More Than Four-in-Ten Thanksgiving Dinner Hosts Report They Are Overwhelmed With the Cost, Finds New CouponCabin.com Survey

WHITING, Ind., Nov. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Hosting a Thanksgiving meal is an honor and a joy for many, but sometimes the price tag that goes along with it can be daunting. A new CouponCabin.com survey reveals that 44 percent of those hosting Thanksgiving this year are at least somewhat overwhelmed with the cost. More women said they feel overwhelmed by the cost than men, at 51 percent and 36 percent, respectively. This survey was conducted online nationwide by Harris Interactive on behalf of CouponCabin.com from October 24-26, 2011 among 2,132 adults aged 18 and older.

Between a turkey, side dishes, beverages and dessert, a Thanksgiving host's grocery bill can cost a cornucopia of money. Nearly one-in-five (17 percent) Thanksgiving hosts said they plan to spend $250 or more on the meal this year, while half (52 percent) will spend between $100 and $249. Others are planning a more frugal Thanksgiving, as 31 percent said they will spend under $100.

"Don't let the burden of the cost of Thanksgiving fall squarely on your own shoulders," said Jackie Warrick, President and Chief Savings Officer at CouponCabin.com. "Since many people will be enjoying the meal with you, consider asking guests to chip in on the cost, or better yet, contribute with a dish of their own. Combine the sharing strategy with other money-saving tactics and you'll be well on your way to a less expensive Turkey Day."

Thanksgiving hosts that are feeling overwhelmed with the costs are employing a variety of money-trimming plans, including the following:

• Use coupons – 60 percent
• Shop early to get the best deals – 48 percent
• Buy items at a warehouse store – 37 percent
• Ask guests to bring a dish or dishes – 34 percent
• Wait until the last minute for deals as stores empty out their inventory – 10 percent
• Buy pre-made items at a grocery/specialty store – 7 percent

Savings expert Warrick offers the following tips on how to dress your turkey (and all the fixings) for less this year:

Scour the Web for coupons: Do your homework ahead of your shopping trips to get the best coupons. Check out CouponCabin.com's newly re-launched grocery section for coupons on thousands of different items, for everything from tablecloths to canned soups to gravy mixes and more.

Create a signature drink: One of the most expensive parts of a holiday meal can be the cost of alcohol. Think about creating one signature drink that will appeal to all, as opposed to buying beer, wine and specific types of hard alcohol.

Decorating deals: If you don't have your own already, buying new tablecloths, napkins and decorations can quickly add up. Check out a local dollar store for plain tablecloths and more, and spice up your tables up on your own with leaves from your yard, fruit displays and more.

Survey Methodology:

This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of CouponCabin from October 24-26, 2011 among 2,132 adults aged 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore, no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact: Allison Nawoj, [email protected].  

About CouponCabin.com

CouponCabin.com is a leading online destination for coupons including online coupon codes, printables, grocery coupons and more. Shoppers have saved nearly $250 million since 2003 and with the largest selection of coupons guaranteed to work, CouponCabin is the best place to start searching for savings. The average user saves $19 in just 80 seconds on the site. With customized email newsletters, browser savings alerts, new coupon alerts and more, shoppers will never miss out on a great deal with CouponCabin. For more information, please visit http://www.CouponCabin.com.

SOURCE CouponCabin.com