Shop for deals long before Black Friday

I'm writing this column on the eve of Labor Day, and chances are you've not yet celebrated Halloween as you read it. But if you think it's too early to begin your holiday shopping, think again.

The most important thing I learned last year was that shopping on a timetable (the holidays, in this case) isn't always productive. I bought my HDTV (a 42-inch Panasonic 1080p plasma) during a Veteran's Day sale at Sears.com, and the price went up the next day, never to sink to the same level until well into the new year. So my top holiday shopping tip is, if you see a great deal, pounce on it.

Of course, I wouldn't have known the price was good if I hadn't done some research earlier in the year. So my second holiday shopping tip is to start checking prices now so you'll be able to recognize a bargain when you see one.

Holiday Shopping Preparation

You probably don't have time to scour all the deal sites every day, so tip number three is to get on one or more good deal-site mailing lists (see my column "Top Sites for Bargain Hunters"), and sign up now, not the day before Thanksgiving. I was alerted to the Sears.com sale by e-mail from a Black Friday site, Black Friday Ads, that I'd signed up for in a prior year.

Other Black Friday sites with mailing lists include Black Friday@GottaDeal.com and BlackFridayads.com. And check out some of the deal sites discussed in my earlier column, especially if you're serious about year-round bargain hunting. If you're not, the Black Friday strategy guide posted at Dealnews.com last year looked pretty sound to me.

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