WASHINGTON — The holiday shopping season is approaching, so it’s time to
think about ways to score the best deals at retailers.
Getting the best deals requires a mix of planning, using online resources and
timing, says Trae Bodge of RetailMeNot.com. Here are some tips from Bodge
about how to get the best deals while shopping this season.
- Connect with your favorite stores. During check out, many cashiers
ask if you want to sign up for the emails. Do it, says Bodge.Signing up for the emails can help you get advanced deals and stay on top of
the best bargains of the season.Also, follow your favorite retailers on social media. Facebook and Twitter
pages for retailers can be excellent places to find deal announcements and
coupons. - Set up a separate email account. Don’t let your personal email
account get bogged down with retailers’ messages. Setting up a separate
account just for deal emails can help you keep the discounts all in one
place without cluttering your day-to-day messages. -
“You can check it periodically and you’re not being bombarded with all of
these great deals,” Bodge says. - Get coupons and codes online. There are sites dedicated to
providing coupons and coupon codes, which can lead to big
savings at check out. -
Sites such as PromotionalCodes.com,
RetailMeNot.com and Savings.com have
discounts galore. Also, if you’re shipping gifts this season, FreeShipping.org can be a great
resource. - Consider timing. November is a great time to begin holiday shopping
and scoop up great deals on items such as electronics, apparel as well as
health and beauty items, Bodge says. -
In December, there are deeper discounts on toys, holiday-themed items and
winter merchandise.“If you kind of divide and conquer and not try to do all of it at once, it’s a
little bit more manageable for the consumer,” she says.
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