The Calm Thanksgiving Countdown Week One
Making Thanksgiving easier (and a little cheaper) one week at a time. This is our four week count down with what you can do each week to get a smidge ahead of the chaos this year.
Week 1: Start with Pie & a Plan
A calm Thanksgiving doesn’t happen by accident — it’s built one week (and one pie) at a time. This week, we’re starting with the basics: planning the menu, checking what you already have, and getting that apple pie baked and tucked into the freezer. You’ll thank yourself later — especially when the kitchen smells like cinnamon and butter.
This Week’s Checklist
✅ Create your Thanksgiving menu — include breakfast, snacks, and leftovers.
✅ Check your pantry and write down what’s running low.
✅ Add flour, sugar, shortening, butter, and cinnamon to your list if needed.
✅ Buy apples while they’re on sale — often around .99¢ a pound this week.
✅ Pick up foil, freezer bags, and disposable pie tins if you’ll be freezing.
✅ Make and freeze your apple pie (recipe below).
✅ Start your Thanksgiving tote — a bin or shelf where you’ll gather your ingredients each week.
✅ Keep an eye out for deals on stuffing mix, broth, and canned goods — these go up later in November.
Smart Shopper Note
Both Aldi and Walmart have Thanksgiving meal bundles for about $50 this year. Even if you don’t plan to buy one, check their ingredient lists — they’re a great reference for what prices should look like right now.
Real Frugalist Tip: Use those bundles as a price compass — if something on your list costs way more, you’ll know to wait for a sale or swap brands.
Recipe of the Week: Freezer-Friendly Apple Pie
(Makes one 9-inch pie)
Ingredients
- 1 double pie crust (homemade or store-bought)
- 6 cups peeled, sliced apples (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or a mix)
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Mix apples, sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice in a large bowl.
- Line your pie plate with the bottom crust and fill with apple mixture.
- Dot with butter and add the top crust. Crimp edges and cut small vents.
- Wrap tightly in foil and place in a freezer bag. Label with date and “Bake at 425°F for 15 min, then 375°F for 45–50 min.”
- When ready to bake, place the frozen pie directly into the oven (no thawing).
Real Frugalist Tip: If you’re baking one now, go ahead and make two — one for Thanksgiving, one for the Christmas holidays. Now you have a pie to bring with you too. That’s how future-you gets other stuff done.
