A Thanksgiving Feast for 10 for Under $39?

I love a good Thanksgiving meal; I mean, who doesn't? Turkey or ham, potatoes, stuffing, a little gravy, and enough pies to feed everyone four times over. But when I start thinking about the cost of feeding a family, I quickly realize how a holiday meal can put a dent in the monthly grocery budget, especially if you happen to be hosting for the annual family gathering.

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That's why Hy-Vee's announcement of a Thanksgiving Meal Deal for less than $39 caught my attention. The Iowa-based grocer has an offer that includes all the ingredients for a traditional meal for 10: turkey, vegetables, stuffing, gravy, dinner rolls, and pumpkin pie ingredients. The deal will be available in stores and online from November 2nd through the 25th.

Credit: Unsplash / Christopher Ryan

That works out to less than $3.90 per person, at least before any additional ingredients or specific items a family member might want to add. It's a practical reminder that a Thanksgiving meal doesn't have to be expensive to bring people together and fill the belly. Here's what you'll get:

• Hy-Vee Frozen Turkey (up to 12 lbs.)
• Hy-Vee Cut Green Beans (three 14.5-oz. cans)
• Hy-Vee Whole Kernel Golden Corn (three 15.25-oz. cans)
• Hy-Vee Cream of Mushroom Soup (one 10.5-oz. can)
• Hy-Vee Salted Crispy Onions (one 6-oz. bag)
• Hy-Vee One Step Russet Potatoes (one 5-lb. bag)
• Ocean Spray Fresh Cranberries
• Hy-Vee Gravy Mix (two packets)
• Hy-Vee Stuffing Mix (one 6-oz. box)
• Hy-Vee Pumpkin (one 15-oz. can)
• Hy-Vee Evaporated Milk (one 12-oz. can)
• Hy-Vee Frozen Pie Crust
• Hy-Vee Brown & Serve White Dinner Rolls (12-count)

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, grocery prices were 1.8% higher in September 2026 than they were a year earlier. That may not sound like much on its own, but most families do not buy just one thing at the grocery store. A few cents here and a few dollars there can add up by the time the cart is full.

A forecast from consulting firm PwC, reported by ABC's Good Morning America in October, put the average cost of a Thanksgiving meal at about $90 this year, compared with $88 in 2025. The forecast also projected that turkey prices would rise nearly 8% and cranberries nearly 15%. Some other ingredients like butter and cream are actually expected to cost less.

The numbers are a reminder that feeding a family takes planning. They are also a reminder to look for value where we can find it. That might mean buying store brands, watching weekly sales, asking everyone to bring a dish, or keeping the menu simple instead of trying to recreate a holiday spread worthy of a magazine cover.

I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting a little extra on Thanksgiving. Traditions matter. So do the meals we remember from childhood and the recipes passed down through generations. However, somewhere along the way, it became easy to confuse having more, with having enough. Trust me, I'm guilty too.

Credit: Unsplash / Megan Watson

We live in a world where almost everything is available at the touch of a button. Entertainment, food, shopping, and just about every convenience imaginable are right at our fingertips. For children growing up in that world, it can be difficult to understand that having something available doesn't mean it should be taken for granted. And adults, we're not immune to that thinking either.

Contentment isn't about pretending that money is never tight or that higher prices don't hurt. It's about recognizing and being grateful for what we have, while still being honest about what we need. It's being able to sit down to a simple meal, look around the table, and understand that the people sharing it are worth more than anything we could buy, or provide, to impress them.

That's what I hope we remember this Thanksgiving. A great turkey deal won't solve a family's financial worries, but every little bit helps. Unfortunately, a full table doesn't erase the struggles people carry into the holidays. However, with little planning, maybe help from others, and a little gratitude; we can see this holiday for what it truly is.

Credit: Unsplash / Noah Samuel Franz

If we're fortunate enough to have food on our table, perhaps we can look beyond it, too. Someone down the street may be trying to stretch a paycheck until Friday. A family we know may be quietly deciding which bills need wait this month. A neighbor may be facing Thanksgiving alone for the very first time. We don't always know who needs a hand, but we can choose to pay attention.

Maybe that means inviting someone over, sharing groceries, helping with a community meal, or simply checking in on a person who could use some company. And heck, if you've got $39 dollars to spare, you could provide a friend, family, neighbor, or even a stranger, with a Thanksgiving meal.

Credit: Unsplash / krakenimages

Saving a few dollars on Thanksgiving dinner is great, but I'd trade in the whole table for more time to enjoy the people that will be around it. The real savings will be in remembering we don't need the biggest turkey, the fullest table, or the most expensive meal to have something worthy of a celebration. Sometimes, having enough IS the blessing. And sometimes, the best way to show we are thankful for what we have, is to make sure someone else has a little more.