FULL STORY:  Before we load up on Thanksgiving sides, let’s load up on Thanksgiving FACTS . . . including how much hosting it REALLY costs.

1.  The American Farm Bureau claims a basic Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people should only cost $58 this year.  But a poll found the average host is spending more like $170, and that still might be low.  Another poll found that if you factor in food, drinks, and décor, it’s $361.

2.  42% of us will lean on restaurants for Thanksgiving this year.  That includes people who are going out to eat, but also people who are just ordering one or two things to supplement their meal.  Only 5% said they’re going to a restaurant.

3.  Around one in five people plan to attend a “Friendsgiving” this year. 

4.  Helping out in the kitchen might help you get lucky.  A poll found 75% of us find people more attractive if they can cook.

5.  6% of Americans say they’ll almost definitely argue about politics, and another 11% said it’s “somewhat likely.”  So one in six are bracing themselves for that.

6.  White meat or dark?  54% of us prefer white, 31% said dark, and 15% like both equally.

7.  How much gravy do you use?  A poll found 15% of us don’t use any . . . 17% drown our food in it . . . and everyone else is somewhere in the middle.

8.  Will your Thanksgiving dinner have options for vegetarians?  56% of people think it’s necessary now.

9.  Are you drinking?  The average man will have 3.1 alcoholic drinks on Thanksgiving.  Women will have a little less, 2.4.

10.  “The New York Post” has a list of the top Thanksgiving foods that will give you gas.  They claim the top four are mac-and-cheese, Brussels sprouts, broccoli casserole, and candied yams.

11.  A poll found the top things we’re thankful for this year are our family . . . our health . . . life in general . . . our job or finances . . . our faith or religion . . . our basic needs being met . . . and our friends.

12.  Got any good Thanksgiving disaster stories?  People on BuzzFeed have been sharing their best ones, mostly about burning stuff. 

One woman drank too much . . . forgot to make a bunch of sides . . . passed out . . . burned the turkey . . . and only served mashed potatoes.