Thrifty Thinking: Hosting Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving meals are a delicious way to be with family, but the cost of serving them can be a challenge. A new CouponCabin.com survey finds that 12 percent have said “no” to hosting a Thanksgiving dinner in the past because of the cost. In addition, 14 percent feel pressured to host a Thanksgiving dinner because others in their family and friends group don’t want to spend money on hosting their own.

Some potential Thanksgiving hosts are worried that the extreme weather the country has experienced over the past few months will affect food prices for their holiday meal. About 70 percent of U.S. adults who are hosting a Thanksgiving dinner this year said they are a least somewhat concerned that this summer and fall’s weather will increase food prices for hosting Thanksgiving this year.

Of those that have already agreed to host a Thanksgiving celebration this year, 45 percent report they are at least somewhat overwhelmed with the cost. This is in line with last year’s survey findings, when 44 percent said the same.

“While it’s a time for celebration, the price tag that comes with hosting a Thanksgiving meal can be daunting for those hosting,” said Jackie Warrick, President and Chief Savings Officer at CouponCabin.com.

Savings expert Warrick offers the following tips on how to dress your bird and all the fixings for less this year:

Go generic: When you have to buy so many different items to prepare a Thanksgiving meal, going generic means big savings. For staples like flour, sugar, spices, pasta, napkins, paper towels, vegetable oil and more, skip the name brands. Your guests won’t even notice the difference.

Utilize online resources: Keeping track of grocery coupons and deals can be a challenge. Check out CouponCabin.com’s Newsflash, a constantly updated stream of the best offers and coupons, so you won’t miss any great holiday meal deals.

Keep decorations simple: The food is the main event at a Thanksgiving meal, so don’t waste precious time and money on elaborate furnishings. Consider finding DIY ideas on a site like Pinterest, check out hand-made products on Etsy or visit a local craft fair to help decorate your table for less.


Survey Methodology:

The 2011 survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Coupon Cabin from October 24-26, 2011 among 2,132 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, and the 2012 survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Coupon Cabin from October 18th – 22nd, 2012 among 2,082 adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

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