Get the best Black Friday deals without the Black Friday crowds, and a week before the mayhem and madness! Shop online for the most convenient purchasing experience, with free expedited shipping options, special offers and online coupon code discounts; not to mention avoiding the vicious crowds and "out of stock" signs.

Let CouponShack.com be your guide for a pleasant and affordable holiday shopping experience and get started by checking out our Black Friday Saver Section where the holiday deals and discounts are already beginning to stack up! Plus, to help you with your planning, here are some tips for saving a little extra money this weekend.

Tips to Maximize Savings on Black Friday and Cyber Monday

1. In case you haven't done so already, create a list of everyone you plan to shop for this holiday season, including family, friends, service workers and co-workers. This will eliminate the possibility of forgetting someone and causing you to have to enter the arena with all the other last-minute shopping desperados.
2. Along with this list I'm sure you have at least some sort of idea on what you'll be purchasing for each individual on your gift list. Go ahead and jot down some ideas next to each name in order to avoid aimless wandering and searching while you shop. It's also a good idea to jot down a maximum spend limit for each individual in order to stick to your budget. Only you know what your particular budget is, but be frugal while considering a thoughtful gift idea.
3. Now it's time for the fun part- shopping while saving money! Shopping online actually does make the experience more enjoyable because it's much easier to find the best deals on what you're looking for without having to shop at midnight, at the wee hours of the morning or deal with thousands of other desperate shoppers. At this point it would be a great idea to browse our Top 25 Black Friday Online Coupons as well as the rest of our most current holiday deals that are already available. There are new additions to this list everyday so be sure to check it out all week long, especially on Black Friday.
4. Have your budget gift list with you while you browse these Black Friday coupons and deals so you can mark any online retailers and special offers that apply to items and recipient preferences on your list. You will already see savings going back in your wallet!
5. Now at this point it's pretty much up to you to make the best purchase decisions based on your particular holiday budget, and only you know exactly what your family and friends would like to receive as a gift. Just always remember to look for an online coupon or special offer before completing any purchase. If you don't see a promotional offer or discount for a particular merchant on our Black Friday deals list, search for a brand or online store and you're sure to turn up a great deal because they're are all over the place this time of year!

Now we can't forget about Cyber Monday, which is the day when shoppers can find the best deals at all their favorite online retailers. The same savings tips above can easily be applied to Cyber Monday shopping, but remember to stop by the CouponShack.com Cyber Monday Deals & Coupons section, which is listed alphabetically by retailer for maximum convenience. Now, some Cyber Monday deals are already available, but not nearly as many that will be on November 28th!

Also remember to stop by our Santa Savers section all December long for the best deals and online coupons for holiday shoppers!

Posted by Ryan on November 24, 2011     Tags: Black Friday Deals , Cyber Monday Deals

Written by Danielle Leonard from The Frugal Navy Wife

Black Friday falls on the day after Thanksgiving and has earned the reputation of being the busiest shopping day of the year. The name was adopted from an accounting term - red ink denotes a negative profit margin, where as "in the black" denotes a positive profit margin. Many retailers make or break their sales goals between Thanksgiving and Christmas, with the season kicking off on the Friday after Thanksgiving, hence the name "Black Friday."

1. Check Out the Ads- Your local Thanksgiving Day newspaper will be stuffed like your Thanksgiving turkey with ads, coupons, and circulars. It will also help you organize your day to maximize savings, since many stores offer special discounts that are time specific. Example: Receive an extra 10 percent off if you shop before 11 a.m. Also keep an eye on those ads online HERE(http://bfads.net/)
2. Do Your Research Before Friday- If you are hoping to scoop up a deal on Friday on a big-ticket item, go ahead and get your research out of the way as soon as possible. A bad product is a bad deal no matter how cheap it costs. So do you research and know what brands you want and which ones to stay away from.
3. Compare Prices- Utilize price-comparison Internet shopping sites such as PriceGrabber.com to assist you in comparing product prices. Compare the "options" included with the product. Some retailers will low-ball the advertised price on a stripped down product, and then you will be charged extra for the necessary parts that will make the product perform as expected. A good example of this is often seen with super low-priced computer printers that come without the cable (cord) or printer ink.
4. Fly Solo- That may sound like no fun, and most advice on Black Friday says to pal up for the day. But unless your shopping partner is more of a personal assistant to follow you around and do your bidding, shopping with another person (or worse, a group) will only slow you down. You'll spend time chatting and browsing on another person's agenda instead of your own. If you get separated, as will surely happen, you'll spend too much time trying to track down the other person. Carpooling, on the other hand, is a great idea. But just go with the expectation that you'll split up and meet back at the car at an appointed time.
5. Beat the Crowds with Night Owl Discounts on Thanksgiving Look for Early Bird Shopper Discounts- Internet shoppers can beat the early birds by shopping online in the pre-dawn hours of Black Friday. Many retailers will be posting their Black Friday specials, which can be ordered online and picked-up at your local store. Special "Web only" deals will also be available starting as early as Thanksgiving eve. Many of the aggressive outlet malls and factory stores will be opening Thursday at midnight, with early bird promotions in hopes of capturing your dollars before the competition has opened. Last year Toys R Us did a midnight sale before other store opened and man was it crowed they sold out of so much before the other stores opened.
   
