While you’re busy shopping for gifts this holiday season, keep in mind there are numerous ways to save money beyond simply looking for sales and price cuts.

“You can cut costs on nearly anything, whether it’s a discount code, a first-time buyer discount, or joining a store’s loyalty program,” Samantha Gordon, a deals editor at Consumer Reports, shared with YSL News. “There are many ways to get a little extra off your total.”

Gordon pointed out that holiday shoppers are grappling with increased prices due to inflation along with added gift expenses.

“Finding ways to save is more crucial than ever,” she emphasized.

Retailers know consumers want deals

In response to the demand, retailers are stepping up by providing discounts.

“Retailers see this as a season full of deals,” noted Ted Rossman, a senior industry analyst at Bankrate, in an interview with YSL News. “They realize inflation is still a significant issue. With soaring interest rates, consumers are being more cautious, prompting retailers to offer discounts that resonate with shoppers.”

“They are eager to sell their inventory and are willing to adjust prices,” he added.

Rossman indicated that sales typically start at around 25% to 30% off, with some retailers providing deeper discounts of up to 50%.

However, don’t stop at just the initial discounts, Rossman advised. Look for various ways to combine discounts on top of sale prices.

Tips for finding holiday deals

Here are some tips from Gordon and Rossman to help you secure the best holiday deals:

• Verify the deal: Perform comparison shopping to confirm if a sale labeled as a Black Friday or Cyber Monday offer is genuinely lower, suggested Gordon. Occasionally, the price remains unchanged, and retailers simply use an enticing label. Research historical prices to determine if you’re getting a good deal.
• Use rewards credit cards: By making purchases with your rewards credit card, which you should ideally pay off in full each month, Rossman mentioned you can earn points or cash back. If you’re disciplined in repaying the total balance to avoid interest, consider applying for a new credit card that offers a sign-up bonus, potentially benefiting from it during the holiday season.
• Enroll in cash or points earning services: Programs like Rakuten or credit card-specific services such as Shop Through Chase can help you earn money while shopping by linking to retailers, Rossman explained. Check with your credit card provider for exclusive offers or digital coupons when you shop at certain stores.
• Explore secondhand options: You don’t always need the latest version, especially for tech gifts, Gordon noted. Explore older models. More people are becoming open to purchasing secondhand items without the associated stigma.

• Search for coupons: There are plenty of coupons available, especially online discount codes that can be applied while shopping. Use search engines like Google or websites like RetailMeNot to hunt for coupons, or take advantage of browser extensions like Honey or Capital One Shopping that automatically find and apply the most relevant coupon codes at checkout, recommended Gordon and Rossman. If the store permits, try to stack multiple coupons.
• Join loyalty programs for discounts: Signing up for a store’s loyalty program or providing your email can often grant you an initial discount on your first purchase, Gordon said. It’s advisable to unsubscribe from promotional emails afterward or create a separate email specifically for shopping promotions.
• Leave items in your online cart: While this doesn’t apply to every retailer, Gordon indicated that some retailers may lower prices or provide discounts if you leave items in your online cart. You can add items on Amazon to your cart or mark them as “save for later” to monitor price drops.
• Utilize free pricing tracking tools: Tools like Google Shopping can help you compare prices, and using the bell icon on Google Chrome can help track pricing changes. For tracking Amazon prices specifically, consider using tools such as CamelCamelCamel or Keepa, Gordon noted. While these tools aren’t always completely accurate and may not factor in discounts or special deals, they can offer a general idea of price trends.

Stay safe by following these recommendations.

• Be cautious of unbelievable deals: While we all appreciate a good bargain, if a price seems suspiciously low or comes from a third-party seller, proceed with caution. It could be a scam, meaning you might never receive the product. Even if the offer is genuine, the retailer might have a strict return policy that makes it tough to get your money back, according to Gordon.
• Utilize price-matching offers: Look up the policies of different retailers to see if you can receive a refund after buying an item if you spot it for less elsewhere. For example, Target allows you to request a price adjustment on items purchased after November 7 if the price drops before December 24.

If you find a better price for the same product at Walmart or Amazon within two weeks, you can ask for a price match. Many other retailers opt for similar policies, according to Gordon. However, matching prices on larger items, such as appliances, can be trickier due to different model numbers that retailers use to prevent easy price matching. Gordon mentioned that she has sometimes successfully contacted customer service and mentioned she would return an item unless they offered a refund for the price difference. Retailers might agree, despite having no partial refund policies, as they prefer to keep your business. Keep in mind, most retailers typically do not match prices on promotional events like Black Friday, as noted by Rossman.