HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, the average cost of this year's classic Thanksgiving feast for 10 is $53.31. That boils down to less than $6.00 per person.
Although that may seem like a steal, this is a 14% jump from last year's average of $46.90.
Rest assured though, there are a few things you can do to make sure you still stun your guests this year without breaking the bank.
So, first things first: create a budget for yourself.
Estimate how many guests you'll have and which ones will bring a dish. From there you can then break your budget down to cost per serving, that way you can look for recipes you can actually afford.
Don't be scared to improvise!
You don't have to buy an expensive ingredient just because a recipe calls for it, especially if you only plan to use a small amount of that ingredient, instead, look for a substitute!
Work with what you already got.
Take a look in the freezer, check the back of your cabinets, you may be surprised at what you find. Not only will that item not go to waste now it'll be a part of your Thanksgiving feast and all in a budget-friendly way.
And lastly, stick to seasonal veggies.
Seasonal vegetables don't have to be shipped as far and therefore are less expensive. So - dare to experiment with foods you may not normally use, like turnips, beets and rutabagas.