Thanksgiving at Local Restaurants and on a Budget

Thanks to everyone who sent in tips about where to get a great Thanksgiving meal locally. Ed and Kay's in Benton came recommended by a few people. One of my visitors asked why anyone would go out to eat when it is so much cheaper to prepare you own dinner? Good question!

Prices for the meal are up this year, but you can do it on the cheap. Our guide to frugal living has budget Thanksgiving tips.

Kroger and Harvest Foods both have turkey for $0.69/lb. You can get a pre-baked turkey with stuffing and gravy at Kroger for $30. Even though national averages say that a Thanksgiving dinner is more expensive this year than last, it still only costs about $4 per person to make a home made dinner.

Arkansas Business has a turkey dinner price breakdown. Interestingly, the most expensive city to eat Thanksgiving dinner is Arkadelphia, at $47.99. The least expensive was Jonesboro, at $36.48.

There are dishes and cooking if you stay home at eat. That's one plus to eating out.