Holiday shoppers are facing “dismal news about the economy, rising job losses, and the financial market crisis,” said Ray Martin in CBS News online (watch video), but retailers are as anxious as buyers, and they "seem to be offering more sales and discounts.” Still, it pays to be a smart shopper. Look for coupons on the Web, both for in-store and online shopping, and be wary of giving gift cards: some have fees, and retailer bankruptcies could wipe out $100 million worth of gift cards this year alone.
Not to be crass, but “big bankruptcies mean big sales,” said Noreen Malone in Slate, and if you do your research, you can do much of your holiday shopping at liquidation sales. You’ll find better deals at the liquidating stores—Circuit City, Linens ‘n Things, and more by the day—than on their websites. And if the shelves are already bare, you can often buy the shelving at a great price.
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