Thank goodness for my savings angel! Because of him, I can share the following with you.

Thanksgiving Savings
Unless you've got a plan for savings, prepare to pay more for your Thanksgiving Turkey this year.

According to the Food Institute, the price will be about $1.05 per pound this year - an increase of 32.9% over last year's prices. The primary reason for the increase? It costs more to feed turkeys! 56% more, in fact. The cost of bird feed has risen dramatically according to the institute. Add to this the fact that there are 2 percent fewer turkeys being produced - 242 million.

You will also see a sharp increase this year in the price of pecans (41.2% higher), with higher prices as well for fresh yellow onions (+22.7%), fresh sweet potatoes (+22.6%), and white potatoes (+17%). Where will you see discounts compared to this this time last year? Fresh celery, canned apples (each down 12.3 percent), and canned green beans and corn and fresh cranberries.

Unfortunately, many staples have risen compared to last year: including milk, beef, coffee, cocoa and sugar. This has a trickle down affect to many packaged groceries that we buy.

If you expect to pay the same or less for Thanksgiving this year, it's important that you follow these five tips:

1. Share the workload - Don't do Thanksgiving alone! It's more economical to focus on a couple dishes to provide a larger group than to provide everything for just your family. This will save you plenty of time, too.

2. Don't buy your turkey early. Wait until the week prior to - or the week of Thanksgiving. Compare all the local stores - even the ones you don't regularly shop at. Most stores offer incentives to buy your turkey from them. Some stores may offer a free turkey if you purchase a set dollar amount in order to get the complimentary bird. Do some quick math along with some online research (figuring out where to use your coupons) and you can come out ahead by waiting for the right opportunity.

3. Should you go for the larger bird? It depends. According to the USDA, any leftover turkey should be eaten within 3-4 days if refrigerated. Properly frozen turkey can be stored, thawed and eaten within 4-6 months. Depending on the sale, your budget, and your willingness to work with (and eat) that much leftover turkey, a larger turkey may be a great purchase this year despite the higher cost. Personally, I'll wait and see what promotions retailers offer this year.

4. Use coupons! Perhaps you think I may be sounding like a broken record. There's a reason I always advise that families use coupons... they WORK! Combined with the right sales, you can buy many items (particularly those in cans, packages, or boxes) at a fraction of the cost that non-couponers pay. Don't leave hundreds of dollars on the table this month. Go ahead and use your coupons from your Sunday paper and the Internet. I can tell you exactly when and where to use them for maximum savings. (Visit SavingsAngel.com to learn more)

5. Decorating? Try nature instead. Send the kids outdoors to find leaves, pine cones, and pine sprigs to make an attractive centerpiece this Thanksgiving. If you must purchase items to decorate with, I recommend checking the dollar stores over conventional retailers or party stores. You may find some Thanksgiving decoration deals for next year while out shopping on Black Friday (November 26th). Speaking of Black Friday, make sure to catch my tips this week to get the most out of this once-a-year shopping event.