6 Ways to Get Holiday Deals

1. Get a discount.

Use an online price tracker, such as Pricepinx or CamelCamelCamel. Paribus automatically refunds price drops on purchases made at nearly 30 major retailers. Honey automatically applies coupon codes.

Best Tools to Save on Online Shopping

2. Get in line on Thanksgiving for Black Friday deals.

Hot items go fast, so plan on having an early Thanksgiving dinner and shopping on Thursday evening. Review Black Friday ads to see what’s on sale—store circulars may feature extra coupons.

3. Or wait for Cyber Monday specials.

Load up your online shopping carts during Black Friday weekend. Popular products sell fast, so be ready to click “purchase” as soon as the deal goes live, and have coupon codes ready.

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4. Get free shipping.

December 15 is Free Shipping Day, but it’s not the only day you can avoid shipping charges. FreeShippingDay.com, RetailMeNot.com and BradsDeals.com list retailers that offer free shipping, often with no minimum purchase.

5. Let Alexa do the shopping for you.

Amazon Prime users can ask the Echo digital assistant to find deals. Last year’s savings ranged from $15 to $130 on a variety of products, from Samsung TVs to Lego box sets. (Google Assistant may tip you off to similar deals.) Worried about porch thieves? Ask Alexa if there’s an Amazon locker near you. No extra charge.

6. Get a last-minute deal.

Kohl’s and Target, among other retailers, offer doorbusters and extended hours until Christmas Eve. Check online for last-minute discounts and free or discounted rush shipping. Christmas is on a Monday, and many online retailers will guarantee delivery if you order by Thursday, December 21, and choose overnight delivery.

Wojno was formerly research director for data-intensive projects such as Kiplinger's college and mutual fund rankings. He has worked as a newswire reporter and newsletter editor for Dow Jones, covering convertible bonds, REITs and mutual funds. He also served as market research manager for Keane Federal Systems, an IT consultancy. He received a BA in communications and computer science as well as a MBA from George Washington University.