This week, 90% of Americans will celebrate Thanksgiving, with the vast majority of people doing so by sitting around a table with others. The price of that experience is going up. But the cost doesn’t seem to be primarily driven by the staples. According to Farm Bureau, the cost of the traditional Thanksgiving meal has actually declined since its peak in 2022. The rising cost of Thanksgiving seems to be driven in no small part by the additional cost of hosting (fixing a broken appliance or picking up a new rug, hydrating the masses, buying a new Thanksgiving outfit) or travel to the Thanksgiving destination.
Last week, I wrote about simplifying the family dinner by focusing on the family instead of the dinner. Certainly, some Thanksgiving expenses could be reduced if we applied the same principles to the holiday. But I was actually happy to see that more people are traveling to join their families for Thanksgiving. I read this morning that AAA estimates 82 million people will fly this holiday week. That’s a 2% increase since recent years, when one in five people said they were planning to skip family Thanksgiving due to drama at the family table.
Last year, I wrote about why I think it’s important to prioritize family traditions and gave a few pointers to make it a meaningful experience for your family. I hope you find it helpful and more than anything, I hope you and yours have a great Thanksgiving together.
