposed holding off this year since everyone will be traveling. I hope it sticks! This is a nice weight to be lifted off my shoulders. It's not the expense that was burdensome, but the hassle and coming up with gift ideas.

This Thanksgiving is feeling like one to really cherish. 2020-2021 brought a lot of loss and sickness and stress to our families and we weren't able to spend Thanksgiving together. The holidays were pretty somber, actually. This one? If you can walk, you're gonna come celebrate and be together, that's the theme! Everyone in our families is making an effort to do something, just like old times. And that feels really, really good!

[QuarterMillionMan]

A Butterball at Walmart was $1.18/lb, so this 16 pounder was $19 total, cheap. On a side note I'm waiting for disneysteve to admonish everyone here to stop the spread when gathering, lol.

[scfr]

While I'm splurging big-time this year, it's true that a delicious meal can be served at a very reasonable cost. In the past we've gotten free turkeys* and prepared sides that are fairly inexpensive but delicious and nutritious.

*The past couple years we got one at Winco after spending $100. It looks like this year they are requiring a $125 spend. Winco is a grocery store that has quite reasonable prices, so it's not a bogus "freebie." And I've always found their produce to be really fresh because they are busy which means quick turnover. Getting the free turkey without spending money you wouldn't spend otherwise requires making a list and stocking up on pantry staples, then making sure you use them before they go bad.

So if you are trying to do Thanksgiving on a budget, look for a free turkey or maybe a combo meal deal and decide if it makes sense for you.
And seriously, check out the famous Costco pumpkin pie - it freezes really nicely.

Also try to avoid buying things that aren't necessary. I know that may sound obvious, but I'll give a couple examples.
Several of my recipes require fresh herbs. I bought them at a store where I can buy individual pieces instead of buying a whole pack. I spent less for 3 different types of herbs than I would have for 1 pre-packaged pack. And in the past I have purchased just 1 pack of fresh "mixed poultry herbs" and made do with that, even though I had to adjust my quantities a little.
Another example is I bake cornbread that I use in my stuffing. The recipe calls for using a 8x8 pan. I don't have an 8x8 pan, but I don't have to buy one because I have a 9-inch round pie plate that I use instead.

Whether spending a little or a lot, keeping it low key or going big, I hope everyone gets what they want out of Thanksgiving 2022.

[rennigade]

I just heard on the news that a survey said 45% of people expect to order their Thanksgiving meals from a restaurant rather than cooking. But the reason given was because of higher grocery prices. That makes no sense at all. Grocery prices are up but so are restaurant prices. It would still be way cheaper to do it yourself. If you want to have your dinner catered for convenience, that's fine, but it's certainly not going to save you any money.

I always wonder who is taking these surveys and how many people are they asking? I never took one or was ever asked. Sounds ridiculous to me.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Williams Sonoma has a $449 turkey sides for 12, but am I missing something with no meats.(I get it "sides") but at $449 at least include a roast or ham or something.

Thanksgiving Sides Bundle, Serves 12 | Williams Sonoma (williams-sonoma.com)

[kork13]

I always wonder who is taking these surveys and how many people are they asking? I never took one or was ever asked. Sounds ridiculous to me.

Alot of the time it's over the phone, or maybe via online response, either of which automatically skews the demographic of your study. If by phone, you're more likely to get responses from retirees with (a) landline telephones; and (b) plenty of time to answer inane survey questions. Online maybe you get those plus college students answering surveys for beer money.

As for sample size, basic statistics says you really only need 1k-2k responses to have a representative sample across the US. However, as I mention above, that 1k people needs to be a valid mix of demographics to truly be an accurate reflection of a population. This is one of the many dangers of statistics.

Williams Sonoma has a $449 turkey sides for 12, but am I missing something with no meats.(I get it "sides") but at $449 at least include a roast or ham or something.

Thanksgiving Sides Bundle, Serves 12 | Williams Sonoma (williams-sonoma.com)

If you're buying Thanksgiving dinner from Williams & Sonoma (they do food?!?), my bet is that you're also totally comfortable with forking out for a $80 Honey Baked Ham or similar.

[ua_guy]

I guess polls kinda get it wrong sometimes. Sounds like T-Day is being rigged against home-cooked Turkeys.

Williams Sonoma? $449!? No freaking way, unless all that food comes in nice serving dishes with a nice set of stainless utensils!!

[disneysteve]

On a side note I'm waiting for disneysteve to admonish everyone here to stop the spread when gathering

I don't waste my time. It was a lost cause during the peak of the pandemic; it's surely falling on deaf ears now. We know that we will see a huge spike in our patient volume between Thanksgiving and New Years. I'm actually grateful that my last shift of the year is scheduled for 12/3 because my wife is having surgery on 12/7. I probably won't return to work until January and hopefully the holiday spike will have settled down by then.

Back on topic, the 3 of us will be having dinner at home. The plan is for stuffed portobello mushroom caps, mashed potatoes, maybe some garlic bread, and an apple pie for dessert. Maybe $20 tops.

[rennigade]

Williams Sonoma has a $449 turkey sides for 12, but am I missing something with no meats.(I get it "sides") but at $449 at least include a roast or ham or something.

Thanksgiving Sides Bundle, Serves 12 | Williams Sonoma (williams-sonoma.com)

The only time we make it to williams Sonoma is when we visit friends near king of Prussia. There stuff is expensive but it's really good. Always liked getting their boxed cakes/desert things when they were on sale.

I'm sure their thanksgiving items will be good too. I wouldn't fork out $450 for it but I'm sure someone will.

[Like2Plan]

This sounds exceptionally low... is it a per person cost? For 2 people? Hosting 10?

I was thinking the same thing. We are spending more than that on tablecloths. (We are bring folding tables and I made 3 tablecloths to fit since they are all non-standard sizes).