This is a post by staff writer Yazmin Cruz.

The cost of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner will be slightly higher this year, reports USA Today. It will cost you about $50 to feed a group of 10. The problem? Turkey prices. The cost of a turkey is up 4 cents a pound from last year. Below I’m sharing five ways you can save money on turkey.

John Anderson, deputy chief economist of The American Farm Bureau Federation told USA Today that most customers will not feel the pinch if they do one thing.

“Anyone with the patience to wait until the last minute to buy a turkey for Thanksgiving could be rewarded with an exceptional bargain,” Anderson said.

Here’s how to cut down on the cost of the meal’s traditional centerpiece if you don’t want to wait till the last minute.

Trimming Turkey Prices

• Choose frozen. They’re cheaper. Plus, no one will know the difference. Here’s my guide to cooking the perfect Thanksgiving turkey. Keep in mind, you’ll have to allow enough time to thaw your turkey in the fridge. With a fresh bird, you’ll end up paying for the convenience of not having to thaw your bird days in advanced.
• Take advantage of free promotions. During Thanksgiving, grocery stores have promotions that often include a free turkey if you meet a certain stipulation. Stores promoting free turkeys include BJ’s, Giant Food Stores, Fresh & Easy, ShopRite, and Food Lion. Let me know in the comments if you know of other stores running a similar promo.
• Score a turkey donation. Local churches, schools and some thrift stores give away turkeys with a donation. Those who are low income also can get a turkey for free. You have to search locally for these places.
• Buy whole turkeys. You’ll save money if you buy a whole bird instead of just the breasts. Breasts are more expensive because more labor is involved in butchering them. Plus, then you can use the carcass to make delicious turkey stock. Yum!
• Stock up after Thanksgiving. This won’t help you this year, but you can start getting ready to save money on next year’s Thanksgiving meal. Buy a turkey after Nov. 22 and stick it in your freezer. If protected well, turkeys will last a month or two.

Of course, don’t forget to use your coupons to save BIG. Check out My Coupon Database and our printable coupons post to score lots of deals. What’s on your menu this Thanksgiving?

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