Research

First things first… you need to decide what you will give in the first place! Check out these web sites for some inspiration:

FindGift.com – Take a look at their Gift Wizard.  You answer a few questions about the person receiving the gift and the site gives you a list of suggestions complete with pictures.

GiftBee.com – They have an interesting blog in addition to a large list of ideas on their site. You can also create wish and gift lists when you register for free.

NewEgg.com – They have never let me down when it comes to PC related goodies.

Cnet.com – Here is a video at Cnet TV with some cool tech gift ideas.

Now that you have your list, and you checked it twice, head on over to PriceGrabber.com and find out about how much you should be paying for the gift.

Group Gifting

OK, so you found out that some of the gifts on your list are a bit pricey, but you are not willing to compromise. No problem, group gifting to the rescue! eDivvy.com allows you to share the cost among several people. Did I mention it’s free! Hmmm… maybe I can convince my family to get me that PlayStation 3… They also have a $250 give away going on.
Let’s Make a Deal ( with some Coupons on the side please )

I’m always looking for a good deal, and the best deal aggregation site I’ve been able to find is CheapCheaphCeap.com. They update frequently and have all the deals that other deal sites have and then some. I like to collect deals throughout the year; you never know when the opportunity to give a gift will arise.

Black Friday!

Black Friday is November 28th this year. So prepare to camp out and wear your battle gear, this is the likely to be the one day of this year to find the best deals possible. In order to take best advantage, a bit of planning is required. Check out these resources to make the best of your time:

Black Friday Planning Spreadsheet – Your guide to Black Friday in an editable Excel spreadsheet.

Mahalo’s Guide – They are a human edited search engine who has collected the best Black Friday resources from around the web.

BFAds.net – They update daily with new Black Friday advertisements.

BlackFriday.info – Here is a collection of Black Friday ads sorted by store.

Cyber Monday!

If you prefer not to brave the crowds on Black Friday, then you may prefer to participate in Cyber Monday from the comfort of your home. Following are some resources to help you navigate through the plethora of options:

Mahalo’s Guide – Once again, Mahalo does a great job rounding up the best of the best Cyber Monday online resources.

CyberMonday.fm – This site aggregates both Black Friday and Cyber Monday online deals.

DealTaker.com – This is a forum with a wealth of up to date information.

What are your “secret” tips for saving during the holiday season?