The Cost of Turkey Day


Who ya kidding, mister? $60 for a Thanksgiving meal for a party of ten? This was last year's estimate, and supposedly the cost hasn't changed, which I find highly implausible. Let's see what we get for $60. 

One 16 lb. Turkey

One can of cranberry sauce 

3lbs. sweet potatoes 

Carrots/celery 

Peas

Two pie shells 

Boxed stuffing 

Rolls

Pumpkin pie puree

One gallon milk

Whipped cream 

🙄😏

Give me a minute, here. Ten people. Where's the green bean casserole? Where's the mashed potatoes and gravy? That is by far the saddest list for Thanksgiving I have seen. Do not invite me to your day, please. It will depress me for days. 

Last night I made a list because I am hosting a party of six this year. That's a pretty small amount of people. Would you care to guess my final tally? And this is without the bird because most of my guests don't eat fowl. 

Before Turkey - $144.70. With turkey- $158.00. With turkey and toilet paper - $170.

The official list is so ridiculous. It's like those YouTube videos where they show you how to live on $15 for a week. They always add ingredients that everyone has in their pantry. Well, how did these magical ingredients appear? My mom had ingredients in her lazy Susan cabinet. Spices with rusting bottoms from twenty years of occasional use. Unless you are an avid baker, you don't have these items in your pantry.  I have neither pantry or ingredients. So here's my list, sans turkey.

Russet potatoes, 5lbs.

Apples (pie and stuffing)

Celery (stuffing)

Sweet potatoes, 3

Bread for stuffing 

Raisins (stuffing)

Cranberry sauce 

Green beans 

Mushroom soup 

French fried onions (green bean casserole)

Whipping cream 

Pumpkin puree

Pie crusts

Nutmeg 

Ginger

Eggs

Onion

Vegetable broth 

Butter 

Biscuits 

Olives, green and black 

Chips

Walnuts 

Whipped topping 

Cheese assortment ( pre-dinner)

Oranges 

Coffee 

Sparkling wine 

12 pack cream soda 

Vegetarian marshmallows 

Mexican corn cobs

Vegetarian meatballs (pre-dinner)

Toilet paper 

Those are the necessities. Then I usually add a movie and we do some crafting. This year I plan to buy a set of white dishes and permanent markers to paint. Naturally, I don't expect most people to do this. The normal game plan is football, food and farewell. People spend a lot on booze. I might add a bottle of wine but none of us are drinkers so I save on that. 

This is a far more realistic list for most Americans. I don't want to get into politics or societal issues. There's enough of that. This is interesting to see how some bureaucrat deemed the sad meal acceptable, and how we actually celebrate the day. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe people are happy with no mashed potatoes, gravy or butter. No salt or pepper. One lousy can of peas for ten people. I'm sorry, I cannot be grateful for butterless, marshmallowless sweet potatoes. 

Entertainment 

A dvd movie, *add another $5-8

White dishware 

Permanent color markers 

Dish soap 

Candle 

Thanksgiving decor- tablecloth, pumpkins, flowers...

And last but not least... A monetary donation to a food pantry.

So, I will be spending around the $200 mark. I'm not complaining. I'm very grateful that I can still do this. 



Comments

SAM said…
It was the raisins that increased your budget. It was punishment for daring to think raisins go in stuffing. JK.
October 15, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Maggie said…
They're soaked in wine so it's all good. 😉
October 15, 2025 at 10:46 AM
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