5 Holiday Saving and Shopping Tips

Where to find this holiday season's hottest deals & steals. Plus: How one online shopper got a laptop for just $200.

Chanize Thorpe is a shopping maven. In a heartbeat, she'll tell you — laughing all the while — about the best deal she ever got. It was a laptop that set her back a measly $200. And, get this: It came with a free printer. Then there was the time she stood outside Wal-Mart at 4 a.m. to snatch up a $75 DVD player for $19.To her, Thorpe admits shopping is a bit of a sport — one she plays competitively.

It's not only the dollar-stretching, she says, but the thrill of getting something without paying full price that entices her. “The Web sites I go to are for die-hard bargain shoppers, who are willing to do just about anything to nab the lowest price,” says the 34-year-old mother of three from Montgomery, NY. “I'm able to buy my daughters things I couldn't otherwise afford. That makes them happy.”

According to a recent Gallup Poll, 35 percent of American adults plan to fork over upwards of $1,000 on holiday gifts this season. If they do, shoppers will spend more this year than they have in any holiday season in the past decade, says Judith Kenneman, spokesperson for Gallup. Just in time for this year's yuletide shopping spree, Grandparents.com asked Thorpe, veteran deal hunter, and Karen Hoxmeier, founder of MyBargainBuddy.com to fill us in on where to snag this season's hottest deals.

Mine for Coupons & Codes

Internet shoppers score mega-deals. If you haven't already, take the plunge. Remember Thorpe's bargain Dell laptop? To get that rock-bottom price, she double-dipped online, meaning that first, the laptop went on sale. Then, she entered in coupon codes (found on Slickdeals.net) at checkout. She printed out and followed directions on how to stack the coupons (posted on the site by a bargain mastermind) and — voila! — a new laptop for a fraction of the original price.

“It's simple!” says Hoxmeier, a 34-year-old mother who founded MyBargainBuddy.com in 1999. “Finding online deals is easier than clipping grocery-store coupons. And you'll save much more!” On her site, simply click on a store name to see a list of active coupons and their expiration dates. Other bargain-shopping sites to scour: Flamingoworld.com and Fatwallet.com. Don't see coupons for your merchant of choice? Just go to your browser, type in the store name and the word "coupons" and say good-bye to paying full price. Tip: This year, high-end retailers such as Fossil, Nordstrom's, and Macy's have jumped online and posted coupons for the first time.

Price Match, Price Slash

So, the Sunday circular arrived. You have the grandchildren's wish lists in hand. Let's say the doodad your grandson is pining for is on sale at Target. Don't just snip it, says Thorpe, but take the clipping to Wal-Mart or another store that stocks the same item and honors price matching. Better than selling it to you at the sale price listed, many stores will slice an additional 10 percent off the price tag. Do your homework early: Find out if your favorite stores price match by calling the customer service desk or looking for a price-matching policy online.

Second-Hand Shops, First-Hand Goods

A little secret not a lot of shoppers know about, says Thorpe, is that the items on the clearance racks at Target that don't sell end up — brand new — at the Goodwill. And, you'll also find toys and children's clothing there, with tags still on them, at dirt-cheap prices.

If you can brave long, shoulder-to-shoulder lines, you'll catch to-die-for deals the day after Thanksgiving, known as opening day for the holiday shopping season. It's said that Black Friday first got its name from the plumes of smoke heavy traffic would send into the air. Nowadays, the term refers to the first day that retailers turn a profit and are therefore in the black, not red. Do the research by checking the Sunday newspaper to see which stores are having what sales. Tip: Web sites such as slickdeals.net provide a sneak preview of Black Friday sales.

To find the real steals and hottest toys likely to sell out, getting to Black Friday early is key. Shoppers on this day start waiting in line as early as 4 a.m. That's because they want to get in on the doorbusters — outstanding deals available only for the first few hours of sale day. At the blitz, says Hoxmeier, “identify what you want before you go, and stick with that. If it's a Bratz doll, just get that — and walk out. That sale item is the carrot stores dangle to get you in the door. Grab it and turn around.”

Tip: In response to in-line sales that attract the masses, the National Retail Federation's Shop.org coined the term Cyber Monday, that follows Black Friday. It's when Web sites will offer special promotions and cut prices.

Go Ahead, Buck the Trend

“Try not to let the kids fall for the marketing hype,” says Hoxmeier. “Remember Ferbies? Your grandchildren don't either. This year's hot toys will end up in next year's giveaway pile.” Hoxmeier suggests that grandparents buy personalized gifts for grandchildren ages 10 to 18.

If your granddaughter likes horses or ballerinas, why not buy her a porcelain figurine to place on her shelf? She'll look at it years from now and remember when Grandma and Grandpa gave it to her as a little girl.

Check out the selection at San Francisco Music Box, suggests Hoxmeier, where you can find music boxes and figurines for as low as — hold your breath — $10. “With your grandchildren, sentimental value outweighs the monetary value. Trendy gifts are unwrapped with a big bang, but personalized gifts won't later be tossed away.”