Tips for Getting the Most Out of Year-End Holiday Sales

Every year, I wait to buy big items until the holiday season, because I don't like wasting money--on an Internet writer's salary, every dollar counts. Seriously, I clip coupons to buy waffles; you won't see me wasting a ton of money on an HDTV.

Still, I have an HDTV, and an Xbox 360, an eBook reader, and all sorts of wasteful technical gadgets that you'd associate with a rich guy (albeit a fairly nerdy rich guy). The trick is to get as much as possible out of those year end sales that you'll see on Amazon, at Target, and just about everywhere else. Here are a few tips to help you save cash while buying some really, really cool stuff.

Know What You Want - I never buy something that I wasn't looking for originally, because
otherwise I'll end up with a big bill and a living room full of stupid stuff. One year when I wasn't shopping with a list, I bought one of those balance boards that they sell for the Nintendo Wii. I didn't get a lot for my money, because I already have a gym membership and the balance board is, well, just a stupid little board thing.

Make a list of stuff that you'd be interested in buying, then look up average prices for that stuff. It'll be easier to search for the items in your list and you'll spend less time looking for year-end deals and more time enjoying your new stuff.

Don't Follow The Crowds - Look, no guy should be caught dead--literally or figuratively--in one of those crazy rioting crowds jamming their way into a Wal-Mart for slightly cheaper socks. I've tried camping out in front of a Target or something for a really good deal, and I've learned that it's never worth it. Ever.

My time's worth more than a couple bucks, and yours is, too. Even if you can get a hundred bucks off of something, you'll waste that in the time that you spend talking to a 50-year old divorced real estate agent while looking for something to open your can of beans. Camping out is fun when there are trees and fires and stuff; if you're just sitting in front of a store, you're doing something wrong.

It's Better To Shop Online - In fact, avoid the retail stores unless you've got a very, very good reason to go into one. The Internet's simply much better for buying the type of stuff that you can get good year-end deals on like TVs, computers, and expensive gadgets, because you'll easily be able to find out what stores are charging for the items that you're interested in and you'll be able to decide whether a deal is really a deal. You'll also have access to stuff like user reviews which will help you to avoid buyer's remorse, particularly if you're considering a few similar items (i.e. several models of ebook readers, netbooks, etc).

Be consistent and spend a few minutes a day searching. Stay organized. I keep a record of websites that offer great deals, and I make sure to check them regularly, even when I'm not looking for anything in particular. Good record-keeping will always help you when you're shopping.

Finally, keep your hand off of your credit card until you're sure that you've found an awesome deal. You'll end up with more money in your pocket and more cool stuff on your walls while avoiding the silly impulse buys that have left me with a Big Mouth Billy Bass in every room of my house.

Do you have any other tips for looking for year-end sales and getting the most out of your purchases? Post in our comments section below.