DEALS: Black Friday, Local Saturday, Cyber Monday & more
(FOX13) - Thanksgiving is almost here, and for many that means holiday shopping has already begun.
But Black Friday is still accepted as the official beginning of the holiday shopping season and is the day when stores open early, stay open late and pull out all of the stops on discounts and promotions.
Depending on what you're looking for, we have some resources to help you get the best deals, make the most of your time and know how to spot when that red tag isn't really saving you money.
For overall deals and discounts, WalletHub.com followed top retailers all year and compared advertised Black Friday prices with the rest of the year. They organized their list by the average percentage of savings offered on Black Friday and the results could be your guide to where to start your shopping.
Wallet Hub's list is topped by Macy's with an average savings of 63.4 percent on Black Friday versus the rest of the year. It's followed by Stage (the parent company of Bellas and Goody's). JCPenny, Harbor Freight, and Gordmans. Each of Wallet Hub's top five had an average savings of more than 60 percent.
See the rest of the list and a breakdown by category, visit https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-retailers-for-black-friday/8385/.
For specific, big-ticket items, Yahoo! Finance made a list of some of the best deals at top retailers.
For example, if you're interested in a new TV - a popular Black Friday shopper's choice - Walmart is advertising a 55-inch Philips Smart TV for $298. Walmart also advertises a PlayStation 4 (500GB plus a $30 gift card) for $249. Walmart also has some impressive deals on smartphones and drones.
Yahoo! Finance also lists impressive electronics deals at Target and Best Buy.
Check out the Yahoo! Finance list, which includes some "insider tips" on specific deals, here: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/6-stores-with-the-best-black-friday-deals-141924622.html.
Don't forget to set back some cash to spend at your local shops on Shop Local Saturday or Small Business Saturday. No matter what you call it, the day is dedicated to supporting small and local shops. The campaign is sponsored by American Express, which offers businesses a place to list their promotions on its website.
Many businesses will denote their participation in the Small Business Association's Saturday after Thanksgiving promotion with a blue and white "Shop Small" sticker in their shop window or on their promotional materials. To find local shops participating in Small Business Saturday, visit: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small/
Cyber Monday has gained popularity over the years for shoppers not interested in the Black Friday crowds. Many online retailers are already advertising - and even offering - their Cyber Monday deals.
Amazon.com offered a discount on its popular subscription service, Prime, a week ahead of Black Friday, (which is still available through 11:59 p.m. Friday, November 18). Amazon's Cyber Monday page is already filled with Deal of the Day listings, 12-days of Deals, Year-End Deals, and more.
If you're in the mood to browse some sites, TheBlackFriday.com has links to more than 50 retailers' Cyber Monday advertisements and promotional fliers.
For anyone looking for something unique or specific, eBay might be just the place to shop. The online auction site's promotions have already begun, with a 20 percent off "Shop Early" deal.
As for Thanksgiving Day deals, many retailers decided to opt out of the short-lived holiday shopping tradition after public backlash. Others are taking the half-day approach, opening Thanksgivng Day evening.
Walmart and Target will open their doors at 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, with online deals starting at 12 a.m. EST.
Best Buy opens at 5 p.m. Thanksgiving day and JCPenny will open at 3 p.m.
KMart will open its doors 6 a.m. Thanksgiving morning.
The list below is of stores not open Thanksgiving Day, and is much longer. To see a more complete list, visit BestBlackFriday.com.
A.C. Moore
Academy Sports + Outdoors
American Girl
Barnes & Noble
Bed Bath & Beyond
BJ’s Wholesale Club
Burlington
Costco
Crate and Barrel
Dillard’s
GameStop
hhgregg
Hobby Lobby
Home Depot
HomeGoods
IKEA
Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft Stores
Jos. A. Bank
Lowe’s
Marshalls
Mattress Firm
Neiman Marcus
Nordstrom
Nordstrom Rack
Office Depot and OfficeMax
Patagonia
Petco
PetSmart
Pier 1 Imports
Sam’s Club
Staples
The Container Store
T.J. Maxx