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1. Read the ads in the paper and online. Newspapers will be chock-full of details at major retailers. Some of those advertisements have already been posted on the Internet as well.

2. Do your research. Compare prices to evaluate how much you’ll be saving, especially looking for differences between online and in-store prices. Read reviews of products that seem to be good deals online to see if they’re worth even that discounted price.

This research should extend to your credit card as well. See if price protection or an extended warranty is a benefit — no need to be tempted by a heavy sales pitch at a store if your plastic gives it to you for free!

3. Look for coupons and rebates for further discounts. Put your search engine to work ferreting out “triple plays”. An item might be on sale, but it will be even cheaper if you have a store coupon and if the manufacturer offers a rebate. This piece of advice is ESPECIALLY important if you’re buying online. Just google the store name and “coupon” or “promotion code” and see what you can find.

4. Map out your trip. If you plan to hit multiple stores, figure out when each opens and plan to get there well beforehand. If necessary, print out directions and make contingency plans for parking or traffic issues.

5. Case the joint and handle the merchandise. Before the day of the sale, take a walk through the store to plot your quickest route to the most popular items so you don’t waste time wandering the aisles. While you’re there, examine your future purchases to avoid surprises and having to make last-minute, game-day decisions.

Another idea: stake out cash registers in low-traffic locations that might have shorter lines. Last year she walked right up to the checkout line in the sporting goods department of WalMart, which was completely empty.

6. Shop early, or order online instead. Are you more of a night owl, or is the weather less than hospitable? Does the pressure of waking up early from your turkey stupor sound unappealing? Then consider visiting stores offering big sales on Thanksgiving or opening at midnight. Some retailers will make their Black Friday deals available online, as well, so no need to change out of your pajamas.

But no matter what your strategy is …

Check return policies. Don’t be surprised later on if you’ve picked up something as final sale or if stores plan to charge a restocking fee to prevent you from being too free with your returns.

Save your receipts, and ask for gift receipts for all presents. You might get a great deal on some item, but who knows whether there will be further markdowns later in the holiday shopping season? Use sites like Priceprotectr.com to keep track of sales so you can ask for price adjustments if there are future markdowns.

We’ll offer plenty more tips on ways to get the most for your money through next week and the rest of the holiday season, but please let us know what ideas have worked for you in the past. We’d love to hear what you’ll be doing on the day after Thanksgiving, even if it doesn’t involve making a lot of purchases.