36 thoughts on “Please leave a comment if you are hosting ten people at Thanksgiving for under $58…”
You’ve heard the expression “There are lies, damned lies and statistics.” This piece of so-called news is what we in the business refer to as a “damned lie.”
It depends on what you’re serving, but I’ll go out on a limb and say that I think it’s possible to serve 10 people a modest meal for $58. Tight, yes. But, possible. I’m seeing turkey for $1/lb., so $15 for the bird (from which you can also make a gravy). 6lbs carrots for $5, 3 cans of corn for $2, 4 boxes of stuffing mix for $8, 2 cans of cranberry sauce for $4, a homemade pumpkin pie for $6 of ingredients,
2 lbs creamed spinach for $5, and a 1.5L bottle of table wine for $10, plus a couple of bucks for miscellaneous ingredients.
Will 10 people be stuffed silly with this meal? No, but everyone can have a decent plate with a pound of turkey, a solid helping of stuffing, corn, roasted carrots, cranberry sauce, creamed spinach, a glass of wine, and a slice of pumpkin pie for dessert.
I checked Target’s website for pricing plus what I’ve seen recently here in PA for other stuff like wine.
Cynthia below is buying fresh cranberries for $1 a bag. Probably would need 2 12oz bags for 10. True that stuffing mix is loaded with awful preservatives, but by planning ahead and using wholesome stale bagels and bakery bread stuffing can be cheap and not unhealthy.
I don’t think it’s too outlandish. C’mon Mark, most Americans are not going to be drinking wine on Thanksgiving. You being snobby in your above comment. We’re talking a very basic dinner: a turkey for $20, 5 pound bag of potatoes for $4, sweet potatoes $6, canned cranberries $6, frozen green beans $5, dozen white rolls $5, two pies $10, 4 Liters of generic soda $5. Humble and cheap. Yes, if you’re going to follow recipes out of Williams-Sonoma Thanksgiving Cookbook you’re talking $200 likely without wine.
I’ve noticed that the narrative now among the mainstream media and the liberal commentators is to frame the waning months of the Biden administration as a sign of a strengthening economy and lower inflation (in other words, the genius theory of Bidenomics is just starting to kick in.) Trump’s tariffs are portrayed as a dagger to the economy and an increase in expenditures for the average American (which is what they said last time as our economy started heading in the right direction under Trump, until we got the “covid thing”).
Oh ok, and we also spend a trillion dollars to defend the entire western world with our armed forces. I’m getting a Canadian vibe from you. They hate Americans the most. But anyway , no matter where you’re from , we probably protect you, or are obliged to, so you’re welcome.
Here in Tennessee, turkeys are going for 39-49 cent’s a pound, sweet potatoes 39 cents per pound, 5 lbs potatoes $3.99, cranberries $1 bag etc. It’s doable…
Thanks for that data, Cynthia. You can feed Thanksgiving dinner to 10 people for $58 in 2024 America. I’m out west. Prices are similar. BYOB is a good idea. I’ll bring the Wild Turkey entry level bourbon for $25. Cheers!
Southern Comfort and Dr. Pepper with a pinch of cinnamon. You’re welcome.
Southern Comfort, Dr Pepper & a pinch of cinnamon? Sounds insane!
I’m gonna try it! Cheers!
Big Bad Bob.
In 1994 when I was 19 my friend Brian told me about SoCo. I was a beer drinker and still am. He told me it tasted amazing with Dr. Pepper and he was right. During Christmas time I add a little cinnamon.
You can be drunk and festive at the same time!
More and more refugees from here in the People’s Republic of California are choosing Tennessee as their destination. With prices like that, I can see why. Congratulations – on the prices. Condolences for the increasing number of Californians!
Irrespective of the number of guests served or the bigness or the smallness of the food and beverage budget, according to my calculations, a deep and abiding gratitude to the Almighty for the food, family and friends will be the finest, most satisfying garnish.
You’ve heard the expression “There are lies, damned lies and statistics.” This piece of so-called news is what we in the business refer to as a “damned lie.”
This guy is delusional, or maybe he meant $58 each.
Mark, I don’t mean for this comment to be posted publicly
Aaron, please drop me a line at nittany13@gmail.com
Frank Luntz looks like he eats $58 worth of appetizers before dinner.
According to my calculations – it is precisely $57.93 – American Federal Reserve Notes.
Well…if you buy a McDonald’s double cheeseburber and a small fry each for 10 people you could probably do it. No drinks, of course.
It depends on what you’re serving, but I’ll go out on a limb and say that I think it’s possible to serve 10 people a modest meal for $58. Tight, yes. But, possible. I’m seeing turkey for $1/lb., so $15 for the bird (from which you can also make a gravy). 6lbs carrots for $5, 3 cans of corn for $2, 4 boxes of stuffing mix for $8, 2 cans of cranberry sauce for $4, a homemade pumpkin pie for $6 of ingredients,
2 lbs creamed spinach for $5, and a 1.5L bottle of table wine for $10, plus a couple of bucks for miscellaneous ingredients.
Will 10 people be stuffed silly with this meal? No, but everyone can have a decent plate with a pound of turkey, a solid helping of stuffing, corn, roasted carrots, cranberry sauce, creamed spinach, a glass of wine, and a slice of pumpkin pie for dessert.
