When it comes to holiday gifting, what’s the smartest way to prep and approach the process?
Make a list of all the gifts you need to buy and start your gift shopping early! Brands are releasing holiday products earlier each year (the beloved Bonne Maman Advent calendar dropped during the summer, for example), so we recommend buying items as they launch, especially because some popular gifts sell out quickly and may not restock.
When shopping for a gift, think about the recipient’s hobbies, interests, and needs, and go from there. Are they out on the green every weekend? Get them a fun golf-themed gift they wouldn’t buy for themselves. Are they a Swiftie? Consider a piece of jewelry inspired by one of Taylor's eras. If all else fails, our gifting editors always rely on Etsy and Uncommon Goods for unique, personalized gifts you can’t find just anywhere. If the person you're shopping for doesn't need more stuff, we also recommend experience gifts like MasterClass or a virtual workshop from Uncommon Goods.
And our pro-level hack? Take note of hints your giftees drop throughout the year. You'll have a helpful place to start come gifting season, and they’ll be delighted that you remembered a small detail months after the fact.
What tips do you have to help shoppers avoid buyer’s remorse and shop with confidence during Black Friday and Cyber Monday?
Scoring the best deals during Black Friday and Cyber Monday is becoming more difficult as retailers look to expand the length of their holiday sales events. Now, we see early discounts from Amazon, Best Buy, Target and Walmart starting at the beginning of November, meaning a full month of opportunities to save, not just a long weekend like in years past. Therefore, prices will be all over the place as retailers look to undercut the competition with mini-savings events, flash deals, and stacking coupon promotions.
Our advice is to ask yourself what’s most important when shopping. Is saving every penny worth potentially missing a deal that sells out? Are you willing to fight online crowds for digital doorbusters, or would you rather beat the rush? Is it okay to save a tad less if it means getting a gift in the nick of time thanks to expedited shipping? Are paid memberships like Amazon Prime or a My Best Buy account out of the question?
CNN Underscored editors weigh the pros and cons of all those scenarios (and more) to inform our readers about the best deals. Sometimes that means a new all-time low price, other times it's a seasonal markdown, and sometimes, it's an offer that won’t be around for very long. Regardless, knowing what you value when shopping should be your North Star. We do our best to handle the rest.
How can shoppers tell if a deal or sale is truly worth pursuing?
CNN Underscored has been monitoring deals on our favorite products for the better part of a decade. That means we keep our eyes on the price history of items, offering insight into how much they’ve actually been selling for lately. Shopping any of our Black Friday and Cyber Monday curated guides (and in the weeks leading up to the holiday) is a great way to know if a sale is worth your attention, and our editors do their best to contextualize why each and every deal is worth shopping.
Otherwise, our biggest tip is to look out for deals on the products you actually need. Savings on household essentials, gifts on your list, and big-ticket items that are due for an upgrade (like a mattress or laptop) are all great examples of shopping smarter during the holiday season. If it’s something you're already eyeing, scoring it on sale makes the purchase that much more worthwhile.
