Guest Author - Cate Brizzell

Are you a traditional "Black Friday" shopper, spending your Thanksgiving evening researching the circulars and getting up before dawn the next day to hit the stores and score unbelievable deals? Or are you one of those who think it's really not worth the hassle?

Do you prefer to shop online? Are you wondering whether you get the best deals when shopping online? How do you make online shopping as effective as shopping in-store?

I did early-morning Black Friday marathons for several years. Lately, I've purchased Christmas gifts almost exclusively online. I've found that both methods offer ways to save considerable amounts of money. Both methods are more particularly suited to certain types of gifts. And both shopping methods offer their own sets of pros and cons.

Before you begin any holiday shopping at all, there are certain things you need to do in order to maximize your efforts (and budget). Take a few moments to follow the tips below and you'll find your holidays are much more stress-free and joy-filled.

Have a budget and master gift list prepared in mid-October. I've been organizing our gift-giving for nearly a decade now, and I've found that it not only helps us save money and stay on track when it comes to holiday spending, it greatly reduces stress and last-minute impulse buys.

If you know exactly whom you have to buy for, how much you can spend and a short list of items that would work as gifts, you can make fast and efficient decisions when good buys present themselves, online or offline. Get your kids going on their lists in early October! You want to make sure Santa has plenty of time to get his plans in order, not just mom and dad and grandma.

Separate your gift items according to type and size. Categorize your gift list by type and size. Some example categories include: electronics, large toys, small toys, clothes, home decor, unique. Why do this? Chances are you'll buy all your electronic gifts at one store that's having a big sale. Same with toys. Same with home decor. Why is size a factor? Because you may want to buy your larger items in-store and avoid hefty shipping charges, versus purchasing smaller items online and taking advantage of "free shipping" offers.

Plan to purchase multiple quantities of the same item. Hot toy this year? Give one to every age-appropriate niece and nephew. Found a funny, unique item you know all your siblings would love to have? Buy one for each! This has a double and triple impact when combined with sale prices, shipping deals and other offers. Not only that, it saves you time and effort.

Buy unique and personal items throughout the year as you see them. Nothing feels worse than wishing you'd bought Grandpa that funny fly-fishing mug when you were on vacation. If you know it's something they'll love that you may never come across again, and you know it'll be within your price range, buy it when you see it.

Set up a planning system you can use year after year. Take all the lists I've mentioned above and make blank master copies. Put them in a binder. Each year in early October pull out your binder and plan the upcoming year's budget and lists. It only takes a few minutes and it's well worth the effort. Soon your system will become second nature and you'll find each year's holiday shopping is more and more enjoyable.

Be ready to shop before Thanksgiving in order to avoid sell-outs. I've found that toy stores are putting out their Christmas sale flyers earlier and earlier, offering deals that used to appear just a week or two before Christmas. Because more and more people are shopping online to begin with, this means popular items will sell out more quickly. Not only that, items become backordered, and shipping times are extended. If you don't want to stress about having a special gift arrive on your doorstep in time for Christmas Day, you should consider buying before Thanksgiving Day, especially if there's a sale price and/or shipping deal involved.

Use your list to research after-Thanksgiving sale flyers. Grab your Thanksgiving Day paper and quickly analzye the sale flyers while you're making room for pumpkin pie. Go through your list. See any great deals? Mark 'em down! Have a separate sheet of paper to note stores/websites and the exact items you want to buy. Also note any sale times or special coupon codes. Use this information to plan your offline excursions the next day, and/or online buying strategy.

Don't just buy gifts. Buy for yourself, too. Take advantage of after-Thanksgiving sales to buy things you want and need! Last year we wanted a stero surround-sound system to replace one that was nearly broken-down. The Sears after-Thanksgiving flyer had a great deal on a Sony system that was just what we needed. We went online first thing Black Friday morning and ordered the system at the special price. We have yet to see it cheaper since. It's still retailing for nearly $50 more than the price we paid that day!

Plan to save your holiday mall experience for mid-December. If you enjoy the decorations, festive music, Santa's Workshop and general business of malls and shopping centers during the christmas season, plan a leisurely December shopping day to pick up unique gift items or stocking stuffers. We combine our mall shopping with a holiday movie and dinner out with the kids. Take your time to enjoy the experience. You'll spend more and get less done!

Save your receipts all in one place. I have a Christmas binder, where I keep our holiday budget, a master gift list, gift idea list, internet order tracking sheet, gift closet inventory, and other important lists that make it easy for me to stay on track. The binder has a front pocket where I store all gift receipts and packing slips! They don't get tossed until the following Christmas. That way, if someone needs to return or exchange, it's a cinch to find the receipt I need.

Once you've done all your planning, the fun begins! It's time to shop.

Next article we'll look at how to head out and hit the stores during after-Thanksgiving sales on Black Friday. Then we'll learn how to do the same online.