25 Great Ways to Save on Holiday Shopping

Deals and discounts are aplenty during the holiday season — and they’re something consumers have come to expect. In a recent survey by Vericast, a marketing technology company, 38 percent of holiday shoppers said they are interested in deals that will make holiday shopping cheaper. Perhaps that’s no surprise, considering budgets are tight and credit card interest rates are at near-record highs.

But don’t worry. From coupons and price matching to timing certain purchases around sales events, here are 25 great ways to save on holiday shopping.

1. Make a list
Take a page from Santa Claus and make a list. Determine who you want to give gifts and how much you can reasonably afford to spend. The sooner you have this list in hand, the sooner you can get started shopping and saving.

2. Remember what it’s all about
The holidays are, ultimately, about spending time with friends, family and other loved ones, not getting into debt. So keep things in perspective when gearing up for this festive time of year. Homemade gifts and gently used items are great ways to spread holiday cheer without breaking the bank.

3. It’s OK to ask for help
Technology drives a lot of holiday savings opportunities these days, but digital shopping tools can be confusing, especially for first-time users. If a retailer’s mobile app or website seems too complicated, ask for help from a friend, family member or at your local community center or library. AARP’s guide to money-saving apps may also come in handy.

4. Follow your favorite retailers
Oftentimes to score big deals, you have to be in the know. That entails joining your favorite retailers’ email lists and following them on social media. Signing up for a retailer’s loyalty program can provide access to even more savings. One caveat: Some retailers require you to provide personal information, such as your phone number, when you sign up for their loyalty program, so be mindful of that. 

5. Search for coupon codes
The Internet can be a treasure trove of coupon codes that can save you cash. In many cases, all it takes is a simple Google search, says Kevin Brasler, executive editor of Consumers’ Checkbook, a resource for ratings, prices and reviews of businesses. (Google the retailer’s name and “coupon codes.”) Also, check out coupon code websites such as RetailMeNot, The Krazy Coupon Lady, and CouponCabin before making online purchases.

6. Save those receipts
The savings don’t always end at the cash register. You can save more if the product you’re buying has a rebate. Rebates, which are a popular marketing tool, require you to mail in or fill out a form online and provide proof of purchase. In return, you get cash back either via check, gift card, prepaid debit card, direct deposit or store credit. Note: Most rebates expire, generally within a few weeks, so mail or submit them online right away.

7. Time your purchases
You don’t have to wait until the holiday shopping season heats up to score big deals. For instance, on Nov. 20, 2023 — three days before Black Friday — electronics were already marked down 24.1 percent, toys were down 23.8 percent and apparel prices were down 20.8 percent, according to Adobe shopping data.

8. Embrace price adjustments
One of the fears about early holiday shopping is that you’ll miss out on bigger sales later. That may be true in some categories, but if you shop at a retailer that will retroactively make price adjustments if you contact their customer service department when you see prices fall, you’re in the clear, says Brasler. For instance, Apple, Target and Gap will provide price adjustments up to 14 days after purchase; Best Buy will match prices during the product’s return period, which is typically 15 days. Check the retailer’s policy before trying this strategy.

9. Shop around
The sooner you start, the more time you’ll have to shop around for the best offers. Starting early also puts you in a position to snag popular items before they sell out. Just make sure that you’re comparing products apples to apples. 

10. Devise a game plan for in-store shopping
Many retailers still offer exclusive Black Friday deals to in-store shoppers. Of course, you can’t be everywhere at once, so take a targeted approach. Mackenzie Shand, executive editor of Ziff Davis Shopping, recommends researching deals on the specific products that you want to purchase ahead of time and writing down the model numbers for big-ticket items like TVs, appliances and computers so that you don’t purchase the wrong products amid the mad dash.

11. Take advantage of cash-back portals
Coupon sites have evolved over the years, and today there are shopping portals that give consumers free access to cash-back deals, coupons and other discounts. (The sites get paid a commission to send business to retailer websites.) You can shop on your computer or mobile device at popular shopping portals such as CouponCabin, Ibotta, Rakuten, RetailMeNot or TopCashback.

12. Boost your savings during cash-back events
Offered by coupon websites, credit card companies and certain retailers, cash-back promotions are growing in popularity. On National Cash Back Day, which falls on the first Thursday in November, participating retailers offer customers extra cash back on purchases; last year a number of big-name retailers participated, including Neiman Marcus, Ray-Ban and Samsung.

