PITTSBURGH -- Waiting until the weekend before Thanksgiving means shoppers will be able to find some really good deals on all the food needed for a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

Channel 11 first met Lisa Cavlovich in January when her husband lost his job after 25 years with the same company.

With three children she has to watch every penny.

So Channel 11 challenged Cavlovich to shop for a Thanksgiving meal for five and not spend over $30.

Normally she visits several stores to find the cheapest prices, but this time she stuck with just one supermarket.

She started in the produce section.

Cavlovich said, “Because we don't go through that many potatoes I usually buy two or three large whole potatoes instead of buying a 5 or 10 pound bag.”

Her potatoes cost 79 cents a pound for a total of $2.39

She passed on pies in the bakery and headed for the frozen food section for a BOGO deal on Sara Lee pies. She got two for just $6.98.

One box of Stove Top Stuffing cost her $1.99.

“We don't stuff the turkey generally we just make it on the side,” Cavlovich said.

She got a ten and a half pound turkey for 79 cents a pound. Total cost--$8.33.

Cavlovich picked up a tub of Cool Whip for $1.78, a can of cranberry sauce for 99 cents and $1.59 for Heinz gravy.

When she looked at canned yams she was disappointed. She said, “Sometimes with the yams I wait as close to Thanksgiving as possible because they tend to go on sale.”

The brand she prefers hadn’t gone on sale yet, so she got another brand for $1.99.

Her family likes Pillsbury brand rolls. One tube cost her $2.25.

Her total bill at the checkout was $29.84.

If Cavlovich had shopped just a day later at the same store she would have saved $3.88 because some of the items she bought had gone on sale.

There are deals to be had at several area stores. Giant Eagle is selling turkeys for 40 cents a pound and will match any competitor’s price.

Wal-Mart says shoppers can get all the items for a turkey dinner for 8 for as low as $20.

And Aldis says a turkey dinner for four can be had for less than $30.

Cavlovich said, “You have to look, take your time. You can't rush in and out.”