When it comes to this year’s Thanksgiving Feast, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that prices have come down from last year (approximately 4.5% according to some experts). However, the bad news is that grocery store prices still rank among the highest they’ve ever been. It probably comes to no shock to you if you’ve been cruising the aisles recently. But there are plenty of ways to save money when it comes to having a terrific Turkey Day. And there are even ways to maximize the deals and coupons out there. Here’s my guide for this 2023 Thanksgiving Dinner Shopping to save you more!
Begin With the Menu
We talk about this in all sorts of areas of our household finance, but if we fail to plan, we plan to fail. So whether it’s a budget or a meal plan or a holiday season, you’ll find yourself in all sorts of trouble if you don’t have a written plan. Now is the time to sit down and figure out what dishes are a must this year and which ones you can skip. If you’re sharing the responsibility of meal preparation with friends or family members, reach out to them now, too. Whether you use a tool like Sign Up Genius, a Google Doc, or a simple group text, start formulating a plan. You also want to plan for Wednesday night when you’re meal planning. It’s the busiest night of the year to order pizza, so think about a quick and easy meal that you can feed your family while you’re busy cooking, cleaning, and tending to the details.
Shop at One Store If You Can
Oh how I love a good deal. I can chase one down and wrestle it straight to the ground. But honestly, the holiday season isn’t the time to be store hopping. If at all possible, your time is best spent by focusing on one grocery store and getting the bulk of your items there. Rather than hopping from store to store to grab bargains, shop where you typically shop. Not only will you spend less time because you know where everything is at, you’ll also maximize your rewards/coupons because you know their platform best. Everyone is featuring their best deals and while some stores trend higher in prices (hello Whole Foods), most come in at about the same price overall. Unless your time is unlimited and you won’t spend extra dollars on fuel, avoid shopping at multiple places.
Know What Coupons are Available
After you plan your menu, you should definitely build your grocery list. As you are building that list, be sure to go ahead and log into your store’s app on your phone or laptop and begin clipping your coupons immediately. This will lead to less chaos in the store. And then when you are in the store, scan items as you put them in the cart to look for more savings. Here’s a round up of my favorite deals this year when it comes to coupons.
- Target Circle: $10/$50 or More Food Purchase, 50% Frozen Honeysuckle Turkeys, 30% off Sargento Shredded Cheese
- Kroger: $20/$75 For Your First Delivery or Pick Up Order, $0.59/lb Kroger Frozen Turkey, $0.29/lb Sweet Potatoes, $2.99/lb Kroger Butter, lots of Pick Up and Delivery and Fuel Rewards offerings
- Meijer: Lots of technology coupons if you’re doing early Christmas shopping – especially on Amazon products, Coupons for games, Coupons for cleaning products
No matter where you shop, use a platform like Fetch or ibotta to get even more cash back into your pocket.
Don’t Forget the Leftovers
The best part of Thanksgiving are leftovers! Be sure you have what you need on hand to send food home with friends and family. Reusable containers are my favorite, but don’t forget to grab freezer bags, foil, or plastic wrap so your bountiful meal doesn’t go to waste. For more ideas on how to best use and store leftovers, read 7 Smart Strategies to Better Use Your Leftovers.
Avoid the Side Dish Trap
In planning all meals, it’s wise to have a main dish (protein source), two sides (usually a veggie and a fruit or grain), and a bread. Thanksgiving is a meal well known for its side dishes though. While it’s fine to flex up and add more of everyone’s favorites this time of the year, you still have to have your boundaries and set limits. Be aware of how easy it is to fall into the side dish trap. While leftovers are wonderful, you can end up wasting a lot of food and money if you’re not careful.
Consider Carryout
You’re always going to save more money by cooking at home over dining out. However, holiday meals can come in at a competitive price. Be sure to carefully read descriptions as many holiday meals come prepared but not heated (we made that mistake once). And you can choose the traditional turkey meal or you could choose something off the beaten path like a Qdoba taco bar for 10. A word to the wise though – avoid ordering pizza on the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving. It’s the busiest night of the year for pizza. Opt for a store bought deli pizza instead. And don’t forget to check local carryout holiday meals, too! We love Huckaby’s Smokehouse.
I’d love to hear your money saving ideas when it comes to Thanksgiving! Every penny counts throughout the year, but we all seem to feel it more during the holidays.
My book is now available: Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After. You can also check out The Debt Free Devotional
This post contains an affiliate link. That means when you get a great deal, learn about a way to save, or maybe even something for free, I may end up making a small commission. All prices are subject to change.
