• April 6, 2009

In its ongoing effort to be the best friend of families on a tight budget, Wal-Mart Stores says it's selling Easter dinner for eight for less than $35.

With rollbacks, the Bentonville, Ark.-based chain says it's possible for Walmart shoppers to score the fixings for a turkey dinner for eight at $34.56, or a ham dinner for $34.40. That comes in just below the National Retail Federation's average estimate of Easter dinner spending of $37.67.

Even higher-end stores are focusing on total-meal costs this year in an effort to appeal to cost-conscious cooks. Whole Foods Marketplace, for example, is offering a ham dinner package for eight for $129.99.--Sarah Mahoney