Nov 19, 2008 7:09 am US/Eastern
Holiday Shopping Bargains Are Out There
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Parents shop in the toy aisle at a Target store in Kingston (file image)
AP
For many families, Christmas on a budget is going to take on a whole new meaning this year.
The good news is there are ways to save big on your holiday shopping. We went to a couple of expert bargain-hunters to find their secrets for stretching your holiday buck.
Consumer advocate Edgar Dworsky suggests looking for unadvertised deals.
"Whatever the thing is you're looking for, someone has tried to find who's got it for a low price," he said. According to Dworsky, seasoned bargain-hunters share their finds on websites like
slickdeals.net and
fatwallet.com.
Lori Granniss, founder of the
Bargain Shopper Lady.com, warns shoppers not buy anything online without searching first for discount or free shipping codes.
"All stores have codes," she explained, "from bargain stores to the most expensive stores."
Sites like
Couponcabin.com and
Retailmenot.com offer sales and discount does. You can search for deals on free shipping at
Freeshipping.org.
If you combine offers, that's where you can really save. Granniss got a $200 inflatable bounce house for her kids for just $35.
"Normally the shipping charge is $35 on that item," she said.
Dworsky also suggests planning a strategy for Black Friday.
Bfads.net and
blackfriday.gottadeal.com have already published sales circulars for dozens of major retailers so you can plan ahead.
And this year you might need to. According to Dworsky, retailers will have limited supplies on deals.
"If you think you can roll out of bed at 1 o'clock on the Friday after Thanksgiving, you'll have crowds at the store, but the door-busters will be gone," he said.
The people behind
Consumer Reports magazine say you might want to think twice about gift cards this year. Consumers Union warns retailers are struggling and if a store goes under, you could be out of luck.
Instead, you might want to try a card that includes a number of stores. Simon Malls offers a
gift card that can be used anywhere; you can even use it to pay your electric bill.
And finally, try thinking "outside the mall." Drug stores like
CVS have a lot more than perfume or aftershave these days. They sell portable DVDs, MP3 players, even GPS units. If you check for sales and use the stores' rewards programs, you could get a great deal.
Landing a great deal is what it's all about this year.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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