As families prepare for Thanksgiving, rising food prices are putting extra pressure on holiday budgets. The Consumer Price Index is up about 3% from last year, and experts say shoppers are feeling the pinch. “All of us have a lot to be grateful for this year. Unfortunately, lower prices aren’t one of them,” business expert Parag Amin says. To help, retailers like Walmart, Lidl, and Aldi are offering holiday meal bundles. Lidl’s package can feed 10 people for less than $36, while Walmart and Aldi have baskets under $40. Last year, similar bundles cost significantly more. Local residents are definitely looking into these deals.

“As a federal worker myself that is affected by the shutdown, is definitely something I would look into," Woodbridge Township resident Craig said.

Local places, like Sonny's Meat Market in Edison, are trying to find reasonable prices to help customers.