If you’re someone who gets invited to Thanksgiving dinner and all you’re required to bring is a dish to pass (or better yet, just your appetite), consider yourself lucky. But if you’re the one hosting, we feel your pain. In fact, 1-in-5 Americans feel your pain and are spending less on Thanksgiving this year, according to a Savings.com survey.
Does Thanksgiving Dinner Cost More This Year?
The American Farm Bureau Federation analyzed the cost of Thanksgiving dinner fixings and determined the price for the entire spread shows a moderate decline this year compared to 2024 plates. That makes this the third year in a row that prices have declined. According to the data, the average cost for 10 people to eat the usual suspects that make up a Turkey Day feast (cranberries, sweet potatoes, stuffing, dinner rolls, etc) is $55.18 or about $5.52 per person. Of course, those prices vary depending on where you shop, and if you want to opt for your favorite grocery stores’ Thanksgiving kits that come complete with all those staples. (And according to another report, the cost of Thanksgiving is actually up by seven percent this year.)
Are People Planning to Spend Less?
Despite costs apparently being down from last year, the Savings.com survey reveals that 1 in 5 Americans plan to spend less on meals this year than they did last year. The majority of respondents (61%) plan on spending the same amount this year as last year.
How Are Families Cutting Costs This Thanksgiving?
The bulk of respondents (43%) to the Thanksgiving survey plan to make Thanksgiving cheaper by serving fewer side dishes or desserts. Other folks plan to do things like purchase cheaper ingredients or opt for generic brands, scale back their guest list, travel less (or not at all), make more homemade dishes instead of leaning on premade purchases, and host their Thanksgiving potluck-style to share costs with guests.
No matter what they’re doing to cushion the blow to their bank accounts, though, people are stressed about spending this Thanksgiving. Nearly half of the people polled for the survey (46%) agreed with these statements:
- “I feel pressure to make the holidays special even when money is tight.”
- “Inflation forced me to rethink what really matters.”
More Thanksgiving Stories You Might Like
- America’s Most Hated Thanksgiving Sides You’ll Regret Spending Money On — If you’re among those Americans that plan on spending less on Thanksgiving dinner this year, here are some side dishes you could skip and most people won’t mind.
- Grocery Stores That Are Open on Thanksgiving This Year (And Which Are Closing) — If you need to make some last-minute purchases for your Thanksgiving dinner, you’ll want to know which stores are open and when.
- Walmart’s $40 Thanksgiving Costs Less Than Last Year by Cutting 24% of Items and Dropping Brand‑Name Staples — While it may seem like a deal on the surface, many shoppers are upset by what’s included in the basket this year.
