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Financially, for many Americans, this has been the most or nearly the most difficult year of their lives. Consequently, it may be hard to get excited about the prospect of gift giving. With some careful planning and a willingness to do some research and take advantage of every great bargain around, it is possible to give your loved ones some wonderful gifts that they will truly appreciate without breaking your bank in the process.

Here are some suggestions that will point you in the direction of getting the biggest bang for your buck.

*Shop online -

Online shopping is easy to do and there are great benefits. You can shop at any time of the day or night, you can easily compare the price of the same merchandise from place to place and you can often get coupon or other discounts for shopping online. What's more, you won't have to pay tax, for a small fee, you can have your gift wrapped and you can also have it shipped directly to the recipient. That will save you the tax, the cost of having to buy gift wrapping supplies and the cost of shipping.

*Shop at outlets -

Outlets are a great way to get high quality merchandise without having to pay the full price. Outlet stores regularly feature overstock merchandise or seconds, which means that the product is slightly damaged or imperfect, and that it couldn't be sold at full price in the regular store. Outlet stores also have huge sales that offer fabulous deals, and on occasion, they will have a coupon you can use. When you use a coupon on a product that is already reduced in price, you can save substantially.

*Clearance sales -

Clearance sales can be another source of significant savings. Depending on when you shop at a clearance sale, you may be able to get as little as 25% off or as much as 75% or more off. Before you purchase something at a clearance sale, make sure that the merchandise is returnable.

*Shop at the end of a season -

Rather than shopping for gifts in the heart of the season, shop at the end of a season where the remaining out of season merchandise will have to be drastically reduced so that the store can get rid of it. That's a great deal for a shopper, but again, check to find out whether the merchandise can be returned, or make sure that your recipient will like your gift.

*Gift certificates -

If you don't know whether someone will like a gift, you can always opt to buy a gift certificate. If you don't know what store to buy the gift for, you can always purchase a prepaid Visa card. A gift certificate will ensure that the recipient can get something they like, and you will be able to avoid large shipping costs, gift wrap costs or other costs associated with the gift.

This is just a few of the many ways by which you can save money on your holiday gifts. By looking around, taking advantage of the Internet to compare prices, see what is available and in some cases, make your purchases that way, you can save money not only on your gifts, but on the cost of shipping them and wrapping them. By going to the trouble of looking for great ways to get bargains, you can get something the recipient will love and you won't have to worry about over extending yourself financially.

Learn more about this author, Theresa Rose.
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