   The Early Bird Shopper will be the real winner on Black Friday. Stores offering early-day shopper specials usually run the deals from 5 a.m. until 11 a.m. and with no "rain checks," which means once they run out of the products, you are out of luck. Scanning the ads and planning you trip in advance will help you get the best deals AND save on gas!!
6. Bring the Ads- Many stores offer a "lowest-price" guarantee; however you may be required to produce a copy of the exact product being advertised for less. Most local retailers will not meet Internet prices even when the product is advertised on the same company's website, but it cannot hurt to try. Print the Web page that details the product and shows the advertised price. It may give you additional bargaining power and push the sales person into waiving other charges such as assembly fees.
7. Dress Lightly, Carry a Big Calculator- Leave your coat in the car, dress in layers, have snacks in your pockets and make sure you bring some kind of mathematical device to add up your purchases. The most important thing you can do so you don't blow your Black Friday budget is keep track of what's going in your cart, either with an electronic device or notepad. That said, the other important thing to remember is that you need to set a budget limit for yourself before you set foot out your door. Don't just go and graze, like you would at an all-you-can eat buffet.
8. Ask for Gift Receipts- Gift receipts generally include a description of the item purchased but do not disclose the price paid. Including gift receipts inside the gift box will make returns or exchanges easier for the gift recipient. Without proof-of-purchase, the recipient may be turned down for returning or exchanging the item or risk receiving an exchange for the current selling price of the item.
   
   Since many retailers begin permanently slashing prices as soon as Black Friday is over, the difference between what you pay for a gift during December and what it sells for in January can be significant. Including a gift-receipt should help insure a hassle-free return experience for gift recipients.
9. Put down the TV- Is this the year you're upgrading to a big-screen HDTV? Don't do it on Black Friday. You might think you're getting some extra-special deal, but you're probably not. Retailers will be trying to move HDTVs and other major electronics all season, so this one day will not be the rock-bottom. Besides, can you imagine the kind of service you're going to get on a busy shopping day? If you're plunking down over a grand, you want to ask your questions and get the attention you need - something you won't get on Black Friday.
10. Saying "Charge It" Can Pay Off- Obviously, there is no bargain in running up high credit card bills and paying big interest rates; however, with proper spending disciplines intact, using the right charge card can be of value to consumers. Many credit card companies entice consumers with free benefits, which include extended free warranties, return protection and sale price protection.
    • Warranty Coverage - Your credit card company may offer to double or triple a manufacturer's warranty for free on a product you purchase - a good option instead of purchasing a service contract that costs money and has a shorter duration period.
    • Return Protection - A credit card company may guarantee a refund on a product up to 90 days where as the store may not. This is becoming particularly more important as retailers stiffen the allotted return days.
    • Sale Price Protection - Some of the credit card companies will offer this protection and refund you the difference if a product you buy is marked down further than the price you paid within a certain time frame (usually 60 days).

About the Author: I have been writing since high school, I started to get more serious about it when I started writing at Associated Content and I have had over 100 articles published! I got into couponing after my son was born and I became a SAHM. I started following a lot of frugal blogs and wanted to get back into writing so after my daughter was born I created The Frugal Navy Wife and have been blogging ever since. I am a Navy wife and a mother to 2 kids 16 month apart and under 2! So stretching our money as far as we can is a must is allows for us to be able to do fun things with the kids.

Posted by Ryan on November 04, 2010     Tags: Black Friday Deals

written by: Rhian Gillam

It may not be something that you want to think about just yet but the holiday season is fast approaching and it can be an expensive time of year. With only 3 paydays to go before Christmas now is the time to start thinking about starting your shopping to avoid the last minute rush. There are several ways to ensure that the costs don’t spiral out of control leaving you paying off your purchases well into the next year, here are a few suggestions.

