CHARLOTTE -- Thanksgiving is nearing, which means for many it is time to shell out a bunch of cash for the holiday meal.

The American Farm Bureau estimates that last year, dinner for 10 people costs an average of around $42. That was up about 10 percent from the year before, and experts predict another jump this year.

Anne Mann has started coming to Weekday Gourmet – a meal assembly kitchen in Charlotte – after doing some comparison shopping at her local grocery story. She says making her meals at Weekday Gourmet not only saves her money, but time.

“It’s definitely worthwhile to come here and make things,” she said.

Tom Atwood of Weekday Gourmet says he knows money is tight hit year, and he’s adjusting his prices to help families cope.

“We're seeing people maybe not traveling as far to hook up with extended family as they may have done in the past couple of years,” he said.

This year’s Thanksgiving menu averages $15 a person for a full-course meal at Weekday Gourmet. Other local meals-to-go companies are following suit.

"I'm an engineer by trade and I've done all the cost analysis and it's 30-40 percent cheaper to buy at a meal assembly store than it is to go to the grocery store and by them,” said Marty Cocking at Dinner A’Fare.

For those who plan on cooking their holiday meal from scratch, Atwood has a few tips. First, look for coupons at your local grocery store. Some stores offer discounted or free turkeys with your grocery purchase.

You can also purchase a large turkey and have the butcher cut it in half, using part for Thanksgiving, the other for Christmas.

Or, opt for a smaller, less expensive poultry like Cornish game hen.