Earlier this week, we brought you word of a new survey that revealed Americans were feeling their worst financial pinch yet. And it was putting palpable pressure on their plans for Thanksgiving. Today, we present one family’s Thanksgiving Dinner ‘reality check’…
CANCELLED: Traditional Thanksgiving Turkey Feast…
The survey we posted about last Sunday reported that a significant number of average Americans expected inflation in general, and high food prices in particular, to have a significant impact on their Holiday celebrations traditions this year.
A watershed moment?
In contrast with precious years, the vast majority of Americans said the economy was going to affect how they celebrate…
- 98% of consumers said they expect inflation to impact their holiday plans ‘in some way’.
- 44% expect inflation to have an even greater impact this year than last. And…
- 44% of respondents are expecting to have to make some sort of accommodation to their usual Holiday plans to save money.
Of those…
- 18% said they’ll cut back on non-food items such as paper goods or décor.
- 17% said they’re prepared to cut the number of side dishes they’ll serve.
But…
- 52% of all respondents say they’re NOT planning to compromise on their Holiday Feast menus in order to save money. And…
- 76% of those hosting the big Family Feast said will still celebrate with a whole turkey.
The mom who cancelled dinner…
A growing number folks are finding it hard to make ends meet. Many are already shopping the bar-gains more intensely. Have downgraded their their food brand choices or quality expectations. Or even visited the Food Bank for the first time in the past few months.
They’ll all readily identify with Tori Paschal, a mom who traditionally puts on the family Thanksgiving Dinner for a smallish crowd of 7 immediate and extended family members.
Last year, she told CNN, her celebration cost around (US)$500. But this year, she’s had to make some hard decisions…
“You’ve got to keep with the tradition of Thanksgiving,” she insists. “But the way groceries are, […] it just breaks the bank!” Especially with a new baby scheduled to arrive almost any day.
Paschal says she knew early on in her preparations that, “This year, it’s going to be different. […] This year, we’re going to keep it simple.”
Family ‘on board’
Paschal says she still feels she’s ‘taking Thanksgiving away from her kids’. Fortunately, she insists, even they are on board with the austerity push.
So she’s going ahead with plans to serve Spaghetti with Meat Sauce in place of the traditional turkey.
Not just ‘that’ mom
Tori Paschal isn’t just ‘that mom who cancelled Thanksgiving’. She’s a modest online influencer, with more than 350,000 followers on Tik Tok (@tori-cemone). She focuses on the full range of ‘family’ issues. And it was a post of hers earlier this month that got the attention of CNN reporter Meena Duerson in the first place. Paschal asked her online audience if they – like her – were feeling a distinct pinch this year.
She says she was relieved when thousands of commenters agreed with her economic analysis, and her ‘keep it simple’ approach. “You say, ‘It’s okay. It’s not just me’.”
My take
My intent in posting this story was never to be a ‘Debbie Downer’. Nor was it to shame or guilt you in any way if you and your family have not been severely impacted by inflation – in particular, high food prices.
Duerson notes, independant sources agree that the traditional Thanksgiving Turkey Feast will be about 22 percent more expensive this year than last. Journalists agree, that, in itself, is a story which has been covered widely in the mainstream media…
It was simply to underline the fact that, for the first time since food prices began to spike, a signi-ficant number of Americans have reached a breaking point of sorts. And I see no reason for her Spaghetti Feast not be special – in it’s own way.
A recommendation…
Tori… May I suggest the Bolognese sauce I posted about just a couple of weeks back? It’s full of less-expensive, everyday veggies which is another way of saying, the sides are still there, but they’re rolled into the main! And the whole beautiful thing comes to the table looking fantastic, and brim-ming with flavour…
One fundamental message resounds in this O’Henry-esque Thanksgiving tale: Just because supper has to be simple doesn’t mean it can’t still be special!
And I will always maintain that the people you break bread with are ultimately more important than the food you’re sharing, anyway!
~ Maggie J.