The best way to save money on Thanksgiving with record-high grocery prices
These five tips will help ease the burden on your wallet.
Over the past few months, we've seen the cost of food at the grocery store rise, from dairy and eggs to mustard and canned tomatoes. There have even been rumors of a turkey shortage - don't worry, we've spoken to the experts and there shouldn't be!
However, the ingredients we use to make our Thanksgiving feasts will likely be more expensive this year. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index, household food prices rose 13% over the past year, with dairy products up nearly 16%, fresh fruits, and vegetables up nearly 10.5%, and meat, fish, eggs, and poultry -- including turkeys – by 9%. We talked to a few experts about how to save at the grocery store and tips for swapping out ingredients that can help reduce the impact on your wallet.
Ways to save money this Thanksgiving
But don't panic: we're here to help. We spoke with Dr. Maria Portelos-Rometo, Family and Consumer Affairs Officer at the University of Florida, for tips on how to save when shopping for ingredients for our favorite Thanksgiving dishes, and Chef Brad Wise of Rare Society in Southern California. ingredient substitution ideas.
1. Plan your menu based on sales and seasonal produce
This tip requires a little forethought and planning, but it can be worth it. Research which grocery stores in your area will be having sales, when they will be having sales, and plan to buy items when they go on sale instead of doing one big deal at just one store. Finding cash-back apps that offer savings on groceries, looking for special promotions (like free turkeys!) and clipping coupons can help you save even more.
Once you make your shopping list and head to the grocery store, you may find that other items are on sale then you had in mind. That's where flexibility comes into play, and Portelos-Romero encourages thinking outside the box for holiday meals. Take green beans for example.
"Remix a traditional green bean casserole by swapping green beans for green," suggests chef Brad Wise of San Diego's Rare Society.
"See what vegetables are in season and have them on your dinner table," adds Portelos-Romero. "Now is a great time to buy winter squash and there are lots of varieties to choose from."
"I'm serving a roasted squash salad this year; you can easily swap the squash for pumpkin," says Wise.
2. Shop your pantry first
Chances are, some of the ingredients you need for Thanksgiving are already in your home. Before purchasing any new ingredients, check items such as broth or stock, spices, herbs, onions, potatoes, garlic, canned pumpkin, breadcrumbs, flour, sugar, butter, oil, etc.
Also, if you're the type of person who puts things that would otherwise go bad in your freezer: check there, too. Stale bread and cured bread can be stored in the freezer and used as stuffing instead of buying a mix every year. And while you're at it, take a look at any sausage you've been saving to use in that stuffing. Or some chicken parts to use in homemade stock to keep your turkey and stuffing moist instead of buying pre-made.
3. Organize your shopping list
After you shop at home, make a list of all the other ingredients you need to complete your meal plan. "Organize your shopping list in the order in which you will go through the store," advises Portelos-Romero. “This way you won't get lost and you won't be tempted to make unplanned purchases.
So all produce goes into one section, frozen foods into another, dairy section, and so on. Not only will this speed up your shopping, but you'll also be laser-focused to avoid over-purchasing.
4. Shop the Frozen Aisle
If you're planning a meal with vegetables that are out of season, Portelos-Romero suggests directing your cart to the frozen food aisle.
"Many times these vegetables are flash-frozen right in the field to preserve nutritional value, color, and flavor," he says. Frozen vegetables are often cheaper than their fresh produce counterparts and are usually pre-prepared and speed up cooking.
Speaking of frozen, Portelos-Romero also recommends going with frozen turkey instead of fresh. "A fresh bird will cost more per pound than a frozen one," he says. "Just be sure to follow the directions for safely thawing a turkey."
5. Set a budget and stick to it
"Create a meal that fits your budget. The holidays are all about sharing time with family and friends. You certainly don't want to stress about how the meal has affected your budget," says Portelos-Romero.
Once you've created a budget and figured out what meals you can prepare within that budget, reach out to your guests and ask them to contribute a dessert, a bottle of wine, or anything else you might need that's outside of the budget. "You don't have to be everything to everyone," reminds Portelos-Romero.
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