Target and Walmart roll out Thanksgiving meal bargains as shoppers look to stretch budgets

As Thanksgiving approaches, retailers are promoting lower-cost meal options while shoppers look for ways to plan ahead and keep spending in check.

Walmart announced a holiday meal basket that includes 26 items designed to serve 10 people for $35, which works out to $3.50 per person.

The company said the basket, which includes a Butterball turkey along with sides such as dinner rolls, stuffing, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie, is its “best value” yet.

Target is also offering a Thanksgiving meal package for six people at $30, or about $5 per person.

According to the company, that meal comes with a Butterball turkey and eight side dishes, including green beans, stuffing and potatoes.

Some other chains, including BJ's Wholesale Club and ShopRite, are taking a different tack by giving shoppers a free item once they meet a spending threshold.

At ShopRite, customers who make $400 in qualifying purchases between Oct. 25 and Nov. 26 can receive a free holiday favorite, with options including whole turkeys and ham.

BJ's Wholesale Club is giving members a free Butterball turkey when they spend $150 or more in a single transaction between Oct. 31 and Nov. 9.

The promotions arrive as turkey prices continue to climb, rising 8.4% from a year earlier, according to the latest Consumer Price Index.

Consumer trend analyst Phil Lempert told ABC News that shoppers should focus on unit prices when comparing Thanksgiving deals.

“Supermarkets started ordering bundles a couple of years ago and that could be a good buy, but you want to look carefully,” Lempert said. “Compare the unit prices, not the bundle prices.”

He also advised shoppers to buy early and shop strategically while items are still easy to find.

“Always have a shopping list. That's key,” he said. “No. 2, stop wasting food ... if you stick to that recipe and you use those leftovers, you're going to save money.”