5 ways to make Thanksgiving more affordable (we can’t help with your crazy uncle, though)

Thanksgiving means football, food and, for some, crazy family reunions. It can also mean the stress of shopping for dinner.

Thanksgiving means football, food and, for some, crazy family reunions. It can also mean the stress of shopping (and paying) for a big dinner. The cost of groceries for Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people has decreased two years in a row but remains 19% higher than before the pandemic, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. Almost half of people hosting Thanksgiving dinner are concerned about cost, according to a survey by Deloitte published on November 19. Food prices shot up during the pandemic because of supply chain disruptions and increased demand for food at home. And in 2022, an outbreak of avian flu sent egg and poultry prices higher. Inflation has cooled significantly since its four-decade high in 2022, but that just means prices are increasing at a slower rate. Prices are still about 21% higher than they were four years ago, according to Consumer Price Index data. Yet there are ways to get the best bargain for your groceries. Billy Roberts, a food economist at CoBank, told CNN that consumers can “stretch their food dollars” by planning a shopping list and focusing on favorite dishes — potentially saving money by ditching a side or paring down dessert.