Grocery shopping has become a lot more expensive lately, no matter where you shop. It doesn't matter if you're a couple or a family of five like mine. Groceries add up quickly! If you're looking to save some money this year on your Thanksgiving dinner, you have some affordable options from several local retailers.

Hy-Vee Offers Low-Cost Thanksgiving Dinner

Hy-Vee announced this week that it will be offering a $30 Thanksgiving meal that will feed up to 6 people. KCRG reports that the deal includes ingredients for a traditional holiday meal as well as a turkey and dessert. A gluten-free option is also available. The special runs from November 3rd through the 26th.

Aldi Offering Thanksgiving Meal Deal

KCRG reports that grocery store chain Aldi is offering a Thanksgiving dinner for $40 that will serve 10 people. The Aldi meal includes 21 ingredients, including a 14-pound turkey and pumpkin pie. Items that are part of the meal are marked on the shelves at Aldi locations. The meal breaks down to around $4 per person, according to KCRG.


Wal-Mart is Also Offering a Thanksgiving Meal Bundle

Wal-Mart is promoting its annual Thanksgiving meal baskets. KCRG reports that the holiday meal will include a Butterball turkey for 97 cents per pound, and other traditional Thanksgiving favorites from national and private brands. The Wal-Mart deal will serve up to 10 people and will cost less than $40.


You have some affordable options this year when it comes to shopping for your family's Thanksgiving meal. Save me some pie, please!

Iowa Restaurants With Delicious Mac & Cheese

We went on a mission to find the best mac & cheese in Iowa! Courtesy of reviews and recommendations on Google, here are some of the highly-rated Iowa restaurants with great mac & cheese (all included restaurants have a 4.4-star rating or higher and a minimum of 100 reviews):

Gallery Credit: Courtlin

Iowans Name Their Favorite Small Town Restaurants

I asked Iowans on Facebook what their favorite small town Eastern Iowa restaurant is, and there were some great suggestions! According to Google, a town is considered "small" when it has 5,000 people or less. Our list includes restaurants in towns that have a population of 7,000 or less, and some of them have MUCH less! Here are 20 recommendations from folks in Eastern Iowa:

Gallery Credit: Courtlin