Here’s How To Make Your Thanksgiving Dinner Cheaper By Leaving Some Items Off The Table

Thanksgiving in Canada is just around the corner and if you have a bunch of friends or family over, you might be a little worried about the hit that a bunch of hungry mouths might have on your wallet.

So, before you head to the grocery store with your Thanksgiving shopping list, consider that some items are now much more expensive and you might want to take some off your plate.

First things first: According to Dalhousie University’s Agri-Food Analytics Lab, the cost of groceries this Thanksgiving will be quite high compared to previous years.

And one of the season’s most popular items has seen a major uptick.

Turkey is expected to cost around 16% more on average than last year. That means meat could be one of the most expensive items on your list this year.

If you’re looking to save some money on the main protein, Living On A Dime says the bigger the turkey, the better the deal. And before you start worrying about all those leftovers, you can see if your meat counter would be willing to cut them in half so you can save the other half for later.

Unfortunately, potatoes and bread are another big jump you’ll see on your shopping list – they’re up a whopping 22% and 13%, respectively, over the past year.

And according to the latest consumer price index, your vegetarian options could see inflation of around 9.3%, too. That means Brussels sprouts and more might set you back a little more ahead of the long weekend.

Another tip that can save you some money when all those stalwarts are getting more and more expensive is to cut down on the side dishes.

According to Living On A Dime, folks are here for the turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing, so don’t go wild with extras because more food means more money.

Also, skip roasted veggies, steamed corn, or anything else—because people are there to gulp gravy anyway.

But if you do want your veggies, nutritionist and food blogger Abbey Sharp recommends learning the best ways to store each veg to ensure you’re keeping them fresh so you don’t throw them away before the big day.

Of course, October’s inflation numbers won’t be released for another month, so it’s hard to tell how much more expensive your Thanksgiving grocery bill will be. But hopefully this latest data can steer you as you stock up for your gathering this weekend.

The cover image of this article was used for illustration purposes only.