Revealed: How and Where to Find this Holiday Season's Biggest Deals

(ARA) - The holidays will be here before you know it, and with the current state of the economy, consumers may be wondering how they are going to afford to be festive this year. Budgets are stretched extremely thin, but that doesn't mean you have to take on the persona of Scrooge. You simply have to be more creative with your spending. Below are suggestions for taking the stress and exhaustion out of gift giving and finding some of the greatest deals out there.

Start by cutting back on those little extras, which may be nice but aren't necessary, like mailing holiday cards. Instead you can be resourceful by sending e-cards or e-mailing holiday messages to friends and loved ones.

In addition to cutting back, it's also a good idea to shop smarter and faster. Here are some ideas for comparing prices and finding bargains:

1. Do holiday gift shopping online.
All of the major retailers have an online presence, and many offer significant savings if consumers shop through their Web sites. Some retailers will even offer free shipping.

According to a recent survey done by the National Retail Federation (NRF), online shopping will experience a significant increase this year. Of the 200 people surveyed in the study, 25 percent said they planned to shop online this year. The top two reasons given were to find deals and to save gas money.

But those aren't the only reason consumers like Marisa Olson of Philadelphia, Pa., will choose to shop online this year. "I like shopping online for the convenience of it, and because it allows me to comparison shop without having to run all over town to check prices," says Olson, who is happy to share her secret for finding the best deals online. Rather than logging on to the sites of several individual retailers to check prices, she uses Microsoft's Live Search cashback (www.live.com/cashback) to find the best deals.

The site has partnerships with hundreds of the nation's major retailers to offer brand name products at bargain prices. Simply log on to www.live.com/cashback, and enter the name of the product you are looking for into the search box and the site will bring up the best prices available at several different stores, it will even show you which stores offer free shipping. Click on the deal you like best, and if you make a purchase, in addition to a great price, you will also get a cashback rebate which comes directly from Microsoft.

"I recently bought a Louis Vuitton bag and saved over 20 percent. I got more than $200 deposited into my PayPal account. That's a great thing, considering it was a splurge that I wouldn't have made otherwise," says Olson.

2. Hit end-of-the-season clearance sales.
Many people start shopping for gifts early, this enables them to take advantage of end-of-the-season sales. Fall is a great time to shop for house wares, clothing, footwear and even electronics. It's not uncommon to find items marked 50, 60 or even 70 percent off since stores are desperate to clear out inventory in order to bring sales numbers up and make room for winter merchandise.

3. Shop at local consignment shops.
Who wants to pay retail prices for the holiday outfit they will probably only wear once anyway? This requires investing a little time thumbing through the racks, but finding some great bargains at your local consignment shop can be a triumphant moment. These stores only accept clothes that are gently used and in good shape, so shoppers don't need to worry about overspending or skimping on quality.

4. Buy in bulk.
Another strategy many people can use to save money is to buy in bulk. Warehouse stores carry a wide range of seasonal merchandise, including holiday party supplies. But before purchasing a holiday party kit that includes 100 plates decorated with poinsettias, red plastic ware and a tablecloth only useable once, considering potential waste is important.

5. Reuse some of last year's holiday supplies.
Perhaps the best way to save money is to reuse some of last year's holiday supplies. Decorating the tree with old ornaments every year is widely accepted, so why not reuse ribbons, gift boxes and tinsel too?

Courtesy of ARAcontent