Tis the season for savvy shopping (& saving)...

Whether shopping online or in the stores, there is a sale going on everywhere…free shipping with purchase, up to 60% off, additional 20% off of clearance, and on & on. Yes, a lot of it has to do with weak sales, but you know what it is buyer's season! That's right, with prices and deals this good, you have to get it!

Red August cares enough to share. Here are a few tips sure to work :

Don't get stuck – Wondering what to do with nonreturnable gifts or purchases? You can sell or trade them online at Amazon.com's Marketplace, Half.com, eBay, and Craigslist. Or visit Swapagift.com, CertificateSwap.com and Cardavenue.com. You can also trade CDs, DVDs and video games at Zunafish.com. Finally, you could donate your unwanted items to charity, as long as they are in good condition. You could even qualify for a tax deduction with the IRS, but you'll need to check with your tax advisor to be sure. Sites such as Salvationarmyusa.org have information on how much you can write off for common household items.

Dare to compare – Visit comparison-shopping sites like Coolsavings.com, PriceGrabber.com, Shopping.com, Shopzilla.com and Froogle.com. You'll find merchant coupons, price and feature comparisons, and rebate information product reviews.
Be in the know– Sign up for your favorite store's online newsletter to get subscriber-only coupons and advance notice of sales. This site maintains a list of thousands of current codes national retailers are using online.
Shop safely – Do not reply or click on links in Holiday emails from retailers. Instead, type their website address into your browser. This will help protect against 'phishers' using fake email and web addresses.
Remember to secure your computer by getting the latest updates and virus/spyware protection before starting your online shopping adventure.
And before you proceed to checkout, look for the locked padlock icon in your browser. This lets you know that you're at a secure site and your transaction is encrypted.