Feasting on a Budget

FEASTING ON A BUDGET: How Americans Will Trim the Fat This Thanksgiving The Cheapest Stores Waimart 2,737 supercenters in the US. Largest grocery retailer in the US, with 40% of all total nationwide sales. TARGET. 7.2B unique purchasing experiences will occur at a walmart store. 1,715 retail outlets in the US. WinCo FOODS 3rd largest retailer in the country 62 stores in 5 states 78th largest retailer in the country COSTCO 6th largest retailer in the country WHOLESALE 429 bulk wholesale stores in the US Look Out for Weekly Sales: Shopping Tips One item you need may be on sale this week and others may be on sale next week. Larger Turkeys Are Cheaper: Don't feel like you have to take one big "Thanksgiving shopping trip." Check a few items off of your Thanks- giving list each time you go to the store before the big day. You'll figure out what to do with the leftovers! Buy Seasonal: use fall produce to save some money on sides and such for dinner. Skip the Soda: Iced/Hot tea, lemonade, coffee, and water are all Look Out for Weekly Sales: very inexpensive drink options for big family thanksgivings. Create your menu early so that you can go shopping as early as possible. You'll save money by hitting the supermarkets before the week of Thanksgiving and you won't find yourself running to the convenience store for that forgotten can of Buy in Bulk: It's much easier to find deals when you are buying in bulk. cranberry sauce. Be a Teetotaler: Eliminating or limiting the amount of alcohol served with dinner is one of the best ways to stretch the budget. If you must have alcohol, make a spiked punch instead of stocking up on several kinds of liquor and mixers. Buy Frozen: Even Emeril will tell you that there is no quality difference between fresh and frozen turkey. The price of frozen turkey is absolutely cheaper (save 30-40%), however. Just make sure you give that bird plenty of time to thaw before Thanksgiving Day! Get Your Turkey for Free: Many supermarkets offer a free turkey if you spend a certain amount of money during a promotional period. Check out circulars and grocery flyers from around your area. Day-Of Tips Keep It Green: Limit your decor to natural elements found nearby or inexpensive items you can pick up at a craft store. A vase full twigs or bouquet of fall leaves costs nothing and looks great. Start Early: Do as much as you can the night before! This won't save you money, per se, but it will save you a lot of stress at the same time & energy costs. Use the Good China: Spending money on paper napkins, tablecloths, cups & plates is like throwing money away. Save dollars by bringing out the good china and the real linens. Multitask: Utilize your oven for as many items as possible at the same time to save on energy costs. Throw other sides in while the turkey is cooking. Pot Luck to the Rescue: if you're hosting, have everyone bring Take Inventory: Take stock of what you already have in your pantry and how much of your meal can be created with ifs contents. their own dish. You'll spend less money and less time cooking, allowing you to focus on that turkey! Praçtice Portion Control: Scale back on portion sizes and leave certain food that isn't eaten much off the menu. Keep It Healthy: Instead of making a lot of high calorie dishes that require expensive ingredients like cream, butter, and sugar, keep your menu on the healthy side to save money. Try brussels sprouts, steamed and mashed butternut squash, or fresh fruit salad. Thanksgiving Dinner 2010 Avg Cost Of A Basic +7% $25 Total Increase 25% in Expenses $20- $15- -22% +0% $10- -5% +18% -6% +17% +3% +19% +11% +24% $5- 2009 2010 5 Best Tips To Travel Cheap Shop early. The longer you 1. delay, the moreprices will go up... Avoid flying on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Learn the cheapest 2. days to fly this holiday. Know the holiday surcharge 3. dates. Check FareCompare's list of airlines and holiday surcharge dates. 