Why leave cash in the store? Holiday bargains are to be found, it’s just a matter of when and where to shop. When you are planning your shopping, consider waiting for these dates and save:

● Black Friday is November 24 and considered the start of the holiday shopping season. It is early this year, thus giving consumers an extra weekend to shop before Christmas.

● Small Business Saturday is November 25. Shop boutiques and dine at independent restaurants in Fredericksburg.

● Cyber Monday is November 27. Bookmark your favorite retailers now and some will even send you email updates.

● Green Monday is December 11. On this day most major retailers start their sales at midnight. It is another profitable shopping day for retailers, since consumers are now in the full swing of the holidays.

● Free Shipping Day is Friday December 15. Check www.freeshippingday.com to see if your favorite retailer or merchant participates.

● Boxing Day is Tuesday December 26. Find reduced prices if you wait to swap gifts after Christmas.

When looking for a specific gift idea, I hit the internet. I search for the gift, compare prices, check for coupon codes and have it delivered to my door or the recipient’s door free of shipping and handling fees.

Here are a few more of my smart shopping tips:

1. Set a budget – How much do you have to spend? Have cash ready for the purchase but pay with a credit card to give yourself that extra layer of protection if something is wrong with the product. Don’t go into debt. Pay off the credit card balance when due.
2. Research – Before making a purchase shop around to ensure you are getting the best deal.
3. Save Your Money – Use coupons, loyalty cards and free shipping to save additional money.
4. Don’t make impulse buys. While some people don’t consider gift cards personal or as last-minute gift ideas, I happen to love receiving gift cards. I like to save them and chunk them together to buy a much sought-after, coveted item that I have vigilantly watched since before my birthday and have finally figured out how the store will pay me to take it home.

One final tip is to help your children know the difference between needing something and wanting it. I count myself lucky that I don’t have to fight over the newest toy or gadget on the market. I believe mostly because they don’t watch TV with commercials and aren’t constantly being bombarded with consumerism that they don’t have the “I want” mentality. With a little encouragement, your kids can also love what they have without wanting everything else they see.