It’s Thanksgiving week, and economically, things are looking up because the overall cost of this year’s menu is actually down. ABC News covers the findings of a Wells Fargo consumer report:

According to a new report from the Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute, despite a 2.7% increase of ‘food-at-home’ prices in 2025 as measured by the Consumer Price Index, the overall cost of a Thanksgiving menu is decreasing this year by about 2% to 3%, ‘depending on the shopper’s strategy.’

That’s good news for those of us who want to stay cost-conscious, but also love to bring family and friends together for celebration. 

Prices have come down overall from their generational highs in 2022. Inflation has dropped to an average of 2.7% under the current administration, as we see price decreases across many categories of goods. The Trump economic agenda of cutting federal spending, cutting costly and unnecessary regulations, and ramping up on domestic energy production are all driving prices down, contributing to a more prosperous and happy holiday season overall. 

So, if you love to cook and love to host, here are some time-saving and cost-cutting recommendations for a Happy Thanksgiving meal:

Planning is Key

Make a list of what you plan to serve and what ingredients are required to prepare each dish. Once your list is created, Good Housekeeping recommends a great place to start shopping is in your own pantry:

Start by taking inventory of what you already have at home (and check those expiration dates!) to avoid buying doubles, then categorize items by store if you need to make multiple stops.

That way, you not only save money, but you also don’t waste unnecessary time looking for an item you do not need.

Choose Your Signature Dishes and Shortcut the Rest

Next, look at your list and consider which dishes you want to make from scratch, which dishes you’ll use pre-prepared items, or do other shortcuts.

Cranberry sauce is one of those dishes that is easy to buy canned, and nobody blinks an eyelash. But if you want to embellish your spread a bit more, homemade cranberry sauce is exceptionally easy and also cost-effective. It’s only three ingredients: fresh cranberries, some form of sugar, and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Bonus: it can be prepared days ahead, so you’re not rushing to throw something together at the last minute.

For many years, I cut down on my stuffing prep time by using a Mrs. Cubbison’s cornbread stuffing mix, then added my own vegetables, broth, and other extras (like organ meats) to it. This also gives you lots of leftovers to share or to have with those turkey sandwiches the next day.

Opt for Generic or Store Brands Over National Ones

While certain items dictate brand-name loyalty, generic and store brands can be just as good, at half the cost. In the South, where I live, people will fight you over Duke’s Mayonnaise versus any other. But in terms of other essentials, it might behoove you to try an off-label item.

According to Penny Hoarder, looking for “Standard of Identity” (SOI) items can save you a lot. SOI means that the item must meet certain FDA metrics before it goes on the shelf. So, if a food item meets SOI, you’re likely to have a harder time telling the difference between the name brand and the store brand.

Here are a few holiday food items that have SOIs:

  • Milk and cheese
  • Bread products
  • Milk chocolate
  • Canned and frozen vegetables
  • Noodles and macaroni
  • Ice cream and sherbet

You can check out the FDA website for more food items that meet SOI.

Choose Items from Different Stores

As mama said in the song, “You better shop around.” While large grocery chains and retailers like Sam’s Club might be good for some items, checking out smaller boutique chains like Aldi for items on your list could save you money. In terms of the main event, Sam’s Club and Costco have greater supplies of turkeys, and some of them are from local sources. This year, you might want to look into a local butcher, which will not only allow you to better customize the size of your bird, but if you’re trying to avoid hormones, fillers, and preservatives, there’s a better guarantee that the bird you buy there won’t contain these toxins.

Share the Load

There is no shame in making your Thanksgiving meal a potluck celebration, which allows you to concentrate on your own signature items like the turkey and desserts, while your guests bring their own special contribution to the meal. This is great for community building, alleviates the stress of entertaining, and saves you, as the host, money.

With some pre-planning and these time-saving and cost-saving tips, your Thanksgiving can be an event that pleases any crowd!