10. Make as many pies as you can. My wife made 9 pies last year, and it was amazing.

11. To achieve #10, you can consider a hybrid strategy. For instance, the difference between a good fruit or pudding pie and a bad one is large, but the difference between a homemade pumpkin pie and a Costco pie is less. And the cranberry pie or chocolate cherry cheesecake pie you like won't be available in the store at any cost. So, if you don't have time to make all of the pies, make a couple of specialty pies and buy the pumpkin and/or apple from Costco. Your guests won't be sad that you have a Costco pie if this means you have more pie overall.

12. The same can be said for crusts. You can make some and buy some. Don't run out of time/energy and make only a couple of pies because you had to make the crusts. If you can make the crusts, so much the better (and +1000 on not using margarine or shortening for homemade graham cracker crusts or actually, ever, for any cooking). Remember, five pies with Pillsbury crusts is better than two pies with homemade crusts.

13. The same cannot be said for Cool Whip. Unless you simply can't afford it, use real cream. And, if time is an issue (though whipping heavy cream is quite simple), using the canned stuff, but only the real whipped cream, not "whipped topping."