Watching Your Wallet

A souring economy can mean great deals in the malls and online.

If you know where to look.

Courtney Friel shares these tips to help you become a savvier shopper:

• Holiday Deals in the Stores:

Wal-Mart: Doorbuster Deals — only on Black Friday between 5-10 a.m.
• 50-inch Samsung HDTV for $798
• Xbox 360 (with free Guitar Hero 3 and guitar) $199
• Uniflame Gas Grill $175
• GE microwave $25
• "Hannah Montana" Doll $10
• Children's clothing between $4 and $8

Saks Fifth Ave: These offers have already started — you don't have to wait until Black Friday
• Financing on credit card: Offering free interest for a year for people who spend $2,000 or more by December 11
• Courtney found 4,200 'designer items' listed at 40 percent off

• Best Holiday Sales on the Web

Tech Stuff
Sony hi-def video camera
Suggested retail $1,200 — now lists at $1,000
Dell.com has it listed at $899, but Abe's of Maine.com had it for $740
Lowest price was found at butterflyphoto.com for $728

Kids Stuff
KB Toys.com: So cheap! (KB offer is only for Cyber Monday — the Monday after Thanksgiving)
Early bird special: 60 percent off
No payments until March 2009, save $15 if you spend $30 or more
Examples:
Trivial Pursuit: regularly $40 — now $15
"Harry Potter" Scene It game: Regularly $35 — now $10
Leapfrog brand: 70 percent off

Sale category you might not expect: Trips
Travelocity.com: 40 percent off and more on Caribbean vacations
Take 150$ off 5-night vacation when booking flight and hotel

Plus, best site to find where the deals are: CyberMonday.com — over 550 retailers
Best search engine: pricegrabber.com