breetheflea
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Posts: 7,316
Location: PNW
Jul 20, 2014 21:57:23 GMT
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Post by breetheflea on Nov 20, 2023 20:46:05 GMT
Article on Cnn (there's a link in the article the to the actual prices from the Farm Bureau, the main article isn't even about how much the stuff costs.) In the article is says that the Thanksgiving meal with 12 dishes, for 10 people costs an average of $61.17, and that's down from last year. I did not think their menu sounded very realistic...Where are the appetizers? I am guessing two pumpkin pies for dessert because they said crusts not crust but they didn't have potatoes on the list, just yams. Or olives. Or drinks (besides coffee and milk.) I would not like to attend that Thanksgiving dinner I paid $15 for my 16 lb turkey (actually I didn't it, was free if I spent $125) and they spent $27, but I spent at least $125 or so on the rest of the ingredients and I'm cooking for six people, not ten... Turkey, stuffing, cranberries, brussels sprouts, yams, mashed potatoes, gravy, and olives. I also live on the west coast so that probably doesn't help. Opinions? Thoughts? Observations?
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Post by littlemama on Nov 20, 2023 20:52:44 GMT
My prepared meal from a restaurant is $199 and then the ham from Honeybaked is maybe $30 or $40? Pickles and olives and "can-berry sauce", another $15-20.
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Post by Merge on Nov 20, 2023 20:54:43 GMT
IDK. We spent more on quail this year than we likely would have on a turkey, but I'm OK with that. We don't really do appetizers or olives or relishes of any kind because the meal itself is plenty.] But TBH the $61 they quote wouldn't even cover our wine for the day. 
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Post by ~summer~ on Nov 20, 2023 20:55:54 GMT
I agree the $61 wouldn’t even cover wine.
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craftymom101
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Jul 31, 2014 5:23:25 GMT
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Post by craftymom101 on Nov 20, 2023 21:03:15 GMT
I laughed at $61! I think my Thanksgiving shopping trip last year cost me $250-ish? And that didn't include all the desserts, alcohol, or a few appetizers friends brought with them.
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Post by jeremysgirl on Nov 20, 2023 21:18:06 GMT
Jeremy did the grocery shopping today. My family splits up the meal so it is divided between three. When I get home I'm going to check out his store receipt. I'm making stuffing, homemade dinner rolls, pumpkin pie, and my praline sweet potatoes. I would be surprised if he didn't spend at least $50 on those four items.
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Post by Crack-a-lackin on Nov 20, 2023 21:25:11 GMT
Well I just picked up my $37 turkey so there’s no way I’ll be anywhere close to that.
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snyder
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Apr 26, 2017 6:14:47 GMT
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Post by snyder on Nov 20, 2023 21:44:45 GMT
I can't imagine feeding 10-12 people on $61.
Well maybe... (Walmart Prices)
$20 - 1 Turkey $06 - 5 Boxes Kraft Mac & Cheese $04 - 2 Cans Crandberry Sauce $08 - 24 Count Hawaiian Dinner Rolls $06 - 2 Boxes Kraft Scalloped Potatoes
$05 - 2 Bags Frozen Green Beans $07 - 1 Punpkin Pie
$06 - 1 Apple Pie
$62
Sorry, no whipped cream for the pies. lol
The news stations I've been listening to have been saying we will be paying more this year for the Thanksgiving meal.
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lindas
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Jun 26, 2014 5:46:37 GMT
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Post by lindas on Nov 20, 2023 22:04:42 GMT
I would like to know exactly what those 12 dishes are. Kind of hard to compare when you don’t know what the meal they shopped for consists of.
The last time I cooked for Thanksgiving was probably 5 yrs ago and I know I spent well over $125 to feed 6.
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breetheflea
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Jul 20, 2014 21:57:23 GMT
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Post by breetheflea on Nov 20, 2023 22:08:00 GMT
I would like to know exactly what those 12 dishes are. Kind of hard to compare when you don’t know what the meal they shopped for consists of. The last time I cooked for Thanksgiving was probably 5 yrs ago and I know I spent well over $125 to feed 6. There's a link in the Cnn article with the list: In full, the Farm Bureau's shopping list includes enough turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a vegetable tray, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, coffee and milk to feed a family of 10 -- with plenty of leftovers. And the good news is, the cost comes out to just over $6 per person this year, or just about $61 to feed 10.
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Post by Ellie on Nov 20, 2023 22:08:07 GMT
That's a ridiculously low amount. And what a ridiculous list of items. No regular potatoes? And how many of us have just a frozen bag of peas for our vegetable sides? No fresh green beans or, for those that have it, green bean casserole ingredients. Or other vegetables besides a .90 tray of carrots and celery? No onion or other items for the stuffing or to put in the turkey cavity or anything else. No fresh herbs.
And pie crust(s) and one 30 oz can of pie filling (ick) which makes only one pie for TEN PEOPLE? And you add eggs to even the pre-done pie filling in a can -- there's no eggs on that list.
