Don’t Let Food Inflation Gobble Up Your Thanksgiving Plans

Saving money on don let food inflation does not need to be complicated. Here is a clear, no nonsense rundown of what works and how to make the most of it.

Key Takeaways

• Share with your friends!FacebookPinterestMessengerWhatsAppEmailShareFlipboardRedditSMSX As the holidays creep closer and food prices rise, this year’s Thanksgiving feasts require an added focus on finances.
• Numerous hosts are tightening their budgets by trimming the guest list, thinning the menu, reducing portion sizes, or even asking for contributions.
• Others are skipping the holiday altogether.
• A study by Personal Capital found that numerous people plan to skip Thanksgiving or dramatically cut back this year.

Where the Real Savings Hide

Worth noting: more than half of those polled plan to make fewer dishes keep gatherings small, and ask guests to bring something to the table. Another 42% were open to the concept of inviting visitors to contribute to the cost of the dinner.  Not surprising, Baby boomers were the least likely generation to ask guests to donate money, food, or beverages.

• At the same time, Gen Z was most likely to adopt all four cost-cutting techniques.
• When asked what guests should bring, 75% said alcoholic beverages.
• More importantly, with the rising cost of alcohol and the expectation that it will be included in the menu, hosts may be wise to ask guests to bring their own alcohol.
• Despite inflation and job uncertainty, 52% of Americans plan to spend the same amount of money on Thanksgiving this year as they did last year.

A Closer Look at Don Let Food Inflation

Only 33% of respondents expected to spend less this year, while 15% expected to pay more. Most Americans planned to spend between $101 and $200 on Thanksgiving.  Baby boomers were most likely to break the bank with a budget of $201 or more (20%), while Gen Xers were most likely to keep a tight budget of $100 or less (40%).

• Remember that the solid news is you do not require to ask your guests for money to host Thanksgiving.
• There are several hacks to fight food inflation this Thanksgiving.
• Table of Contents Shop Diligently Make Smaller Portions Reduce the Number of Menu Offerings Homemade vs.
• Prepackaged Meals Don’t Let Food Inflation Spoil Your Thanksgiving More Articles From the ChaChingQueen Network Shop Diligently Over a third of respondents said they plan to pay attention to deals and coupons to stretch their grocery budgets this year.

What to Know About Don Let Food Inflation

As a rule, nearly 1 in 3 planned to compare prices or purchase in bulk. Another 36% said they’ll shop early, hoping to avoid food price hikes as the holiday draws closer and supplies run low.  Make Smaller Portions Reducing the amount of food on the table is another method to fight food inflation this year.

• Our friend Casandra explained, “Each year, I purchase a bigger turkey than I require for our family dinner with the intent to apply it for leftovers.
• Inevitably a solid portion of that turkey goes to waste, so this year, I’m planning to only order a turkey that will feed the number of guests at the table to prevent any food wastage.” Cassandra is not alone.
• In short, a surprising 89% of respondents said they typically purchase too much for Thanksgiving to have leftovers.
• That is despite the jaw-dropping amount of food that at no point gets eaten.

How Don Let Food Inflation Really Works

It is estimated that Thanksgiving leads to 172 Million pounds of Turkey thrown in the trash can. How much is 172 million pounds of turkey?

• Worth noting: it’s the equivalent weight of 510 Boeing 747s!   That doesn’t even include the wasted 14 million pounds of dinner rolls, 40 million pounds of mashed potato, 38 million pounds of stuffing, 30 million pounds of gravy, etc. Reducing food waste is an excellent choice to combat food inflation.
• We’ve turned our best pointers into quick-read books, and we’re publishing new ones each week.
• See the full collection here: amazon.com/author/chachingqueen.
• Reduce the Number of Menu Offerings Another sought after budget-saving strategy is menu reduction.

Getting the Most From Don Let Food Inflation

More importantly, 88% of Americans plan to eliminate at least one traditional dish from their menu this year. Despite soaring food costs, some Thanksgiving dinners won’t be complete without a few core items.

• Turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, rolls, and green beans made the top twelve dishes Americans would at no point have cut from the menu.
• Though, most vegetables were far less critical.  Baby boomers, Gen Xers, and millennials were the most traditional.
• Remember that each listed turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, and rolls as the top dishes they would at no point cut from Thanksgiving dinner.
• Gen Z preferred a lighter meal with soup, salad, and sweet potatoes as their top three must-haves.

Tips That Make a Difference

Another friend Emily is one of those hosts looking to cut back. She explained, “With food costs spiking, I’m trying to cut more pricey aspects from the menu without sacrificing variety for our Thanksgiving meal.” Emily added, “One of the large ticket items is meat, and I typically serve the traditional turkey along with other choices.

• As a rule, i plan to trim the menu down this year and only offer turkey as the main dish.
• For side dishes, I will scout deals and purchase as numerous ingredients as possible from discount stores like Aldi and Costco.”  Homemade vs.
• Prepackaged Meals The study also found that numerous hosts expect to save this year by preparing their own meals instead of purchasing prepackaged choices.
• Monica Fish of Invested Wallet shared, “In previous years, I’ve relied on store-prepared items for numerous of my appetizers and sides, but they’re premium priced.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

In short, this year the price is just too high to justify the convenience. For Monica’s family, a shrimp cocktail is a must-have appetizer.

• This year she said she will make shrimp cocktail instead of purchasing a ready-to-go tray from a store.
• She explained, “To make it easier on myself and my wallet, I’ll grab a bag of frozen shrimp that’s already deveined, peeled, and prepared, so it’s ready to be cooked.” Try these straightforward recipes to try this Thanksgiving: Straightforward French Bread Recipe: Only 5 Ingredients!
• Worth noting: low Knead Straightforward Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Maple Syrup And Soy Sauce Recipe Don’t Let Food Inflation Spoil Your Thanksgiving Regardless of how you plan to spend Thanksgiving, remember that the holiday is about being thankful and spending time with loved ones.
• No matter how you celebrate, holidays are a time to be with those you care about.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I save money on don let food inflation?

Compare prices across a few retailers, look for active coupon codes, and time bigger buys around sales events. Another 42% were open to the concept of inviting visitors to contribute to the cost of the dinner.  Not surprising, Baby boomers were the least likely generation to ask guests to donate money, food, or beverages.

Is it worth shopping around for don let food inflation?

Usually yes. At the same time, Gen Z was most likely to adopt all four cost-cutting techniques.

Smart Ways to Save More on Don Let Food Inflation

• Compare the final price including shipping, not just the headline number.
• Check for student, military, or first order offers you may qualify for.
• Time non urgent purchases around major sale events for the deepest cuts.
• Leave items in your cart for a day; some stores send a follow up discount.
• Pair cashback with a coupon so you save twice on the same order.

Final Thoughts

Put these ideas to work and don let food inflation gets a lot less expensive. Bookmark this page, check back for fresh deals, and let the savings do the talking.

Originally published at chachingqueen.com.