Holiday Savings: Best Tips to Save Money on Thanksgiving Groceries

Grocery prices have been a hot subject throughout 2024, and as Thanksgiving approaches, shoppers may be anxious about the expense of bringing food on the table for a large gathering of friends and relatives.

The experts at Upside, the nation’s largest food and fuel app that works with thousands of grocery stores throughout the country, offer some tips for how people might save money this Thanksgiving.

Avoid things with a focus on convenience

Save money by avoiding prepared foods (pre-cooked turkeys), pre-packaged fruits and vegetables, pre-marinated and sliced things (such as spiral hams), and baked goods, which are typically more expensive to compensate for the convenience component.

Avoid holiday-themed products

Anything created specifically for Thanksgiving dinner, such as pumpkin and apple pies, ornamental centerpieces, pumpkin-shaped sweets, and so on, will have a greater price margin. If you have time, you can make your own pie and centerpieces.

Consider frozen instead of fresh

Frozen vegetables have a longer shelf life and are less expensive than fresh food, so frozen green beans, cranberries, and other Thanksgiving-themed items provide better value for your money.

Shop around

Visit large box stores, warehouse clubs, discount grocers, and other supermarket chains to check who offers the best deals on the goods on your grocery list. You may not find the exact brand you’re looking for, but these alternatives provide great deals on many of the products you need. Many people now shop at various stores to stretch their expenditures further.

Use grocery reward programs or cash-back apps

Take advantage of retailer loyalty programs or cash back applications to receive rewards or a percentage off your Thanksgiving purchases.