I'm only bringing stuffing, a huge slab pumpkin pie and a cranberry dessert to Thanksgiving this year and I've spent nearly $50.
The rising cost of food has been such an issue so this has me all fired up!
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Post by Prenticekid on Nov 20, 2023 22:11:36 GMT
From the Farm article:
16-pound turkey: $27.35, or $1.71 per pound (down 5.6% from last year)14-ounce bag of cubed stuffing mix: $3.77 (down 2.8%)2 frozen pie crusts: $3.50 (down 4.9%)Half pint of whipping cream: $1.73 (down 22.8%)1 pound of frozen peas: $1.88 (down 1.1%)1 dozen dinner rolls: $3.84 (up 2.9%)Miscellaneous ingredients to prepare the meal: $3.95 (down 4.4%)30-ounce can of pumpkin pie mix: $4.44 (up 3.7%)1 gallon of whole milk: $3.74 (down 2.6%)3 pounds of sweet potatoes: $3.97 (up 0.3%)1-pound veggie tray (carrots & celery): 90 cents (up 2.3%) 12-ounce bag of fresh cranberries: $2.10 (down 18.3%)
Adding boneless ham, Russet potatoes and frozen green beans to the menu will push up the overall cost another $23.58, for a grand total of $84.75 on average.
I think they hit the basics for these articles, right? For instance, if you want apps, that's up to you, but no one in my extended family does apps. We hold out for the pie after dinner. LOL Where I would argue is with the peas - that needs to be green bean casserole. And, the one dozen dinner rolls - you need to have 2 per each person, right?
Anyway, for my family's dinner, everyone brings something, so I don't think anyone is spending the full amount. I'm making Pioneer Woman's mashed potatoes - so that needs some butter and cream cheese to go with those russet potatoes. LOL
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snyder
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Apr 26, 2017 6:14:47 GMT
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Post by snyder on Nov 20, 2023 22:17:27 GMT
One pound of peas would give each person 1.5 oz of peas. Same with the veggie tray. I guess I must be a gluton. lol I think that list is very messed up and not practicle.
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milocat
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Post by milocat on Nov 20, 2023 22:22:11 GMT
Last month our turkey cost $56 (Cdn) at $2.80/lb. Mom uses garden potatoes and carrots. No way were costs down here from last year. Everything has increased so much.
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Post by lisae on Nov 20, 2023 22:26:11 GMT
I've never been to a Thanksgiving dinner that included appetizers or alcohol but then I live in the Bible belt. It's been a long time since I fixed the full meal. I don't think I could do 12 dishes for that price.
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Tearisci
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Post by Tearisci on Nov 20, 2023 22:30:23 GMT
Well, considering we just ordered a case of wine for Thanksgiving which hopefully makes it to Christmas, we have already blown that dollar amount out of the water. We split things up here so everyone brings a dish. My sister who is hosting bought the turkey and some relishes. There will be 17 of us and would guess that the total cost will be well over $250.
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Post by dewryce on Nov 20, 2023 22:32:51 GMT
Yeah, no, this is ridiculous. The scallops alone for one of our appetizers are $66, and that’s from our local store not the seafood store we get them from. The potatoes, cream cheese, butter and shredded cheese for mashed potatoes are $28. A pecan pie is $17 without the baking items we always have on stock like eggs, Karo syrups, sugar, butter. 2 cans of store brand black olives are $4.00. To say nothing of the rest of the relish plate.
I will admit we use good quality ingredients, but don’t most people for Thanksgiving? What about a simple cheese and crackers appetizer? This is when many families will splurge on good cheese. Or, geez, for families who drink wine with dinner. Milk and coffee? The kids will drink the milk and coffee is for dessert.
No. Just, no. We are so far over that cost and we’re just bringing black olives, a pumpkin dip appetizer with apples and ginger snaps, mashed potatoes, a butternut squash & wild rice salad, and a chocolate pecan pie.
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Post by papersilly on Nov 20, 2023 23:10:12 GMT
In the article is says that the Thanksgiving meal with 12 dishes, for 10 people costs an average of $61.17, and that's down from last year. that seems very very low. a 10lb USDA Select Bone-In Prime Rib is already around $70.00 with grocery store coupons stacked to high heaven. that's for 13 people if you also have a roasted turkey breast or something too. then there are all the sides, dessert, appetizers, etc. nope, $61.17 is not realistic at all. two people can barely eat out for that amount much less feeding almost a dozen people.
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Post by buddysmom on Nov 20, 2023 23:15:30 GMT
I've spent about $80 for just the two of us from Publix. Turkey breast (not pre-cooked) about $18. They had turkeys for 70 cents per pound! Also green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, stuffing(already prepared from Publix, just heat and serve). And about $5 for the roasting pan-I think about $4.99 of that is profit... Plus ordered a black forest cake about $20. So about $80 without any extras or booze. But we'll have plenty of leftovers.
