Thanksgiving is a time to remember what you’re grateful for, but with rising grocery prices and a higher cost of living overall, it’s easy to get lost in that frustration. The good news is that with some smart shopping, you can still put together a delicious, affordable Thanksgiving meal.
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One tip is to start shopping for the holiday early, especially for seniors or others who might be working with a relatively limited, fixed income. Giving yourself time to plan out what you need can help you budget accordingly and avoid impulse purchases.
If you live in the Southeast, you can find many Thanksgiving staples available now at Publix, so consider stocking up on the following types of items. Also note that prices may vary by location and when you buy.
Pepperidge Farm Herb Seasoned Classic Stuffing
- Price: $3.71
Turkey may be the main dish, but a lot of people’s favorite Thanksgiving food is stuffing. You can affordably and easily put together a tasty side with this Pepperidge Farm stuffing mix, which serves 12. The recipe on the mix calls for butter, celery, onion and chicken broth, but there’s endless ways you can make the stuffing your own by adding various vegetables, meats, spices and so on.
Read More: 5 Affordable Costco Frozen Foods Shoppers Rave About
Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
- Price: $0.83
Another classic Thanksgiving side dish, this Jiffy mix cornbread delivers great taste for an ultra-low price. While this mix is technically for corn muffins, many recipes call for it as the centerpiece, with just a few other ingredients like milk and eggs needed to make delicious cornbread.
Publix Jellied Cranberry Sauce
- Price: $2.43
Jellied cranberry sauce can be a bit polarizing, but it’s still a classic. If you’re a fan, you can stock up on the 14-oz. Publix brand version of this easy Thanksgiving meal addition for a low price. It can also come in handy for leftovers, like if you want to make sandwiches in the days following Thanksgiving.
Publix Gravy Mix, Turkey
- Price: $0.98
What’s Thanksgiving without gravy? This Publix brand mix is turkey-flavored gravy, so it naturally goes with the main bird, or if you just want a little of that turkey flavor on dishes like mashed potatoes, this could do the trick. The only other ingredient required is water, and the mix provides four servings at this very low price.
Bruce’s Yams Cut Sweet Potatoes in Syrup
- Price: $3.87
Lastly, if you want to indulge in something a bit sweeter, like a sweet potato casserole as a side dish or sweet potato pie for dessert, you can use canned sweet potatoes like this 29-oz. can of Bruce’s Yams. For a low price, you can avoid the hassle of cooking and peeling sweet potatoes on your own, and they’re already a little sweet with four grams of added sugar.
Disclaimer: Prices and availability accurate as of Oct. 18, 2025 and subject to change.
Photo disclaimer: All imagery sourced from Publix.com.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Publix Thanksgiving Essentials Seniors Can Buy Now