Voucher Codes and Coupons

Before you buy anything always check to see if there are any money off vouchers or coupons available to help save money on your final bill. There are always large numbers of vouchers available on a huge range of products, whether it be fashion, beauty or food. The vouchers on offer are continually renewed and updated, so it would be an advantage to keep checking to see what new vouchers and discounts are become available

Shop Around

Prices in the shops are extremely competitive at this time of year with stores offering a range of deals and discounts to try and entice you to shop with them. Rather than pounding the street going from shop to shop, use price comparison sites to find the best deal in your area.

All bring a bowl

Food at Christmas can be very expensive especially if you have a lot of family coming for Christmas dinner. A way to reduce this could be to ask everyone coming to all bring a portion of the dinner ranging from the starter, vegetables for the main to desert. This will not only help save on the cost of the food but also on the time it would take to make the meal allowing for more time to be spent with the family.

Secret Santa

Buying presents for all of your friends can soon add up, one way to get around this may be to arrange a Secret Santa. Set a budget for how much you will each spend on the present and draw names out of a hat. This will keep the costs down but still allow presents to be exchanged. The same could be done for the children of your friends, buying something for them all can soon add up; doing Secret Santa would avoid this.

Make it yourself

Whilst making presents can be time consuming, there are certain aspects of Christmas that you could make or save money on by getting creative and making them yourself. For instance making Christmas cards for the immediate family can be an easy way to reduce costs and can be very personal. Getting the children involved can also be a great way to keep them entertained. You can also get them to make decorations for the Christmas tree, giving it a personal touch that can be kept for years to come.

About the author
Article written by Rhian Gillam of the Vouchers Team in Moneysupermarket.com
Twitter @Rhian_Gillam and @VoucherExpert

Posted by Sok on October 20, 2010     Tags: Black Friday Deals

1. Sell your junk - Look around your house and take inventory of the things you either don't need or don't use anymore and sell them on eBay, Craigslist, or your local classifieds. You will be surprised with what you can get for items like old clothes, furniture, appliances, CDs, DVDs, etc.
2. Open a Christmas savings account - No, it's not too late as long as you contribute to it each week. When this Christmas is over, just continue saving for next Christmas. Just check out ING Direct for some of the most competitive high interest savings rates.
3. Buy gifts in bulk - Look for opportunities to purchase gifts in bulk. Not only will you save on shipping, but it also allows you to use larger discount coupons because of the minimum purchase requirements. This doesn't mean just buy multiple quantities of the same item, but also applies to multiple items from the same online store.
4. Buy gifts for hours of pleasure - Give a magazine or newspaper subscription. It doesn't cost much and provides hours of enjoyment each month. Check out Best Deal Magazines for a huge list of magazine subscriptions with discounts up to 85% off the newsstand price. A subscription to The Wall Street Journal makes a very nice present to a college student.
5. Buy pre-owned or refurbished - Buying "new" really doesn't matter that much when buying items like books, movies, CDs, video games, etc. Check out stores like Alibris and SecondSpin. You'll save 50% or more without any loss of quality. For other items such as electronics and appliances, consider buying it refurbished. Practically all the factory direct retailers offer refurbished items now. Plus, they back these items with their own manufacturer's warranty. To name a few, check out Dell, HP Home, Apple, Abt Electronics, and RefurbDepot for these refurbished deals.
6. Make your own gifts - Making your own gifts are not only cheaper, but can also be more meaningful. Some ideas are making your own Christmas ornaments (Michael's), recipe books (Shutterfly), calendars (Snapfish), scrapbooks (S&S Worldwide), fresh baked bread (Cooking.com), & personalized gifts (PersonalizationMall).
7. Create your own Christmas cards - Create a photo card or design your own Christmas card for that extra touch. Save by printing in bulk from an online printer such as VistaPrint. Also, consider sending postcards this year instead of a folding card. Not only is it cheaper to print, but it's also cheaper to mail!
8. Conserve energy - This is often the thing that gets overlooked when it comes to saving during the holidays. Everyday things such as turning off lights and lowering the temperature on the thermostat are obvious, but one thing that is not so obvious are the Christmas lights. Replacing your existing Christmas lights with LED lights provide as much as 80% in energy savings. Just check out Christmas Lights Etc for everything related to Christmas lights.
9. Stay in this year - Don't go out. Entertain at home. Get out the cards and board games. Have a family movie night. Consider a Netflix subscription. With their new service you can instantly watch and rent movies right from your Tivo or computer.
10. Check for double and triple coupons - The best way to find out is to visit your local grocery store's website and subscribe to their alerts. Once the promotion begins, just visit CouponShack.com to print out your grocery coupons.
11. Plan ahead on your meals - Go ahead and decide on your Christmas menu. Make a list of all your ingredients and start stocking up now whenever you see a coupon for an item or a sale on the item. Stock up on pantry and freezer items now and perishables later.
12. Early doorbusters - Doorbusters are not just for Black Friday. Retailers are offering these doorbuster deals early. Keep CouponShack.com bookmarked for updates on all the early doorbuster deals.

