Get the Best Holiday Gift Deals! Pro Shoppers Reveal Secret Tricks to Save Easy Money
Unlock secret discounts, bonuses and last-minute savings with these pro tips!
Whether you’re shopping for cozy sweaters, fun toys or store gift cards, you can check everyone off your list without breaking a sweat (or the bank!). Our shopping pros share simple strategies to help you spot the very best bargains on holiday gifts—so you can give generously and still keep more cash in your wallet.
The easiest ways to get instant holiday shopping deals
Saving money doesn’t get much easier than sitting back and watching discount alerts roll into your inbox or phone. Luckily, retailers are more than happy to send them your way! Just sign up, and you’ll be the first to know about new price drops. Even better, you’ll score exclusive bonuses that help you save even more. Here’s where to start:
Join their mailing lists
Share your name, email address and phone number on the websites of stores you shop at regularly—and anywhere else you plan to buy gifts—suggests Jim Wang, founder of Wallet Hacks. You’ll receive email and text alerts about upcoming sales and promotions. “Often, they’ll even send you a coupon just for signing up,” he says. Lands’ End, for example, gives new subscribers 40 percent off and free shipping, while Macy’s offers 25 percent off your next order.
Download their apps
Even if you don’t typically use smartphone apps, it’s worth making an exception during the holidays. “Apps usually have the best coupons and exclusive offers,” says Kiersti Torok, founder of Torok Coupon Hunter. Best Buy’s app, for example, not only alerts you to sales but also gives you access to low prices you won’t find in stores or on the website.
On top of that, apps often deliver personalized “just-for-you” savings, she adds. These might include surprise discounts based on your browsing history or random percent-off offers to encourage you to shop. To find a retailer’s official app, visit their website and tap the App Store or Google Play logo.
Enroll in rewards programs
Now’s the perfect time to sign up! “Being a member of these programs pays off most in December,” says Torok. Why? As stores compete for your business during the pre-Christmas rush, they roll out extra perks like bonus coupons and rewards that help stretch your budget even further.
Scoop up ‘free’ dollars
During the holidays, many stores and restaurants reward you for purchases with cash you can use for your next visit. That’s essentially putting money back in your pocket just for shopping. A few smart ways to save:
Snag more in-store dollars
“At major retailers like Kohl’s and Target, you’ll often see bigger store-cash bonuses than usual during the holidays,” says Wang. “Last year, Kohl’s offered $10 in Kohl’s Cash for every $50 spent from December 1 through Christmas Eve.” That’s four times what loyalty members typically earn, making it a great time to check off big-ticket gifts.
Seek 2-for-1 gift cards
“My favorite promotions this time of year are the bonus offers you get when buying gift cards,” says Wang. Many stores and restaurants will give you an extra $10 when you purchase $50 in cards, or $20 when you spend $100. You can tuck the bonus card into a stocking—or save it to treat yourself later—says Wang, who uses this tactic himself.
“Every year, I buy cards from a wonderful Cuban restaurant I love, because for every $100 I spend, they throw in another $20—basically 20 percent off my next meal!” Check out this year’s offers at Cheapism and Living On The Cheap, or visit the websites and social media pages of your favorite businesses.
Unlock bigger rebates
You may be eligible to earn greater cash back rewards on purchases you’re making now and not even realize it! To get this extra money:
Turn on offers
Some credit card companies increase their cash back amount in December to encourage you to use their card at the register. You might earn 5 percent back rather than the usual 3 percent at a certain retailer or on certain dates, for instance.
“But you have to activate these offers first,” Wang points out. Just log into your account and tap to turn them on. It takes seconds and can give you bigger savings on gifts you were planning to buy anyway.
Visit a cash-back portal
Sites like Join Honey and Rakuten often boost their cash-back payouts during the holidays when you shop through their links, notes Wang. Another option: Add their free browser extensions, which automatically search for and apply bonus offers, coupon codes and limited-time discounts as you browse your favorite online retailers—helping you save effortlessly on everything from gifts to essentials.
Walk away…for a day
When you’re shopping online, try this: Create an account with a retailer or log into the one you already have, then add the items you want to your cart—but don’t check out just yet, suggests Wang. “Sometimes, the store will email you a discount code to entice you to complete your purchase.”
If they do, it typically arrives within a day or two, he says. This strategy can work not only with major brands but also with independent sellers. On Etsy, for example, many shop owners offer 5% to 10% off coupons to shoppers who leave items in their cart, helping close the sale.
Ask for a bonus coupon
Here’s another simple strategy that can save you cash when shopping online: Before you pay, look for a live chat option, suggests Kyle James, founder of Rather-Be-Shopping. Many retailers—like BestBuy and Target—provide real-time help from a representative, and they may give you a discount.
“All you need to do is politely ask by saying something like, ‘I’m about to check out, but the price is a little higher than I expected. Do you have a coupon that could help?’ or ‘The shipping fee seems steep. Any chance you have a shipping code available?’” James says. They often have coupons ready to hand out!
Play the waiting game
Patience can really pay off! If you’re able to postpone buying, prices on certain items often dip sharply the closer you get to December 25.
Save on timeless toys
Shopping for grandkids? “Waiting until the last minute can be great because merchants want to sell off their stock before the gift-buying season ends,” Wang says. As long as you’re not seeking this year’s must-have toy, you can score markdowns of 25 percent to 50 percent on classic favorites like dolls, puzzles, board games and more.
Shortly before Christmas Day last year, Target reduced some select LEGO sets by up to 40 percent and Jurassic World Dino Tracker figures by 50 percent!
Spend less on gift sets
Items clearly packaged to give as presents—like beauty kits—often see significant price cuts in the final stretch, notes Wang. Last year, for example, JCPenney took a whopping 75 percent off Murad skincare sets. These rock-bottom deals can be especially helpful for last-minute parties or surprise guests.
Home in on holiday themes
Expect major price reductions on items full of yuletide charm, like reindeer pajamas or gingerbread cookie-scented candles. Last year, Michaels slashed prices by 50 percent on all Christmas baking and decorating supplies in the Celebrate It and Sprinkle Pop lines.
Even products that simply come in festive packaging tend to drop in price, says Torok. Take advantage of the savings to nab seasonally decorated stocking stuffers, like red and green Hershey’s Kisses or bags of Starbucks Peppermint Mocha coffee!
This story originally appeared in the December 15, 2025, issue of Woman’s World magazine.
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