4. Fly cheap airports and routes. Compare prices with airports nearby... Avoid unnecessary fees/costs. 3. Pack a carry-on and other tips to avoid extra expense. AVG Domestic Airfare Top 10 Cities of Origin SF $434 LA $405 BOS $388 AVG Consumer Spending on Thanksgiving $92 NYC $380 DC $374 $103 $90 DFW $350 $84 $77 $77 $59 $45 $83 CHI $342 $65 $57 DEN $334 $55 ATL $327 So FL $309 Sun-Tue Mon-Thu Thu-Sat Mon-Thu FUN TG FĀCTS 66% of those celebraating said they'll be cooking from scratch 248 Million The number of turkeys expected to be raised in the US in 2011. That's up 2% from the number raised in 2010. The turkeys produced in 2010 together weighed 7.11 billion pounds. 46.5 Million The preliminary estimate of turkeys Minnesota is expected to raise in 2011. Wisconsin is expected to lead all states in the production of cranberries, with 430 mil Ibs, followed by Massachusetts (210 mil). 248 Million Pounds The forecast for U.S. cranberry production in 2011. 2.4 Billion Pounds The total weight of sweet potatoes produced by major producing states in 2010. North Carolina (972 million pounds) produced more sweet potatoes than any other state. 1.1 Billion Pounds Total 2010 production of pumpkins in the major pumpkin-producing states. led the country by producing Ili 427 million pounds of the vined orange gourd. 2.1 Billion Bushels The total volume ingredient of bread, rolls and pie crust - produced in the US in 2011. wheat – the essential 33% 656,340 Tons Wheat produced The 2011 contracted production of snap (green) beans in major snap (green) bean-producing states. by Kansas, Montana and North Dakota $7.8 Million The value of U.S. imports of live turkeys from January through July of 2011 $1.38 Retail cost per pound of a frozen whole turkey in December 2010. 4 * Number of places in the US named after the holiday's traditional main course. Most PopulouS Turkey Creek, LA 441 Turkey, Texas Turkey, NC 421 292 There are also 11 townships around the country with Turkey in their names, including three in Kansas 37 Most PopuloUS Plymouth, Minn. 70,576 Plymouth, Mass. 56,468 Number of places and townships in the US named Plymouth, as in Plymouth Rock, United States, Pilgrim, located the landing site of in Dade County, Mo. the first Pilgrims. There's just one township in the Its population was 132 in 2010. There is also Mayflower, Ark., whose population was 2,234 in 2010, and Mayflower Village, Calif., whose population was 5,515 in 2010. Source: http://www.tiphero.com/tips_3529_thanksgiving-dinner-on-the-cheap.html http://www.moneyandbusiness.com/personal- finance/budgeting/household-finances/how-host-thanksgiving-dinner-budget http://www.tiphero.com/tips_3529_thanksgiving-dinner-on-the-cheap.html http://www.moneyandbusiness.com/personal- finance/budgeting/household-finances/how-host-thanksgiving-dinner-budget http://www.missmoneybee.com/2011/11/thanksgiving-survival-tips-dinner-on-a-budget/ http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/food-inflation-drives-up- cost-of-thanksgiving-dinner-1.1066919#axzz1cgHre900 http://www.eyefortravel.com/news/airlines/average-round-trip- domestic-airfare-thanksgiving-375-travelocity http://dailycapitalist.com/2010/11/29/post-thanksgiving-economic-review/ http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb11-ff2 1.html http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/bigwalmart.asp http://www.onlinemarketing-trends.com/2011/02/size-of-walmart-statistics-and-trends.html http://www.stores.org/2011/Top-100-Retailers http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=swy http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=cost CREDITLOAN® REAL ANSWERS. REAL SOLUTIONS. $19.80 Butterball Turkey (201b) Red Potatoes (5lb) $4.40 Sweet Potatoes (5lb) Yellow Onions (1lb) 1-2! I (L) suDag ueag Celery (1 bunch) 1-49 (qu) saung Cronberry Sauce (1b) 1š1.06 ZISI (u0) z091) uxydung Bread (220z)2-49 am Soup (160z Can) š0.84 $0.76 Onion (6oz Can) Chicken Broth (22oz Can) s0.80 66'0$