By A. Simpleton

Like retailers, I have started looking past Thanksgiving and am already awaiting the big Kahuna of the holiday season. Christmas. It’s quickly approaching and I am desperately trying to prepare my pocketbook for the devastation the holiday holds. If only Santa stuffed stockings with cash.

Last week, I commented on the grossly increased price tags on popular wish list items and ways to accommodate gift giving in large families. I thought that this week I would offer up a few suggestions of where to find and buy gifts that won’t deplete the Christmas bonus. Well, at least not too much.

First, for those that like to shop in their underwear, I have been watching a couple websites for gifts for a month or so now: Woot.com, Tanga.com, and Slickdeals.net.Woot.com, from there own definition, is “an online store and community that focuses on selling cool stuff cheap.” They sell a quantity of one item each day until it runs out, then move onto a new item the next day. Woot can offer low prices because they buy large quantities of items for cheap, and then mark them up minimally to make a profit. And regardless of the item and its size, they only charge $5 for shipping. They tend to have a focus on electronics and gadgets. I have seen everything from headphones to TVs for sale on Woot. It is a great place to find a gift for the tech geek. The only difficulty is watching the site each day till something you want is for sale, then getting one ordered before the quantity runs out. You can sure find some great deals here though. I have picked up multiple items from Woot, including MP3 players, cables, and a TV. I couldn’t believe it when a truck delivered the 30-inch TV to my door for $5 shipping.

Tanga.com is quite similar to Woot.com in that they sell a quantity of one item each day. Tanga however, is more geared towards fun and games. The products they tend to offer are usually board games and toys. Their prices are significantly knocked down from retail and they offer great gifts for the kids-at-heart in the family. A shopper on Tanga.com faces the same difficulty as the Woot shopper, in that you have to watch each day for the right item to come along. When it does though, it’s worth it. I have picked up a number of items from Tanga already this year.

Slickdeals.net provides a daily listing of items on sale on the Internet, submitted by community members. Anything and everything can appear on this list. From video games to kitchen appliances to clothing, it varies day to day. Often times, there will even be coupon codes listed taking down the sales prices even further. I have found some great prices on Slickdeals and purchased DVDs, videogames, and clothing from them in the past. Want to update your home shopping attire? I have even seen deals on name brand underwear–and you know name brand underwear is so much more comfortable than those wannabe no-name brands.

For those that will be donning a little more presentable shopping attire, there is always the dreaded Black Friday. Black Friday has been designated as such–no it’s not racist–because it is the day many retailers leave the red zone and will see a profit. It is also the day that millions of crazed consumers hopped up on Christmas spirit and fighting turkey trytophan hangovers, battle it out for the best prices of the season at established retailers nationwide. I, myself, have been known to join in the frenzy and have found a few approaches to make my shopping day a little more enjoyable.

First, pick yourself up a Thanksgiving Day newspaper. All the ads and circulars for those retailers stocking their shelves–and arming their employees–will be available for your perusal. If you are of the morning type, watch for those door buster prices. The "I camped out for this deal, doors open at six, bring a riot shield" sales. It will be crazy, but if you survive, you’ll have probably saved some money on Christmas gifts, possibly buying more than you intended though. If you are of the lock your door and cower in fear of crowds type–me usually–keep an eye on the afternoon sales and don’t be afraid to drop in to the stores later. There will still be a crowd, just not a blood thirsty one. Most of the Tickle Me Elmos, Wii systems, or whatever the craze is this year, will be gone, but there are still deals to be had.

Some retailers have also started having online sales on Black Friday; we’re back to the underwear crowd. The deals are not usually as astronomical, but to escape the hassle and the crowds, it’s not a bad prospect.

Regardless of your preference of shopping adornment, I hope I have added a few options for your gift hunting quests. I wish you all the best of luck, especially those that venture out the morning of the 28th, you brave souls.