Stay Ahead Of The Holiday Shopping Curve

The Daily Meal Staff|

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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Long considered the biggest shopping day of the year, Black Friday isn't the only time to find the best deals.

Consumer blogger and mother of three, Natalie Reid's free time to knock out her Christmas shopping is limited – like most parents.

"Personally I don't get up and go sit in line for a $25 savings. I think my time might be more valuable than that," said Reid.

Many retailers echo her sentiment more than ever this year; starting sales early. The best offers on Smart Phones may start a few days before Thanksgiving, according to dealnews.com.

Traditionally though, the best time to buy HD-TVs and video games is on Thanksgiving. Consumers should wait for Black Friday to buy laptops and cameras.

"The retailers lead the dance, but the consumers decide how quickly they want to follow," said marketing expert at SMU's Cox School of Business, Ed Fox. He said retailers are actually waiting on shoppers to show them when to drop the deep discounts.

"If the Black Friday discounts aren't that strong, then consumers may wait and say 'I think between now and Christmas that prices are going to come down' so they don't spend their money early," said Fox.

Fox advised consumers to prioritize their big ticket items and wait on the rest.

But for parents such as Reid, who welcomes any opportunity to save a dime and still give great gifts, there's another strategy.

"I Christmas shop throughout the year and buy off-season or when things are at rock bottom prices," she said.

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