[anae428]

1. The smartest thing to do is buy a gift for someone a few weeks before their birthday or other special occasion. This will give you some time to compare prices.

2. DON'T compare prices by going store to store. Go online and look for the weekly ads link. Even if the item isn't on sale, you can at still check the price. Just recently, I planned on buying my boyfriend a new video game and a DVD anthology, both of which were expensive. By checking the prices online at Best Buy, Circuit City, Walmart, and Target.com, I got to see who had the lowest prices for each all while I'm sitting at my desk! That saved me a hectic Saturday running from store to store, not to mention how much gas you'll save if you compare prices online. My online comparison shopping saved me $13 total. I had to go to 2 different stores, but it was worth it in the end. Every bit counts!

3. If you want to buy someone an impressive gift, like name-brand clothing, DON'T make your first stop Marshall Field's or some other expensive store like that. Instead, try going to shops that offer name-brand clothing at discount prices, like TJ Maxx, Marshall's, or AJ Wright. I recently bought my cousin a Jones New York coat at Value City, a discount store. The retail price was $239.99, but I paid $39.99!! This coat was an irregular, meaning there's a little imperfection. The imerfection was in the lining of the inside of the coat. Don't let the term "irregular" scare you. Sometimes irregularities in name brand clothing can be so discreet that it's worth the money you save. So my cousin thought I spent a fortune on her new coat, and I spent less than $40. Everyone's happy!