What Thanksgiving isn’t all about is how expensive the pies are. Or how much you spent on the table centerpiece. And it’s certainly not about the newly purchased 52-in. flat panel, which you justified with the (admittedly clever) rationale that all 22 guests could watch the big game in high-def.

So, how can you make Thanksgiving special and enjoyable—but also affordable?

For starters, share the load. Make cooking a family event. Encourage each family member to bring their favorite Thanksgiving dish. Plan ahead of time so that the whole family has time to catch the sales and use coupons from their local store circular.

If you’re having the big meal catered, choose items and amounts carefully and get an absolute headcount beforehand. And still ask guests to bring a side dish and dessert so you don’t spend quite as much.

Scour the sales. They’re out there, online and in store circulars, ready for the taking. And they apply if you’re hosting Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa or Festivus (“for the rest of us”) — so look for Buy-One-Get-One offers, and keep in mind that turkeys are typically more discounted around Thanksgiving than they are in December.

To save on energy, turn down the thermostat right before the feasting frenzy begins. All those bodies in the house — plus the heat from the kitchen — raises everyone’s core body temp. And if it’s a family gathering, somebody’s bound to get all hot and bothered, anyway, right? (Surprise! Your competitive siblings still haven’t buried the hatchet. And they just opened the box of wine. Uh-oh.)

Finally, hog the leftovers. Always controversial, we know. Even hazardous. But if you’re hosting, and you did most of the work and provided most of the provisions, then you ought to be the first to enjoy those amazing next-day turkey/cranberry/stuffing/mayo sandwiches. If Aunt Ruthie asks for her share (and she’ll ask at close range), then sure, fix her a small plate to go. But don’t feel compelled to divvy up all of it.

Got your own tips for trimming the costs when stuffing the bird? C’mon, share ‘em — we’ll be especially thankful.

So, it makes sense that when we buy phones and the corresponding plans, emotion can trump reason. The New York Times ran an interesting article on Sunday that examines the logic of cell phone plans — or, rather, many consumers’ illogic when deciding the size and type of plan to purchase.

For instance, The Times writes: “When Apple and AT&T started offering the iPhone for $199, plus $30 a month for Internet access, sales shot up, even though the previous deal — $399 for the phone and $20 a month — cost less over a two-year contract.”

Make sense? Not really, unless your financial situation necessitates less upfront payment.

And according to the article, phone companies have doubled the price for text messages (to 20 cents each) in recent years, even though they cost almost nothing to deliver. The “safe” bet for consumers? Shelling out ten bucks or so a month for unlimited text messaging. That’s a potentially unnecessary cushion for consumers — and hefty profit for the phone companies.

So what to think about when signing up for a plan?

First, do some research on how often you really use your mobile phone. Look through archived phone records — how many minutes a month do you use? How many text messages do you send?

Then research and compare plans. Do the math on how many minutes you’ll need. Factor in rollover minutes and “friends talk free”-type plans. (The Times reports that when companies introduce certain discounts — like Sprint’s recent offer of free calling to any mobile number — the effect is that customers often switch to more expensive plans.) What are the over-the-limit penalties, and how does that compare against the cost increase for the bigger monthly plan?

Consider alternative plans. Does your dad rarely use his phone? Have a spouse who always “forgets” to turn on the cell? Try talking them into a family plan where you can split the bill, so you can all reap the savings.

We’d love to hear your cell phone savings tricks, whether you’re a Blackberry person, trendy iPhone app-o-holic or a renegade bucking the whole smart phone trend. (And if you’re rockin’ the new Droid in your pocket: Yeah, we’re jealous.)

But if you’re one of those “holiday spirit” people who’s already thinking snow, reindeer sweaters and hot chocolate in front of the fire, you’re probably a big decorator. And as a Saver, you’re probably a crafty decorator, too. So before you go hunting for Clark Griswold-like blow-up snow globes and candy canes for the front yard, check out a few of these more practical but festive options.

Start in your basement, attic or wherever you store previous years’ decorations. Dust them off and display them across your living room. They’re as festive as ever—and sentimental, to boot. Aww.

For new-to-you ornaments, hit the church basement for the holiday bazaar. You can find some awesome, cheap decorations – and catch up on the latest gossip.

Want fresher decor? Walk through your backyard or local park and pick up some acorns, pine cones, evergreen branches. Make a wreath for the front door (or a centerpiece for the holiday spread). Spray leaves with gold or silver paint and wrap them around a jar to create a decorative vase, or hang ‘em from windows to showcase your handiwork to the neighbors.

And if you have kids (or nieces, nephews or grandchildren), you have access to some of the best holiday decorations money can’t buy. From construction paper garland and snow flakes to hand-signed pictures and faux mistletoe, you just can’t beat the creativity of 3rd grade art class.

Finally, stick to classic decorations in festive colors such as blue, white, red, green, silver and gold for winter. Voila – your house/apartment/condo/front lawn or back patio will be classically festive, season to season.

Are you decorating this year? We certainly hope so. (But, please, wait until AFTER Thanksgiving, okay?) Either way, we’d like to know how you get festive on the frugal.

