How much does Thanksgiving dinner normally cost you?

Question

I spent $310
could not believe how much it takes to make everything from scratch.. i had two baskets full.

Answer 1

depends on how many ppl are over anywhere for $300 to $500

Answer 2

So much depends. For one thing, how many people are being fed. People can also go all out, making unusual dishes with lots of different ingredients and offering a huge assortment of appetizers, side dishes & desserts. Buying baked goods, specialty platters, wine, etc., It can run up a grocery bill of a couple hundred, easy. On the other hand, if you streamline your meal and stick to the basic traditional foods cooked simply, and a couple of nice dessert choices, it can be very cheap. Turkey is pretty cheap anyway, and around Thanksgiving they go on sale for under a dollar a pound-- or are offered free if you spend a certain amount at the grocery store. You don't even have to do much to it... I brine it with home made stock and use spices and fresh herbs from my garden. So I can feed 20 people off a turkey for about $10. Likewise, stuffing (especially if you just use day-old bread) sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, green beans & a pie are not exactly going to break the bank on anyone. I like to stick to dishes that require 10 ingredients or less. Not only because I like simple dishes that focus on the food, but because I find it really, really drives up the bill when you are purchasing a bunch of ingredients to have a pinch of this and a dash of that. It's wasteful if you're not going to use them again. I keep a well stocked spice cabinet and grow fresh herbs, so I don't usually have to buy a lot of extras. Put it this way-- once we were really, really in bad shape (husband out of work, ill, my job paying about $8 an hour). Well, I did some overtime and my boss gave me a $25 gift certificate as a sort of thank-you gift. I went shopping with it, bought sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce in the can, some onions & garlic, some bagged stuffing, butter, cream, apples to bake a pie, flour to bake bread & cookies & such... plus the store was giving away free turkeys for spending $50, so I got a nice 15 pounder for free because I put an extra $25 in cash for my regular shopping stuff like toilet paper and laundry detergent and milk & bread & cereal... so basically, that $25 gift certificate provided us with a very decent Thanksgiving feast, plus several days worth of leftovers.

Answer 3

well... just for my immediate family of 10 we spent $275. We don't do everything from scratch though. We didn't have a lot of leftovers either which is the way I like it because that keeps me from having to eat turkey for a week after we have out Thanksgiving dinner. We had it last Friday when we were all together. Going to the in-laws on Thursday... that one is almost free!!!

Answer 4

Nothing, I am a freeloader. LOL

I bring something over to help out, like a few bottles of wine or a case of beer, etc. But since I am a single guy, living alone, everyone else hosts Thanksgiving. I just crash the parties waiting till I get some leftovers before I leave. LOL

Answer 5

I spent about 100 bucks and I'm making everything from scratch. But I have family bringing deserts.

Answer 6

good grief! how many people are you feeding?
i spent a little over $20 for the turkey. i use stove top because my s.o. doesn't like my home made stuffing. i always have plenty of potatoes. the yams are under $5. he doesn't like pumpkin pie so if i make apple pie i'll spend about $5-6 on apples. gravy is from scratch. and whatever it costs for a can of cranberry sauce.
it's usually just the two of us, but even if my kids and their families come over i doubt i spend over $65.

Answer 7

I have 20 coming and I spent about $200.00. It really is expensive, cheaper to go out but not quite the same and no leftovers that way!

Answer 8

Someone needs to invite poor Johnny to dinner!
I have most of the stuff on hand to cook with so it does not cost me that much extra.
Peace.

Answer 9

for My Daughter whom budded me with the aroma of the turkey
in her coming thanks of Giving me the indigestion
she even hung a t.v. above the DINNING room Table
for the men of the house whom will watch the sports at the table
as the big t,v, she will leave for the girls to watch a god movie
So what can you buy a sweet crumb cup cake
i called my perfume lady to bring MRI Duo'lce Cabana [light blue
And Miracle by Incomer & for the taste of it All her
Favorite Bur berry Brit Red,,as in th Sport in her, as her
Momma !

Answer 10

Holy crap girl! We go to my parent's so it cost me the gas in my car and about 10 bucks for the green bean casserole that I make.