Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. That’s because I love to officially
give thanks for everything in my life, my family, my friends, my business, my staff
and my clients. My family can tell you however, that I’m not a chef. Instead I buy
or let others in my family take care of Thanksgiving dinner. But in my fascination for all things numbers, I wanted to find out the final bill for my favorite meal of the
year.
A traditional Thanksgiving menu includes turkey, side dishes like stuffing, mashed
potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, rolls
and butter, and of course, pumpkin pie.
Every year since 1986, the American Farm Bureau Federation has been adding up the
cost of a traditional Thanksgiving meal with all the fixings. This year’s numbers
are still not out, but according to the American Farm Bureau’s statistics for 2012,
the price of a Thanksgiving dinner for 10 is $49.48. That’s a little less than $5
per person.
To keep those costs down, you could:
* Buy a frozen turkey instead of a fresh one (but remember it will take longer
to defrost)
* Buy frozen items, like cranberries.
* Serve sodas and water, instead of alcohol
With these savings you may want to consider helping a family in need. The Miami
Rescue Mission is an organization helping homeless men, women and children. It really
knows how to stretch a dollar and can serve a table of 10 for just $20.50. You’ll
be helping out and if you save your receipts, you can de duct this meal from your
taxes. If you want more information, e-mail us or give us a call.
Eat plenty and have a Happy Thanksgiving!