Depending on your age, and your comfort level with trading, you’ll be able to decide how to mix your assets among stocks, bonds and cash. Moolanomy outlines five investment profiles and ways to decide which one suits you. Still not sure what types of investments fit you best? Allocation tools, like ShareBuilder’s PortfolioBuilder, assess your comfort level with different types of investments based upon your time horizon and financial goals. And regardless of what you’re putting the moolah aside for, it’s important to know how you really feel about risk and reward—and how much money you have to contribute.

Investor Profile: We profiled a “20 something” young professional with a household income under $50,000. This will be her first time investing, and she has limited knowledge on how and where to do so. Sound like someone you know? She feels ready to invest in both stocks and bonds. Her household has a net worth of under $25,000 and a tax rate of 25%. With the goal of saving for at least a 20% down payment for a house, she’ll be using her investment account to save for the big plunge in the next 5 years. Our young investor will be spending all of her investments on the down payment when she buys the house. Since she’s young, she feels that she can take more risks. But she’s still concerned with the thought of losing money in the market – and would much rather invest in less risky ways with a few higher risk investments mixed in. With all of these factors combined, by Moolonamy’s definition, she’s a “Capital Preservationist.”

This investor profile won’t give you all the investments answers. But it’s a beginning, especially if you’ve avoided the market all these years for fear of looking dumb or losing money. So where do you go from here? Set a goal. Are you looking down the road to retirement or to buying a new house in the next few years? This can greatly affect your allocation and the level of risk in investments. Assess your comfort level. And do research. Don’t take anyone’s word for it. Only invest your money in ways that make you feel comfortable and confident.

The goal of the most recent Simply Money session was to make mutual funds not just understandable, but fun. And with the help of fund snapshots from Morningstar.com, many attendees began to see once-meaningless investment statements as valuable, applicable information.

One participant, who struggled to grasp the concept of a mutual fund, later mentioned that she and her husband had two money managers. She quickly understood the course instructor’s view that most individuals can be “self directed.” And she was shocked to learn about all the fees she might be paying, including “expense ratios,” the fund manager’s annual cut from the investment and a “load” (the charge the investor pays to buy into and perhaps exit a fund). “So that’s another fee that they get?!” she asked.

Most would-be investors – especially those with less than $250,000 to invest – don’t need the help of a money manager. Instead, they can handle it themselves by keeping their investments simple, Gichon suggested. Gichon said she has three types of savings: an emergency cash fund; a retirement fund; and a “what if” fund that she can dip into within the next seven years, should she want to make some lifestyle changes.

Six mutual funds are plenty, Gichon said. Pick them based on risk and how long you have until retirement, she said. The typical fund is already diversified and invested in hundreds of companies. Also, standard age-related guidelines exist on what share of one’s investments should be in company stocks, government bonds and other types of funds.

The bottom line: invest in no-load funds, Gichon counseled, since paying a load doesn’t mean better returns; and invest in funds whose expense ratio falls below the 1.5% average.

Orla O’Sullivan is a New York-based journalist whose work has been widely published in business and consumer media on both sides of the Atlantic.

Read more about Orla’s participation in Galia’s Simply Money workshops.

Have you heard about the 2010 Roth IRA Conversion? Financial pundits are beginning to chatter, so if you’ve got an individual retirement account (IRA) you’re probably in search of the facts and what it means to you. In a nutshell, starting in 2010 everyone is eligible to convert a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, and for those who convert in 2010, there is a break on when you can pay the taxes.

Will it affect you? Only you can decide. Start by getting your arms around the changes. Here are five things you need to know before you jump on the bandwagon (by which I mean, “talk with your tax advisor”).

1. What is the 2010 Roth IRA Conversion?
You probably know there are two types of IRAs: Roth and Traditional. They basically differ in when they are taxed. Roth IRA contributions are taxed before they go into the IRA; Traditional IRAs are taxed when the money is withdrawn.

The change is that starting in 2010, there will be no income limits on who can convert from a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. (Historically, the limit for converting has been $100,000 in modified adjusted gross income.) However, income limits will still apply for Roth contributions.

2. Advantages of converting
Once you convert from a Traditional to a Roth IRA, any earnings from that point on accumulate tax-free. Plus, there are no taxes to pay in retirement (provided you are at least 59 ½ at retirement and you’ve had your account for at least five years).

3. Disadvantages of converting
Converting won’t get you a free pass on income tax. But if you convert in 2010, you do have two choices for when to pay. Either pay it all in the 2010 tax year or evenly split the income (and therefore the tax) between the 2011 and 2012 tax years.

4. Who should convert
As you’ve probably figured out, not everyone will benefit from converting. But it may make sense for people in these situations:
• You believe your tax rate at retirement will be the same or higher than it is now.
• Retirement is a long way off and you can pay the tax now from sources other than your IRA (to avoid the penalty for early withdrawal and the loss of tax-free growth on that amount).
• You plan to leave the Roth IRA to your heirs (tax-free). Unlike traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs don’t require you to take minimum distributions at age 70½. That means the money may grow tax-free until your heirs are ready to withdraw it.

