Thanksgiving Dinner Could Cost You $724 in 2005
For Immediate Release
November 14, 2005
Media Contact: Will Casserly
wcasserly@ricedelman.com
(703) 251-0110
FAIRFAX, VA (November 14, 2005) - Thanksgiving means fun, festivities, and the start of the holiday spending season. Do you plan to host the traditional Thanksgiving dinner for your gaggle of family and friends? If 18 of your nearest and dearest arrive on your doorstep, count on spending $724 to host the feast. That's about $36 per person, according to Edelman Financial Services' updated Thanksgiving Dinner Index.
Our study determined the cost of a turkey dinner with all the trimmings - including rentals of tables, flatware, and glasses, since few homeowners have enough on hand to serve nearly two dozen people. A typical Thanksgiving Day dinner for 20 people includes:
| Rented items: | |
| 3 - 6' round tables | $30 |
| 3 - 8' tablecloths | $60 |
| 20 chairs | $60 |
| flatware (20 pieces each of dinner fork, dinner knife, salad fork and teaspoon) | $55 |
| 60 plates (dinner, salad, dessert) | $47 |
| 20 glasses | $11 |
| 20 Wine Goblets | $11 |
| 20 brandy snifters (12 oz.) | $11 |
| Food and consumables | |
| liquor, wine and beer | $166 |
| Vegetable tray with dip | $30 |
| 30-pound turkey (fresh) | $39 |
| Aluminum foil pan (2 Large) | $8 |
| Spiral sliced honey baked ham (10lb.) | $65 |
| Stuffing | $7 |
| Cranberry sauce (3 16oz. cans) | $4 |
| Mashed potatoes (w/milk and butter) | $10 |
| Sweet potatoes (w/marshmallows and brown sugar) | $21 |
| Salad (with all the fixings) | $21 |
| Green beans (3lb. can, ready cut) | $2 |
| Gravy (4 10.5oz. cans) | $5 |
| Rolls (3 dozen) and butter | $7 |
| Cornbread | $4 |
| Carrots (1lb. fresh) | $1 |
| Peas (32oz. frozen) | $3 |
| Pumpkin pie (2) | $16 |
| Apple pie (1) | $8 |
| Pecan pie (1) | $12 |
| Ice cream (2 half gallon tubs) | $9 |
| Whip cream (1 16oz. tub) | $3 |
| Caffeinated coffee | $4 |
| Decaffeinated coffee | $4 |
Sources: Signature Rentals, ABC Beverage, Giant Food, Butterball and The Honey Baked Ham Co.
"Which is better: spending $700 plus, or being stuck in highway traffic for ten hours? I invite you to debate that one at the dinner table," says Ric Edelman, who is the bestselling author of five books on personal finance, including the 3rd edition of the personal finance classic, The Truth About Money (HarperCollins). For more information, visit Ric's web site at www.RicEdelman.com
Rescue Your Money, written by award-winning financial advisor Ric Edelman, is your personal investment recovery plan.
