by Diamond Channing

Created on: November 10, 2010

Two weeks before the holidays do not have to be marked with stress. Consumers could have fatter wallets with profits in the retail sector being relatively flat. If you begin early be sure to do your research and keep your eye on scams since it is possible to stay within a budget and out of debt.

Make a List and Check it Twice:

Planning ahead is the easiest path to holiday savings. Write down all the gifts you need to purchase and the recipients name for each. Make a seperate list of general expenses remembering food, decorations, travel and entertainment. Tally up all of the totals and this is your maximum budget. You should have money left-over if you uncover the deals so you can catch the post holiday sales.

Sugarplum Savings:

The deepest discounts are found after Thanksgiving. The average sales on Black Friday are right around 45 percent and some items are slashed as much as 80 percent. Toys, appliances and electronics are your best deals.

Know the items orignial cost so you can spot the best bargains. Before the holiday frenzy research manufactuerrs web-sites for original prices. Compare prices onces sales are listed by looking in store circulars and discount web-sites.

Beware The Jingle Bells and Whistles:

Watch for "no rain checks" or "limited quanties" on door buster sales that are usually buried in the fine print. Only the first few items might be able to be purchased at the listed price. Remember not to be fooled into thinking everything is on sale. You will usually find  the biggest sales at the front of the store. The farther you walk back in a store usually means fewer discounts with some items even being marked up. Thanksgiving brings the highest prices on decorations, clothings and wrapping paper. Buy these mentioned items a year in advance since you can save around 75 percent.

Remain focused by mapping out your shopping trip before you leave the house. Plan the order of the stores you will visit and the items you plan on purchasing at each. Split up to get the best deals first if you are shopping with friends or family members. Do not stray off of your list and do not buy something simply because it is on sale. If you use debit or cash you will reduce impulse purchasing.

Many stores will offer you the diference if you discover an item you have purchased have gone on sale. Set up a refund alert on priceplease.com and hang on to your receipts.

Cyber Sales:

Shopping on-line is more efficient than ever before. Retailers will be offering online sales on Black Friday and continue them through the following week in hopes to cash in on holiday sales. Never pay for shipping in the lead up to Christmas. Log onto promotionalcodes.com for sale and shipping promo codes. Check out online retailers such as Kmart, Target, and Sears as they will let you use multiple codes per order.

Bring a cynical eye to online retailer sales. Stay with reputable sites like amazon,com and other well known retailers. Do not enter your credit card information on sites that are not protected. Always look for  the padlock symbol near the browser on your computer or at the bottom right corner of the computer screen. You will save time and money when you shop smart, which can be especially valuable in an economy that is frosty.

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