The holiday season has arrived, and as hundreds of millions of people shop online for gifts, you’re bound to be one of them. According to the National Retail Federation, more than 103 million people did just that over Thanksgiving weekend. But while shopping online is convenient, shipping costs can add up, and there’s always the temptation to overspend. (And overspending, in turn, can be bad for your credit score. You can monitor how your credit card balances may be affecting your credit by viewing your free credit report card each month on Credit.com.)
To that end, we’ve compiled a list of sites that round up deals both online and off. As we’ve mentioned before, it’s best to do your homework beforehand so you know what to expect — and what you can save on.
1. Brad’s Deals
The gold standard of deal sites, Brad’s Deals features deal alerts, promo codes and printable coupons from 3,800 national stores. And the variety is far better than what you’ll find elsewhere, ranging from art and decor to fashion and sports gear. The site is also easy to navigate: Simply look up a store, then click in the left-hand margin to sift through bargains.
2. DealNews
When it comes to keeping tabs on the best online deals, DealNews is hard to beat. Not only are deals broken down into helpful categories, they’re updated around the clock. Expect to find promo codes, shipping info and expiration dates, plus a blurb from DealNews’s writers on whether the deal is even worth it.
3. FatWallet
FatWallet has been alive and kicking for some time now, thanks to their lively forum threads. The front page features deals for big-box stores, but the forums are far more useful, as members share everything from travel news to hotel promotions. You can definitely get lost here.
4. Gotta Deal
Gotta Deal rounds up deals for both physical and online stores. You’ll find promo codes for apparel site 6pm.com alongside alerts for one-year membership specials at BJ’s Wholesale Club. It’s not the best-looking site, but those willing to do the work can turn up promo codes they might not find elsewhere.
5. RetailMeNot
From restaurants to indie dressmakers, RetailMeNot features an impressive selection of stores. And not just big-box retailers but mid-tier retailers like J. Crew Factory and Victoria’s Secret. You can search by store to see if there are any free shipping codes, printable coupons or ongoing sales.
6. Slick Deals
Gamers and those with a soft spot for drones seem to be Slick Deals’ target audience. PlayStation 4 and Xbox One games are in constant rotation, and most featured deals are for some type of electronics. You can find deals in other categories such as apparel and jewelry, but they’re not as abundant.
7. Woot!
The daily deals site purchased by Amazon in 2010, Woot! still acts like its parent company, serving up deals on everything under the sun. Cooks, gardeners and wine snobs alike can find something to love on this massive site. The expiration notes are helpful, as is the ability to make direct purchases.
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