Believe it or not, the Cyber Sales have already begun. No longer are we waiting until the Monday after Thanksgiving, and while I was going to save this post until this coming weekend, I realized it would be more helpful to share today so you could peruse, save and then pounce, should you want to, when you were able to over the long holiday weekend. 

However, I am always hesitant to step into the shopping frenzy that occurs this weekend, as I want to check myself and make sure I am purchasing what I need, simply at a wonderful price, not just because I am caught up in the advertising bombardment and frenetic energy. I guess that is why I appreciate the heads up, so I can take my time, contemplate, sleep on it and then shop as needed.

With all of that said, I wanted to share eight ideas about how to Shop Smart this Holiday Week. 

The economy in the United States is doing well (albeit with setbacks in the tech sector these past few months as seen in the stock market), which means there will be mass competition for retailers to gain shoppers’ attention. Analysts are predicting an impressively strong Holiday Shopping Season as shoppers appear to have more disposable income. But . . .

Just because you have it, doesn’t mean you have to spend it. So how do we shop smarter?

1.Make Multiple Lists

If you haven’t already, make lists not only for your holiday shopping, but also for items in your home that you have been wanting to bring into your everyday routine (cooking tools, linens, items to replace broken tools – i.e. vacuums, hand-mixer, shower-head). It may not be glamorous items you need or items for gifts, but now can be a great time to save a ton on such items (Home Depot is reducing some items up to 70% off this week). 

Take a look as well at your Capsule Wardrobe list. Now is the time to scoop up savings on top quality clothing items (some will still be available so long as you are ready to purchase when the sales begin such as the Net-a-Porter Sale I shared yesterday), to cultivate the wardrobe that works best for you to create effortless style (be sure to check out Chapter 11 of my new book to discover how the truth about curating your own effortless style).

2.Sleep on It

Case in point, I have been sleeping on the idea of welcoming these white linen tablecloths into my master bedroom to use as curtains. They are from H & M, not a bad price originally, but I really wanted to see if they would drop during the holiday sales week. After four weeks of waiting, they did! So while I may have slept on it for weeks, do at least sleep on it for a night, to make sure you aren’t impulsing buying. It can be easy to get caught up in the excitement, the sale numbers bouncing back and forth on the screen, but as we know, it is only a deal if we truly need the item and it is will last. 

3. Save with Shoptagr, Wait and then Purchase through EBates

The heading says it all, but not only will you save more money when you purchase through EBates, you will also see if it drops further if the price just isn’t right yet when you mark it with Shoptagr (an email alert service that sends you a message when the price of your exact item – size too – drops). 

4. Be Aware of the Tools of Seduction

The retailers have a job to do, I will acknowledge that, but we also have a responsibility to our sanity by adhering to our budget and the life we want to live that we will most enjoy. It doesn’t mean we avoid shopping all together, but it does mean that we need to become the master of the shopping season and not be a pawn in the game of sales. 

How does seduction by retails (both online and in-store) occur? By appealing to your senses: the holiday music, the scents of the seasons, the aesthetically appealing, new and exciting visual displays. By keeping you on their site or in their store longer as you “enjoy” your experience, you are more likely to buy and deviate from your plan. What retailers are doing isn’t wrong, it’s smart on their part, but we too can be smart shoppers and be aware.

5. Utilize the Information Found on Pre-Shopping Sites

Once you have your shopping list, visit sites such as shopping.com and pricegrabber.com to determine where the best price for the product you want can be found. 

6. Use a Specific Search for What You Need to Compare Prices

Sometimes this works, and sometimes it doesn’t, but it doesn’t hurt to see if you can save money on something you know you are already going to buy – purchasing a Le Creuset dutch oven for the chef in your family, for example? The prices on this lovely, lifetime item are dropping significantly this holiday season, so why not enter “Le Creuset Dutch Oven 4 1/2 Qt.”. Once I did this, I found a site that had a listing of a variety of websites selling this item – Macy’s, Wayfair, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Williams-Sonoma, etc. Now, it is up to me to find exactly what I want at the price I can afford.

7. Use a Price Comparison/Check App to Find the Best Price Quickly

PC Mag recently shared a list of the best Price Check Apps available. With a quick tap of your phone you can check and see if you can find that particular item online or in-store at a better price.

8. Avoid the crowds if possible

I was happy to be able to share these sales with you early so that you can shop when it is best for you, and to have a most successful shopping experience. We know that Black Friday will be busy, and most likely the weekend as well, but if you are visiting family or are out and about during an off-time, this is a great time to eliminate the rush, the hustle and the hurry, thereby, helping you make better decisions. 

The Sales that You Can Shop Now (And Most Run Through Monday)

Below are sales and direct links to online shops, listed alphabetically, along with their promo codes, if needed. There will be more sales taking place Friday and exclusively on Monday, so I will be sharing them later in the week. But for now, there are some awesome deals to begin to consider. 

• Amazon
  • New Deals Go Live Every Day through November 26th
• Anthropologie 
  
  • Extra 25% off sale items
• ASOS 
  
  • Up to 60% off pre black Friday Sale
• Bandier 
  
  • Up to 70% off when you take an extra 20% off sale finds
• Bloomingdale’s
  • Save 30% off select styles
  • ends 11/28
• DVF (Diane von Furstenberg)
  • 20% off site-wide 
  • promo code MOREISMORE
• Express
  
  • 50% off everything + Free Shipping 
• Goodnight Macaroon
  
  • 30% off site wie using the code “GMJOY30“
• H&M 
  
  • 20% off your entire purchase when you spend $75 with the code “3231” today only
• Home Depot
  • Save up to 70% off end of season furniture savings, select décor and bedding essentials
• J.Crew
  
  • 40% off your purchase using the code “TOGETHER“
• Loft 
  
  • 40% off your purchase with code “BESTWEEK“
• Madewell
  
  • 25% off your purchase using the code “DEALWITHIT” though Sunday 
• Mango
  • Up to 50% off selected items through 11/21 (today!)
  • Save 30% off all Accessories through 11/22
    • Use promo code MNG30
• Matches
  • Save up to 50% off designer styles
• The Modist
  • up to 40% off sit-wide

• Nordstrom
  
  • Up to 40% off Designer Sale
• Old Navy
  
  • 40% off entire purchase
• Rag & Bone
  • Save 25% off sitewide plus free shipping
  • Use promo code TAKE25
  • Ends 11/26
• Rebecca Minkoff
  • Save 25% of orders $100+
  • promo code THX25
• Sam Edelman 
  
  • 30% off almost everything using the code “SAMSGIVING2018“
• Shopbop 
  
  • Up to 25% off full-price items
  • 15% off orders of $200+
  • 20% off orders of $500+
  • 25% off orders of $800+
  • Using the code “MORE18“
• Tory Burch
  • Save 30% off orders of $250+ with promo code THANKS