The Fourth of July is just around the corner, and if you haven’t started prepping for a backyard cookout there’s no need to sweat. New numbers out this week showcase that when it comes to holidays, the Fourth of July is the cheapest holiday to serve as host.
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) did a quarterly survey with dozens of people and found that the average cost of a 10-person cookout is $55.07, or $5.51 per person.
That cookout price is based on a menu including hot dogs, cheeseburgers, pork spare ribs, deli potato salad, bake beans corn chips, lemonade, chocolate milk, and watermelon for dessert. Despite the large quantity of food, the folks at the Farm Bureau say that the cost is down year-to-year.
“The cost for the cookout is down slightly (less than 1 percent) from last year,” Birchmeier said. “The year-to-year direction of the Farm Bureau market-basket survey tracks closely with the federal government’s Consumer Price Index report for food at home as both the index and the market-basket remained relatively flat compared to year-ago levels.”
DOLLAR STORE BARGAINS
One of the best ways to find a deal is to stop by your local dollar store — we found flags, festive cups, Fourth of July decorations and more for a single dollar.
You can even find a few red, white and blue materials to do some festive DIY items.
We found a blogger, named the Passionate Penny Pincher, who came up with an idea to use dollar store red candies and $1 pinwheels to toss inside a mason jar. The endresult is a table topper that doubles as a snack and toy for the kids at the cookout.
HOMEMADE DESSERTS THAT WILL WOW
- Patriotic Trail Mix: Don’t have time to bake? No worries! This patriotic trail mix comes together in a few minutes and will add to any red, white and blue theme. You can find the recipe online at Cooking with Ruthie.
- Red, White and Blue Cheesecake Stuffed Berries: This one is easy, fresh and adds to the colors at your cookout — you can find plenty of versions online, including one at Desserts Now, Dinner Later.
- Patriotic Rice Krispie Treats: Here’s another dessert idea from Cooking with Ruthie, this time a less than 20 minute dish that’ll be a bit more sweet than the rest of our listed desserts.
