Five helpful tips for holiday tech shopping.

The thought of braving hoards of Black Friday shoppers is enough to fill me with me with dread. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE a good bargain. I'm not a big fan of standing outside in the freezing cold at three in the morning. I've compiled a list of my top five helpful tips for holiday tech shopping. There are definitely ways to get those must have items on your list, without spending all of your hard-earned cash.

1. Research, research, research. If you want to save the big bucks on your tech purchases you have to know what you're looking for. Sometimes you don't need a name brand in order to have a quality product. Investigate consumer and professional reviews to find out which product best suits your needs. I like to read the consumer reviews on the retailer's website. I like to check CNET for tech reviews. If you're not going to use your TV to connect to the internet, then there's no need to buy a television with that capability. Just because it has all the bells and whistles, doesn't mean that it's what you need - you may be spending money for unnecessary features. 
2. Comparison Shop. One of my favorite tools to comparison shop is froogle.google.com. All you have to do is enter the name of the product and Google will pull up the stores that carry the item and the price they're asking. It can be a tremendous time-saver when you can have all of the information in one convenient place. 
3. Check out Craigslist and E-bay. Sometimes you can find great buys on used products by checking out sites like Craigslist and E-bay. Just make sure that the seller is reputable, and NEVER send money over Craigslist for an item you've never seen. It's best to meet the seller in a public place to look at the item before purchasing, I like to take my husband or a friend along for safety sake. 
4. Many places will price match competitor's ads. If your local store has sold out of the hot discounted TV you've had your eye on, try the store next door. Many places will match or even BEAT the advertised price - just make sure that it's for the same exact item. 
5. Take advantage of holiday specials. I heard on the news this week that the best time to buy a TV was in mid-December. Many stores are anxious to receive your holiday spending money. Pay attention to online and print advertisements. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are obviously key bargain shopping times, but great deals can be found throughout the holiday season if your looking. There are tons of fabulous blogs devoted to these bargain hunting quests. A quick Google search should pull up some great resources.

I'd love to hear about your favorite money-saving tips! Do you have a favorite bargain-hunting website? Where do you find the best deals for those on your Christmas list?




“I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Staples blogging program, making me eligible for a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”