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breetheflea
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Posts: 7,316
Location: PNW
Jul 20, 2014 21:57:23 GMT
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Post by breetheflea on Nov 20, 2023 23:22:53 GMT
In the article is says that the Thanksgiving meal with 12 dishes, for 10 people costs an average of $61.17, and that's down from last year. that seems very very low. a 10lb USDA Select Bone-In Prime Rib is already around $70.00 with grocery store coupons stacked to high heaven. that's for 13 people if you also have a roasted turkey breast or something too. then there are all the sides, dessert, appetizers, etc. nope, $61.17 is not realistic at all. two people can barely eat out for that amount much less feeding almost a dozen people. With leftovers, according to the article
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quiltz
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Post by quiltz on Nov 20, 2023 23:23:57 GMT
$06 - 5 Boxes Kraft Mac & Cheese Kraft dinner for Thanksgiving
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Post by papersilly on Nov 20, 2023 23:28:19 GMT
With leftovers, according to the article they must have calculated for a group full of nibblers and not grazers like my family. those must be tasting plate portions too.
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pilcas
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Aug 14, 2015 21:47:17 GMT
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Post by pilcas on Nov 20, 2023 23:35:14 GMT
I haven’t done the math but it must be a very basic meal. When we do special meals we try to make things a little more special. So it it’s not like we are buying packs of Mac and cheese or boxed mashed potatoes. If you are making mashed potatoes you are adding different ingredients. Even a nice salad with different things adds up the $$ amount. A nice dinner at my house would always require some wine, that’s non negotiable and definitely while people arrive you want to have a some apps. We do simple things like crackers, cheese, olives, perhaps hummus, some charcuterie. My meal for 4 from Fresh direct with a small turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce and green beans came to $100. We will be 6 as my parents are also coming. I am adding creamed spinach, mashed sweet potatoes, a large bottle of sangria, apple pie, 2 loaves of french bread and the apps mentioned above. So closer to $150-175.
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Post by dewryce on Nov 20, 2023 23:37:48 GMT
$06 - 5 Boxes Kraft Mac & Cheese Kraft dinner for Thanksgiving She was trying to come up with anyway possible for their listed cost to work out. In order to do that, real cheese doesn’t seem to be an option.
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snyder
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Post by snyder on Nov 20, 2023 23:40:43 GMT
$06 - 5 Boxes Kraft Mac & Cheese Kraft dinner for Thanksgiving That was being sarcastic. Said you could feed 10-12 on $61. I was providing an example of how one might accomplish that.
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Post by dewryce on Nov 20, 2023 23:45:17 GMT
For those of you who don’t do appetizers, how far ahead of the meal does your family/group gather? There’s no way we could go without appetizers, but almost everyone came hours before. It was all hands on deck, for the women anyway, even though quite a bit of it was already made. I really miss those times 
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pilcas
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Post by pilcas on Nov 20, 2023 23:47:57 GMT
I've never been to a Thanksgiving dinner that included appetizers or alcohol but then I live in the Bible belt. It's been a long time since I fixed the full meal. I don't think I could do 12 dishes for that price. I’m on the east coast and from European descent. We don’t have even semi formal meals without offering both white or red wine as well as after dinner cordials! it’s always so interesting how different things are done in different parts of the country.
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Post by Scrapper100 on Nov 20, 2023 23:49:18 GMT
I don’t know what our total is but prices are less than last year for many things. Turkey .59 a pound, 10 pound bag of potatoes were 2.49. I plan to buy a pumpkin pie at Costco Tomorrow and it’s 5.99. If they are out I will make something else. We are spending less than in the past several years for our meal. I have been picking up a few items each time I go to the store so it’s hard to determine the price. We also won’t have alcohol. We have never made a green bean casserole.
I think if you were hard up for cash you could make a meal for that. I didn’t look to see what items they were purchasing.
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Post by dewryce on Nov 21, 2023 0:03:37 GMT
I've never been to a Thanksgiving dinner that included appetizers or alcohol but then I live in the Bible belt. It's been a long time since I fixed the full meal. I don't think I could do 12 dishes for that price. I’m on the east coast and from European descent. We don’t have even semi formal meals without offering both white or red wine as well as after dinner cordials! it’s always so interesting how different things are done in different parts of the country. I’m from the Bible Belt too, and my family and friends were/are lushes  I imagine a lot of it depends on the specific religion, not just the region.
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Nov 21, 2023 0:04:00 GMT
I haven't been keeping track but I know it is more than $60. It's much better when we are meeting with extended family for potluck but the last few years it has been the 6 of us plus my mom and stepdad. Sometimes we have two friends. We always end up with too much food because everyone wants a little of all of the basics. Ham, turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, mac and cheese, veggie, dinner rolls, a few desserts. I also bought stuff to make a charcuterie board but now my mom and stepdad are leaving early so I am not sure if we will eat that Thursday or just put it out Friday even though they will be gone. Our family holidays do not traditionally include alcohol but DH might have some drinks for he and my stepdad. My mom and I rarely drink.
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