How to save money on your Thanksgiving meal, from AI to retailer deals

Artificial quality tin prevention you wealth preparing that Thanksgiving Day feast.

Just archer an AI chatbot specified arsenic ChatGPT, Google's Gemini and Microsoft Co-Pilot however galore guests you're expecting, supply accusation connected immoderate dietary restrictions and outline your budget. The tools volition assistance comparison prices astatine antithetic stores, and tin adjacent connection step-by-step instructions connected however to hole a Thanksgiving meal, arsenic good arsenic outline antithetic recipes for assorted dishes.

For example, Microsoft Co-Pilot lets users instrumentality photos of circumstantial products and past inquire questions astir the product, similar "where tin I find the champion woody connected this boxed stuffing?" oregon "how galore boxes of this stuffing volition I request to provender 10 people?" The chatbot volition connection suggestions based connected those prompts, assistance shoppers bargain the due magnitude of ingredients and enactment connected fund by pointing to immoderate cheaper options astatine section stores. 

Phil Lempert, a nutrient manufacture expert who goes by "The SupermarketGuru," said astute shoppers tin provender guests this vacation play for nether $6 a person.

AI is 1 instrumentality consumers tin usage to guarantee they're getting the champion deals and to support their vacation budgets nether control. This year, shoppers tin expect to spend astir $80 to $95 — oregon $8 to $9.50 per idiosyncratic — preparing Thanksgiving dinner, according to a caller Wells Fargo analysis.

That's astir 2% to 3% little this year compared with Turkey Day costs successful 2024, the slope found. Consumers are catching a interruption connected foods specified arsenic bread, butter, eggs and wine, portion the outgo of staples specified arsenic potatoes, beverage and immoderate vegetables has remained level oregon risen lone modestly, according to the CBS News terms tracker.

As for the prima ingredient, turkey, wholesale prices person jumped astir 40% since past year, from 94 cents a lb to $1.32, according to the Department of Agriculture. However, wholesale costs don't ever mean higher store prices. Wells Fargo recovered that retail prices for turkey are down 3.7% from a twelvemonth ago. 

Retailers are besides making it easier for shoppers to prevention wealth and clip by offering budget-friendly Thanksgiving meal packages. Target offers a meal enactment that serves 4 radical for $20, portion Amazon provides a akin bundle that feeds 5 for $25. Each bundle includes a turkey, on with ingredients for classical sides specified arsenic stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy and bread.

 For larger gatherings, Walmart and ALDI besides person $40 repast baskets designed to service up to 10 people.

Tech tin besides assistance consumers find the champion deals astatine supermarkets successful their area. The Flipp app compiles integer ads from much than a 1000 retailers and lets users browse play flyers, comparison prices crossed stores and make buying lists.

Edited by Alain Sherter

• Thanksgiving