Use this frugal shopping list to spend $50 and purchase staple ingredients for your from scratch Thanksgiving meal, making smart decisions in tough times.
This series of articles is designed to help families put a frugal Thanksgiving meal on the table.
Start at the beginning: Frugal $50 Thanksgiving Meal

Frugal $50 Thanksgiving Shopping List
By the Aisle
Don’t forget this is EVERYTHING you need, I assumed your cupboards were bare.
The asterisked items are actually over $50, but if I can price match, use loss leaders sales, or just find better prices, I can add these back in and get my pumpkin pie.
Baking – Flour 5 lb = $1.89
Baking – Sugar 2 lb $1.99 x 2 = $3.98
Baking – Vanilla 8 oz = $2.99
Baking – White vinegar 16 oz = $0.69
Baking – Yeast 3 packets = $1.69
Baking – *Vegetable oil 16 oz = $2.59
Dairy – Butter 1 lb box $2.29 x 2 = $4.58
Dairy – Eggs dozen $1.49
Dairy- Milk 1 gallon = $2.69
Dairy – *Heavy cream 8 oz = $1.39
Freezer – Orange juice concentrate 12 oz = $1.79
Packaged Bakery – Bread 1 loaf $3.29
Produce – Carrots 3 lb =$1.99
Produce – Celery 1 bunch = $1.99
Produce – Fresh cranberries $2.49
Produce – Onion 3 lb = $2.89
Produce – Russet potatoes 5 lb = $2.79
Produce – *Pie pumpkin 3 lb $0.49/lb = $1.47
Soups – Stock 32 oz = $1.50
By the Math
Turkey $0.99/lb 10 lb= $9.90
$50 -$ 9.90= $40.10
Gravy
Butter 1 lb box $2.29 x 2 = $4.58
Flour 5 lb = $1.89
Stock 32 oz = $1.50
Total $7.97
$40.10 – $7.97= $32.13
Stuffing
Onion 3 lb = $2.89
Celery 1 bunch = $1.99
Carrots 3 lb =$1.99
Bread 1 loaf $3.29
Total $10.16
$32.13 – 10.16= $21.97
Cranberry sauce
Orange juice 12 oz = $1.79
Sugar 2 lb $1.99 x 2 = $3.98
Fresh cranberries $2.49
Total $8.26
$21.97 – $8.26 = $13.71
Mashed Potatoes
Russett potatoes 5 lb = $2.79
White vinegar 16 oz = $0.69
Milk 1 gallon = $2.69
Total $6.17
$13.71 – $6.17 = $7.54
Rolls
Yeast 3 packets = $1.69
Eggs dozen $1.49
Total $3.18
$7.54 – $3.18 = $4.36
Egg Nog
Vanilla 8 oz = $2.99
$4.36 – $2.99 = $1.37
*Pumpkin Pie
*Pie pumpkin 3 lb $0.49/lb = $1.47
*Vegetable oil 16 oz = $2.59
*Heavy cream 8 oz = $1.39
*Total $5.45
*$1.37 – $5.45 = -$4.08
Thrifty Thanksgiving for Tough Times Series:
Frugal $50 Thanksgiving Meal
From Scratch Thanksgiving Menu
From Scratch $50 Shopping Cart
Next: Store Bought $50 Shopping Cart
Thanksgiving Blessing Bags
Quickie Thanksgiving Recipes
Frugal Dinner Recipes and Costs
Frugal Dessert Recipes and Costs
Price List
Make Ahead Thanksgiving Timeline
Frugal Thanksgiving Links
Thanksgiving Leftover Recipe Links
Thrifty Thanksgiving Pinterest Boards
* Also see our Care Package for the Hard Times Kitchen series
We hope you enjoyed our Thrifty Thanksgiving for Tough Times – From Scratch Frugal $50 Shopping Cart post
Vintage postcard image from Graphics Fairy
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