Millions of Americans are finding inexpensive ways to express their gratitude this Thanksgiving.
This year, 38.4 million people will be traveling away from their homes, a 1.2 percent increase from last Thanksgiving, according to a report by AAA.
Many people are finding it challenging to afford expensive holiday travel, which may explain the significant increase in automotive travelers this year. About 86 percent of the nation’s population will be traveling by car, the study reported.
“Although far too many Americans remain unemployed or under other financial stress, AAA’s projected increase in Thanksgiving travel from one year ago is another hopeful sign that economic conditions are stabilizing and improving in some areas,” said AAA’s director of travel services, Glen MacDonell, in the report.
Some families are even replacing holiday moments with distant relatives by communicating through telephones and Web cameras instead of paying for a plane ticket.
Freshman Juile Burns and her family will use conference calling while apart this holiday season.
“After dinner, [my family and I] put the phone on speaker, so we can all talk together,” Burns said about talking to her grandparents, who live in Canada.
Families can also expect to save more money this year when grocery shopping. The average price of a Thanksgiving dinner is $1.07 cheaper than last year, according to the American Farm Bureau. The price measures the average cost of groceries and preparation to feed up to 10 people.
To maximize savings, the bureau suggests that “shoppers with an eye for bargains” keep a look out for special offers in their areas, such as grocery stores offering a free turkey with a $50 minimum purchase.
Freshman Jordan Jackson said her family will be shopping smart this holiday season.
“Pick less expensive alternatives when going to the grocery store. A frozen turkey for $10 is just as good as organic turkey,” she said.
Many grocery stores are offering discounts on fresh and frozen turkeys. Albertsons supermarket in Long Beach is currently offering Foster Farms turkeys for 99 cents per pound, while Vons is offering Safeway frozen whole turkeys for $5 with a $25 purchase.
“Consumers are benefiting at the grocery store from significantly lower energy prices and the effects of the economic slowdown,” said AFBF economist Jim Sartwelle in the bureau’s annual Thanksgiving report. “Again this year, the cost per person for this special meal is less than a typical ‘value meal’ at a fast-food outlet.”