Guest Author - Cate Brizzell

Welcome to Part Three in our series "Are After-Thanksgiving Sales Really Worth The Hassle?"

Of course they are--if you know what you're doing! In Part One we shared tips for Black Friday planning and preparation, regardless of whether you'll do your shopping at the stores or at home in front of your computer. In Part Two we talked about how to snap up the savings during in-store shopping. Here in Part Three we'll talk about how you can still shop Black Friday, even in your pajamas!

Check flyers to see whether in-store deals will work online, too. Most stores are very internet-savvy now, and will either have little icons next to items available online. They may even advertise free shipping, or better yet, exclusive deals for online shoppers!

Have an extra cup of coffee and shop at midnight. Some deals are effective online at 12 a.m. Black Friday. Some are not. Again, check flyers or store websites for specific information. If the deals begin at the stroke of midnight, you've got an edge on all those 5 a.m. shoppers! If the flyers or websites don't give the information, stay awake and check website prices once the clock has changed to Black Friday. You just might be surprised.

Make note of free shipping deals - and shop strategically. As more consumers shop online, stores are offering free shipping or one-price shipping to win your business. Plan your gift-buying to take advantage of shipping deals. If you need a minimum purchase amount in order to earn free shipping, team up with a friend or relative and place one order that qualifies.

Don't balk at paying shipping fees. The way gas prices are rising, a shipping charge of $5 to $10 isn't unreasonable. It costs me twice that to drive to our area's largest mall, about 45 minutes away. How valuable is your time, anyway?

Use random credit card numbers, if possible. If not, use just one card for all your shopping. Your credit card merchant may offer a service that generates random credit card numbers for online purchases. You either have to download special software to your desktop or visit the credit card website to generate the number. It's well worth the effort, just to be on the safe side.

Save all your e-mail confirmations. Create a special folder in your e-mail client to save those confirmation e-mails. Better yet, print out all your confirmation pages and keep them in your Christmas planner. As gifts arrive, staple or clip your packing slips to the confirmation pages. If you need to return something it'll be easy to find all the paperwork you need.

Track what you've ordered. Use your confirmation printouts or just jot down items you've ordered online. As they're delivered, cross them off the list. This way you'll know whether or not you're still missing items. In the early days of online shopping there were problems with deliveries, but not so much any more. In nearly 7 years I've never had a package miss its delivery date or end up somewhere else!

Enjoy shopping from home. Just as you should savor your in-store shopping experiences, take time to enjoy your online gift-buying, too. Play festive or relaxing Christmas music, have a cup of steaming hot cocoa or cold eggnog nearby, and celebrate the season!

Wishing you all the joy and blessings of the holiday season, from Home Finance at BellaOnline.com!