Posted by Sok on November 12, 2009     Tags: Black Friday Deals , Cyber Monday Deals , Twelve Days Of Christmas , Last Minute Christmas Shopping

As you'll see from from our timer on the home page, there's only about 14 days left until Black Friday. That means only 14 more days until the entire country simultaneously converges on all of the most popular retailers. Hopefully everyone has studied up and done their homework so the day doesn't have to be any crazier than it already will be. By homework I mean having a plan and taking the necessary steps in ensuring that the day goes by as smoothly as possible (if at all possible!). Taking on Black Friday without a plan is like walking into a gauntlet. It's very important to be prepared by knowing who you're shopping for, where you will be doing your shopping, and what your budget is. Sit down and actually write these down. List all the stores you plan on visiting, then beside each store list the names of family and friends which can be shopped for at that particular retailer. This will allow you to efficiently shop for everyone on your Christmas list, and it eliminates frantically running around or having to go back to a store you've already been to. And as always, it is important to have, and remain within, a budget. The best way to make sure you don't overspend is by carrying cash and leaving the plastic at home.

You should also be sure to check all your newspapers and catalogs to see which stores actually have the best deals. Stop by CouponShack's Black Friday Page where you'll find newspaper ads to all of the most popular Black Friday retailers, Black Friday shopping and savings tips, and some great Black Friday Deals and coupons that are available online. Remember, the majority of retailers open extremely early and CouponShack has a list of store hours for Black Friday so be sure to check it out and beat the crowd.

Posted by Ryan on November 12, 2009     Tags: Black Friday Deals

Every year the holiday season gets stretched longer and longer. In years past we wouldn't see holiday ads until Thanksgiving. Then it got stretched to the week of Thanksgiving. Now we're seeing holiday ads the day after Halloween. In the same sense, door buster bargains are now being offered earlier and earlier. Some retailers are trying to get ahead of the game by pre-announcing weeks in advance. In fact, there are quite a few Black Friday ads out already. This has spurred others to go ahead and release some door buster deals prior to Black Friday.

What retailers have done is offer these door buster deals over a short 2-3 day stretch, usually over a weekend, through their online outlet. Stores like Macy's have been doing this on a regular basis for a while, but in recent weeks have really stepped up their efforts. They recently had a up to 60% off sale on all home items plus free shipping and an additional 15% off on top of all of that!

Other retailers have taken a more extreme approach in offering door buster deals over a 3-4 hour window, usually around lunch time EST. The Great Indoors, an online outlet of Sears, did this recently from 9am - 12pm EST. They called it their "Shopping Spree Doorbusters". An example sale item was 20% off the lowest price of all Kenmore appliances.

A third approach by retailers is offer discounts on a later purchase. They're using this method to not only get the sale now, but to also secure a sale for the future. As an example, New York & Co has a 30% off sale going on right now through their online store. As a bonus incentive, for every $30 you spend, New York & Co will give you a $15 discount card towards your next purchase. This discount card is only valid in stores and only from November 11-15th. This approach is becoming more and more popular because it gets the customer to continue coming back throughout the holiday season.

Over the years, retailers have become more and more aggressive in their approach to the holiday season. This year, however, seems almost over the top aggressive, due to the current economic climate. That means we the consumer can expect to see some of the best deals appear not just on Black Friday, but for all of Black November. So, to help our consumers, we've created a section on CouponShack.com that highlights each doorbuster deal or promotion that we come across for the entire holiday season. Don't wait until Black Friday for doorbuster deals. They are happening now. Let us monitor the deals for you so all you will have to do is make your list, check it twice, and buy when the price is right!

Posted by Sok on November 04, 2009     Tags: Thanksgiving Day Savings , Black Friday Deals , Cyber Monday Deals