13. Use a cash-back rewards credit card
Cash-back credit cards are a popular way to earn money back from purchases. Some cards give extra cash back in certain categories, like travel or groceries, while others rotate rewards quarterly or offer a flat rate across all purchases. The best way to save is to maximize these reward points based on how you shop. “Looking for a cash-back credit card that matches your spending style can get you more money to use toward Black Friday, especially if you find one with a big sign-up bonus,” says Andrea Woroch, shopping expert and money saving consultant. She pointed to one credit card that offers a $200 bonus when you spend $500 in the first three months of opening an account. “That can cover a good chunk of your holiday purchases.”

14. Track price changes
Some price comparison tools will track items for you and tell you when it’s the best time to purchase them. Camel Camel Camel monitors product prices on Amazon; Karma is a browser extension that tracks prices of products from an array of retailers, such as Bloomingdale’s, Finish Line and Levi’s, and Price.com lets you set price-drop alerts for specific products from over 100,000 stores, the site says.15.

15. Speak up — online
When shopping online, Jeanette Pavini, author of The Joy of Saving, recommends messaging a customer service rep via live chat to see if there are any promotions that aren’t widely advertised. “Many times, they will know of a special offer or discount that is not stated on the site or [has been] easily overlooked,” she says.

16. Stack your savings tools
Rossman suggests using several saving strategies at once whenever possible. “You can use a rewards credit card that you pay in full so you don’t owe interest,” he says, while also taking advantage of store promotions and shopping through an online cash-back portal (see step nine).

17. Be patient
Many retailers track your behavior online, and they know when you’ve put something in your shopping cart but didn’t purchase the item. Intrusive, yes, but also potentially beneficial. “When you are shopping on a site where you already have an account, abandoning the cart might trigger an additional discount. Retailers will send an email within a day or two reminding you that your cart still has items in it. Then, they may offer you an additional discount if you make that purchase,” says Pavini says. “There is no guarantee, and it’s not worth risking if you really need something. But if you can wait, you might get that email.”

18. Don’t be fooled by doorbuster deals
That 4K TV for $200 or designer handbag for $300 may seem like a steal, but not every deal advertised during Black Friday and Cyber Monday is a real bargain. Why? Because retailers sometimes bring in products to sell over Thanksgiving weekend and Cyber Monday that are either off-brand or of lower quality than similar products. Doorbuster items might also carry a shorter warranty than products that cost a bit more. If the price is low enough, these factors may not matter to you, but you’ll want to make an informed decision.

19. Avoid purchasing certain items
There are certain product categories where you can find better deals at other times of the year. Take appliances and mattresses for example; both tend to be cheaper during Labor Day and Memorial Day sales. Moreover, bedding and linen are cheapest in January, during “white sales” events. 

20. Avoid shipping costs by ordering online and picking up in-store
Last-minute shoppers are often forced to pay fees for expedited shipping to get their online orders on time for the holidays. One solution is to order items online and pick them up in the store. Some retailers, including Target and Walmart, offer curbside pickup — no small thing if you’re in a rush to pick up gifts from multiple stores.

21. Buy wrapping paper and other essentials at discount stores
Wrapping paper, tape and other single-use holiday decorations can cost quite a lot during the holiday season, especially around Black Friday and Cyber Monday. One way to save is to shop for these products at dollar and discount stores where you can get a roll of wrapping paper for around $1 apiece.

22. Buy used electronics
Many reputable retailers, including Amazon, Target and Walmart, sell certified refurbished electronics at discounted prices year-round. “These are promised to work and look like new, and [many] reputable retailers will offer a warranty, so you get peace of mind,” says Woroch.

23. Hunt for gift card deals
Gift cards are a coveted holiday gift year after year, research by the National Retail Federation shows. And it often pays to wait until December to purchase them, when many retailers, restaurants and other businesses offer discounted gift cards to drum up business. Be on the lookout for BOGO gift cards and other deals. Chipotle, Costco and Target are just a sampling of the retailers that have run gift card deals during the holidays in the past.

24. Bulk up
Around the holidays, warehouse clubs often sell gifts in bulk at a discount. You can easily pick up a three-pack of gingerbread-scented candles or holiday chocolates and save money by separating them into individual gifts. “Last holiday season, I found a set of three glass-jar candles from Target for $10, which provides three gifts for just over $3 apiece,” Woroch says. “In comparison, a 4-ounce individual glass jar candle was $5 [alone].”

25. Focus on in-stock items
National retailers like Best Buy, Target and Walmart display their in-stock inventory on their websites and mobile apps. Zeroing in on these items can help you avoid wasting time looking at out-of-stock items and risk missing out on limited-time sales.

About the Author
Donna Fuscaldo is a contributing writer and editor focusing on personal finance and health. She has spent over two decades writing and covering news for several national publications including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Investopedia and HerMoney.