I checked Target’s website for pricing plus what I’ve seen recently here in PA for other stuff like wine.
Sadly, in order to keep spending under $58 you have to buy foods made with “ingredients” that make you sick if you eat them.
Boxed 1.99 stuffing mix ingredients:
ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMIN MONONITRATE [VITAMIN B1], RIBOFLAVIN [VITAMIN B2], FOLIC ACID), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, SALT, ONION (DRIED), CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF HYDROLYZED SOY PROTEIN, COOKED TURKEY (DRIED), YEAST, INTERESTERIFIED SOYBEAN OIL, CELERY (DRIED), PARSLEY (DRIED), POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, SPICE, SUGAR, CARAMEL COLOR, MALTODEXTRIN, TURKEY BROTH (DRIED), DISODIUM GUANYLATE, DISODIUM INOSINATE, SILICON DIOXIDE, NATURAL FLAVOR, WITH BHA, BHT, AND ROSEMARY EXTRACT AS PRESERVATIVES
Canned cranberry sauce ingredients:
Cranberries, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup and water.
🙂
Cynthia below is buying fresh cranberries for $1 a bag. Probably would need 2 12oz bags for 10. True that stuffing mix is loaded with awful preservatives, but by planning ahead and using wholesome stale bagels and bakery bread stuffing can be cheap and not unhealthy.
Katie: How right you are! It takes effort and some $$ to avoid the cr@#π they’re pushing on us.
Brilliant, Matt. You are a savvy shopper and your dinner sounds a little more upmarket than mine.
I don’t think it’s too outlandish. C’mon Mark, most Americans are not going to be drinking wine on Thanksgiving. You being snobby in your above comment. We’re talking a very basic dinner: a turkey for $20, 5 pound bag of potatoes for $4, sweet potatoes $6, canned cranberries $6, frozen green beans $5, dozen white rolls $5, two pies $10, 4 Liters of generic soda $5. Humble and cheap. Yes, if you’re going to follow recipes out of Williams-Sonoma Thanksgiving Cookbook you’re talking $200 likely without wine.
“Being snobby?”
Bonum vinum laetificat cor hominis!
If my crowd ISN’T drinking wine, they’ll demand something stronger – and more expensive. I wanna get out of this celebration alive.
My prices listed are shopping the Thanksgiving specials. One can easily get a Sarah Lee frozen pumpkin pie for $5.
Dear American Farm Bureau:
Now do new cars and home purchases.
The lead is buried in the last paragraph. “it’s difficult to predict if shoppers will start to resort to panic purchasing again”.
My son and dil are hosting Thanksgiving this year…I only have to bring sweet potatoes, tossed salad and wine. The wine and pecans will cost me $58…lol
MY son and dil are ALSO hosting Thanksgiving this year. That is, perhaps, the greatest cause of my thanks this year. Cheers!
The {small} bird was $48. The nice bottle of bourbon was $58. Not having to travel this year – priceless!
I’ve noticed that the narrative now among the mainstream media and the liberal commentators is to frame the waning months of the Biden administration as a sign of a strengthening economy and lower inflation (in other words, the genius theory of Bidenomics is just starting to kick in.) Trump’s tariffs are portrayed as a dagger to the economy and an increase in expenditures for the average American (which is what they said last time as our economy started heading in the right direction under Trump, until we got the “covid thing”).
You crybaby Americans! You pay less for food and technology than other nations.
Oh ok, and we also spend a trillion dollars to defend the entire western world with our armed forces. I’m getting a Canadian vibe from you. They hate Americans the most. But anyway , no matter where you’re from , we probably protect you, or are obliged to, so you’re welcome.
Here in Tennessee, turkeys are going for 39-49 cent’s a pound, sweet potatoes 39 cents per pound, 5 lbs potatoes $3.99, cranberries $1 bag etc. It’s doable…
Thanks for that data, Cynthia. You can feed Thanksgiving dinner to 10 people for $58 in 2024 America. I’m out west. Prices are similar. BYOB is a good idea. I’ll bring the Wild Turkey entry level bourbon for $25. Cheers!
It would be Jack Daniels here in TN, LOL!
Good ‘ol Jack Black. I’ll drink to that!
Southern Comfort and Dr. Pepper with a pinch of cinnamon. You’re welcome.
Southern Comfort, Dr Pepper & a pinch of cinnamon? Sounds insane!
I’m gonna try it! Cheers!
Big Bad Bob.
In 1994 when I was 19 my friend Brian told me about SoCo. I was a beer drinker and still am. He told me it tasted amazing with Dr. Pepper and he was right. During Christmas time I add a little cinnamon.
You can be drunk and festive at the same time!
More and more refugees from here in the People’s Republic of California are choosing Tennessee as their destination. With prices like that, I can see why. Congratulations – on the prices. Condolences for the increasing number of Californians!
Believe me, the cost of housing has increased exponentially since the Californian invasion, as well as the number of bad drivers on the roads…..
I’m an excellent driver – when I’m sober.
The Missionaries of Charity sisters could do it. But then I think God has special line in heave for when they call.
L’unité is lying pos, part of the cabal
Irrespective of the number of guests served or the bigness or the smallness of the food and beverage budget, according to my calculations, a deep and abiding gratitude to the Almighty for the food, family and friends will be the finest, most satisfying garnish.