How many people will be around your Thanksgiving table this year? While we look at this particular meal as a testament to gluttony and over-indulgence it really isn't out of line when it comes to the cost.

Thanksgiving dinner this year will cost about $4.91 per person. That figure is based on the cost of providing a meal for ten. You obviously will get a little bit better price when you buy in larger quantities. Compared to last year's figure you're actually going to save a little money. By a little money, the figure is about .09 cents per person.

One of the reasons the price of the big meal might be a little lower is fuel prices. The lower cost of fuel has meant lower costs for flour-based foods, such as stuffing mix, pie shells and dinner rolls. The dip in fuel prices has allowed for a .21 cent decrease in prices related to those items.

The American Farm Bureau Federation based their findings

on the traditional Thanksgiving fare, turkey, bread stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, carrots and celery, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and coffee and milk. This menu is supposed to feed 10 people.  You'll be pleased to know the survey also took into account the need for leftovers.

When you consider you could create an entire holiday meal for just under $50.00 you might want to consider the option of having someone else prepare the feast for you. A similar meal prepared at your local Albertsons Market would cost $49.00 plus tax. A meal from Rouses would run just a bit higher at $59.99 but there is a difference in the sides and the size of the bird. If you're a fan of Whole Foods Market* you could spend $99.99 on a Classic Turkey Dinner with Pecan Cornbread Stuffing. This combination should more than adequately satisfy the appetites of six to eight hungry guests.

The good news about letting someone else cook is the lack of prep time and cleanup time that follows the meal. That means you can get back to football, family, or get out of the house before the fighting starts.

* In an earlier version of this article we inadvertently misquoted the price of this Thanksgiving Meal from Whole Food Stores. The price that is shown, $99.99, is the correct price for the meal described. We regret the error.

 

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