Target vs. Walmart: Which Store Wins on Thanksgiving Dinner Essentials?
Thanksgiving dinner is one of the highlights of the holiday, but buying all the ingredients like turkey, potatoes, stuffing, vegetables, gravy and rolls can get expensive if you don’t watch your spending.
The good thing is that Target and Walmart both offer plenty of affordable holiday staples for shoppers who are more budget-friendly. But which retailer delivers the better value?
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Here’s how Target and Walmart compare when it comes to the cost of putting together a full Thanksgiving dinner.
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Turkey
Turkey is usually the biggest purchase on a Thanksgiving grocery list. Walmart's Butterball frozen whole turkeys (weighing around 10 to 16 pounds) cost around $13.14 or 97 cents per pound.
Target’s website doesn’t currently list comparable whole frozen turkeys, so if you want a larger selection of fresh and frozen meat products, Walmart is the better pick.
Mashed Potatoes
Thanksgiving dinners won’t be complete without mashed potatoes. A 13.75-ounce package of Idahoan Original Mashed Potatoes costs $2.89 at Target, whereas the same option at Walmart costs approximately $2.56.
Even though they’re essentially the same, Walmart’s version is around 30 cents cheaper. The difference is pretty small, but if you’re on a tight budget, you can save more at Walmart.
Dinner Rolls
Target's Favorite Day Petite Kaiser Dinner Rolls cost approximately $3.99 for 12 rolls, whereas Walmart's Freshness Guaranteed Yeasty Dinner Rolls cost around $3.24 for 12.
These two products aren’t identical, but Walmart may save you more money if you’re feeding a larger group.
Pumpkin Pies or Cake
If you don’t have the time and energy to make a pumpkin pie or cake from scratch, get premade ones from Target or Walmart.
Target currently sells a 17.06-ounce Favorite Day Pumpkin Cake with Crumb Topping for $7.99. Walmart also sells an even bigger 22-ounce Freshness Guaranteed 8-inch Pumpkin Pie for $4.94.
Overall, Walmart gives you more pie for your money.
Seasonings
In terms of seasoning, Target's Good & Gather poultry seasoning costs approximately $2.99 for 4 ounces, or about 75 cents per ounce. Walmart's Great Value poultry seasoning costs about $2.12 for 1.5 ounces, or $1.41 per ounce.
Walmart has the lower up-front price, but Target gives you more seasoning for the money.
Target vs. Walmart Pros and Cons
Walmart's biggest advantage is how affordable it is and the broad selection of products you can choose from. That said, more affordable prices don’t mean Walmart offers the best unit value.
Target's poultry seasoning, for example, costs more right now but costs less per ounce. However, Target's grocery departments aren't as diverse as Walmart's, especially when it comes to fresh meat and holiday-specific products such as whole turkeys.
Editor’s note: Prices and availability are subject to change.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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