5. Talk to your tax advisor
Now you’ve got the lay of the land on the 2010 Roth IRA Conversion. But everyone’s situation is different. So before you decide whether it’s for you, consult your tax advisor. They’ll help you evaluate your own financial situation.

But a sweet deal isn’t the only thing you should factor in when considering buying a home. Low prices and tax credits are great, but the question still remains – can you afford it?  Make sure you can swing a hefty down payment (we’re talking at least 20%) to make you a homeowner sooner rather than later. Factor in costs such as homeowner’s insurance and taxes, as well as closing costs, which can run up to 5% or more of your home purchase price. Do your research and negotiating, check out your monthly expenses and figure out how much you can afford when all is said and done. You don’t want to be house poor. And you certainly don’t want to be in the poor house.

If you haven’t scratched that itch just yet, now may be a pretty good time. Got your financial ducks in a row? Consider yourself ready for the house hunt. Money Under 30’s 10 tips for house hunting can steer you on the right path to the house of your dreams.  

We can’t guarantee tender loving luggage handlers, short bathroom lines or in-flight movies NOT called The Pink Panther 2, but we have a few ideas on ways to avoid unwelcome fee surprises at the ticket counter. First, Smarter Travel has put together this handy guide to airline fees to keep your in-flight costs from soaring.

We say pack less and cram all you can into fewer luggage pieces that you have to check. Better yet, go carry-on only and ship boxes to your destination ahead of time. Snacks? Go all movie theater on the airlines. No one REALLY wants to spend $6 for a bag of lousy popcorn. And no one really wants to pay $?? for a tiny bag of airplane nuts. That’s nuts. We’re not condoning “smuggling” but a well-stashed bag of licorice or cheese thingies in your carry-on will taste pretty good come about 2 hours in flight. Oh, and eat a big meal before you fly. Sometimes the obvious stuff isn’t so much.

Let’s hear from you, travel-savvy Savers. How are you saving dollars when hitting the airways?

The idea of saving money sounds about as exciting to me as window shopping or paying taxes. While I recognize how meaningless stuff is, I still love new stuff. I fantasize about the kind of rug I want to buy for my bare, unfinished dining room. Modern or Oriental? Wool or chenille?  I divide my mental wish-list into what I can buy now, and what I’ll buy when I have more money one day. You can call it a sickness. I call it being raised by capitalists.

Fortunately for me, I write about money on my website, DailyWorth.com. Unfortunately for me, I have to walk my talk.  

Hot Water
I recently posted a column on DailyWorth about spending hiatuses. In case you haven’t heard, freezing all unnecessary spending for a predetermined period of time is the hottest thing since knitted Uggs. Bloggers everywhere seem to be upping the ante, extending their hiatuses and bragging about how little deprivation they’re feeling. 

I know I overspend. I also know that I use shopping as a way to cure boredom or soothe feelings of inadequacy. So last week I threw my hat into the ring. For one week, I declared so effortlessly and publicly, I’d only buy food and pay bills. Nothing else. 

How It Went
Overall, I’d say my week-long spending hiatus wasn’t a huge success. It was, however, a small step in the right direction of spending less and saving more. I liken the experience to my one week on Atkins or the three years I spent on Weight Watchers. You can do anything for a week, but will the habits stick? The jury’s still out. 

Even so, I did save $380.00 during my week of reduced spending. 

My old down comforter had two huge tears. Rather than buying a new one, I broke out the needle and thread – and saved $200! I cooked dinner (instead of opting for take-out) on Friday night and Saturday night. $60.00 saved!! The real “Aha!” moment happened on Day Two, when I realized I could tally each dollar saved and, at the end of the week, transfer the cash into a designated savings account for home improvement projects, like fixing our two fireplaces. I really want working fireplaces. Saving money alone does not motivate me. Saving money with a prize in mind definitely does. Lesson learned: There’s got to be an upside.

Will I join the masses of bloggers extending their spending sabbaticals from weeks to months to years? Probably not. But I’m inspired. And soon, I’ll be sitting by a fire.

Amanda Steinberg is the founder of DailyWorth.com — a free, daily email about personal finance for women.

Last in a series on protecting yourself online. October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month.

Phew, you’ve done it. You’re online and confident you’re protected against all the Cyber bad guys out there, ID theft, smart security practices, and protecting your PC (viruses included). Congrats, you’ve built your own personal security zone. So now what? Here are some other proactive steps you can take to get your personal information off the public radar.

Use online banking to eliminate sensitive account information circulating in the mail. Thoroughly shred mail – especially credit card bills, statements, and offers for preapproved credit – before you throw it away. Cross-cut shredding is more effective than strip shredding. Choose organizations with an “opt-out” privacy policy.

We know online security can seem like a hassle, and sometimes a lot of work. That is, at first. Once you’ve synced your habits with your machine’s security, your Internet browser updates and all the application ‘patches’ - that’s the tough stuff. We can’t protect you against carpal tunnel, but when you’re surfing the medical site for your symptoms, you can rest easy knowing that your info is safe.