Traditionalists might balk, but the holiday shopping season is already underway. Skeptical? Head to your local department store and you'll be inundated by Christmas trees and ornaments. Bargain hunters, though, know that the real deals are more than a month away.
Black Friday, traditionally, is when retailers truly slash prices. Early birds can save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars off of their holiday bills. Switched.com checked with a few elves, who gave a sneak peek at what you can expect deal-wise this year.
Blu-ray Players and Movies: Blu-ray is shaping up to be the biggest door buster of this year's Black Friday. de Grandpre expects at least one retailer will offer a Blu-ray player for just $49. Look for bargains on Blu-ray films as well, with last year's hit titles (such as "Iron Man") to fall as low as $5.
Laptops: With the proliferation of Netbooks this year, it's never been easier to find affordable portable computing, but Dan de Grandpre, CEO of DealNews.com says it will get even cheaper on Black Friday. Look for well-equipped Netbooks to sell for $199 – and basic 15" laptops to go for as little as $249.
HDTVs (Pretty big): The holidays are typically the best time to buy a new TV – and Black Friday is the time to do it. If you're looking for a normal sized set, you're in luck. Piper Jaffrey analyst Mitch Kaiser says he expects to see 32-inch LCD sets for as low as $299. GottaDeal.com is estimating 37-inch plasma and LCD sets will fall to $399 or less.
HDTVs (Really big): Need something bigger? How about a 46-47 inch LCD set for $599 – a 25 percent savings? Or a 52-inch LCD for $999? Dealnews says you can expect both. Plasma deals will be a little harder to come by, but a 50-inch set should run roughly $899.
HD Camcorders: You've wanted to shoot your child's school play in HD for a while, but haven't been able to spring for the pricey camcorder. This might be the year. Low-end, flash-based 720p models could drop as low as $60 (though you won't be able to zoom with those). Expect a high quality 1080p HD camcorder for $349.
GPS: While navigation systems have dramatically expanded their reach this year – even making it onto the iPhone – there's still a market for car-based systems. Dealnews predicts you'll be able to find a no-name entry-level system for $49, while a Garmin or Tom-Tom brand will be as low as $69.
Digital Picture Frames: Showcasing your digital pictures consistently gets cheaper. This year, skip the 7-inch screens and focus on the 8- or 9-inch ones, which should be available on Black Friday for as little as $30.
Monitors: Computer monitors might not be the sexiest of gifts, but they're usually welcomed with open arms – and they'll be cheap this year. Name brand 22-inch LCD models may go for as low as $99, while 24-inch models will drop below $150.
Memory: Don't know anyone who needs a monitor? External hard drives are always popular, since they're an easy way to back-up data. Dealnews expects a 1TB drive to fall as low as $49 this year. Gottadeal is looking for 8GB flash drives to hit $15.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 11)
Deborah said 9:37AM on 1-24-2008
Sue, people don't have to be rich, nor do you have to buy into an expensive program. All you have to do is control your portion and walk. You don't have to join a gym to walk. And I don't mean strolling along to the point that it takes you 2 hours to walk 1/2 a mile either. If you seriously want to lose then put some power in your walk seriously. And if you think you have to have some help...SparkPeople.com is free.
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Kate said 9:14PM on 1-24-2008
Initially Jenny Craig is expensive. After you reach your goal the food discounted by 35% and is quite reasonable. It is then cheaper than buying groceries and cooking. No cooking?! Now that's a good deal!
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NeoCurser!!! said 10:25AM on 4-14-2008
Passion for success is as same as meeting your goal, or walking up to the person who you admire most and extend your arm and opening up your palm. Hi my name is 88888 and I admiremy work. would'nt you say that's triumph!!! would'nt you and the rest would agree!?? Success cannot be measured by the battles you won but what you gain in the succession of the war. engaging the front's and the battle could and might produce decisively empty victories. the out come of the field enduring as it is, might produced the greatest casualties or or non at all, manuever's and outplaying and downplaying all in the name of triumph!!! non would agree nor disagree such was the battle that it prolonged the war!!! who can judge for the outcome was indescisive., who can claim victory, if the fatalities are no lesser than great. may number's be judge?? who could fathom that the unthinkable was thought and the thinker's think.. for what has been proven prove's a lot. no such victories cannot be achieve without facing defeat. for the defeated was bested and the victories emptied and thus the vassal prove it's integrity, and the victor was victored and the triumphant laid in and thus Time had been the Judge for the goal was won and via split Time had won!!!
Cussinglyputitontherest!!!
Neocurser!!!
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Dawn said 2:23PM on 4-16-2008
I think the world of Valerie, and Im thinking now that yes I CAN loose my extra weight too, she's a wonderful inspiration.. I would also value what she has to say, she's pretty wise.. To me she was always pretty overweight or not.. I think when you have personal issues like family, job or stress you do eat but once you start thinking of yourself and get the "i can do it" attitude you start getting in a routine and work on yourself then before you know it POOF you lost some weight and then your like ok I lost that much now lets see if I can loose a little more and little by little the weight comes off and you start feeling so much better about yourself.. I lost only 25lbs and got back into Levis again that was great..Then I Cut my hair and I would never do that but Hey I look great, Im dying to look better but hey its a start and its positive..
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Dina said 1:29PM on 4-17-2008
Hi I just wanted to say. Congrats, to everyone who has lost weight or is trying. It is very hard but, if you try you will succeed. i did not join any weight lose programs or clubs, I started Jan 1st and cut out the cola's ( that's the big problem) and switched to turkey products, more salads and veggies (hate them) and just watched my portion size and tried to stick with low fat. For snack I have sherbert or popcorn, pretzels. I walk every night, and started doing sit ups, and crunches, boy was this hard! (haven't done them since school (looooong time ago). And as of April 1st I am done 30 pounds! never thought it would happen. I feel so much better, and have more energy. Good luck to all!
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Lynn said 8:04AM on 4-17-2008
It really bugs me when someone says that you have to be "rich" to afford Jenny Craig. That's looking for an excuse. Maybe you can't afford Jenny Craig...fine.....but last I looked the sidewalks you can run or walk on are FREE! Last I checked the ability to stop eating more than you need and start working out REGULARY is of your own FREE will. Excuses are just that -- if you really wanna change your weight and look you can do it.
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justme said 2:51PM on 4-17-2008
eat 5 small meals a day
exercise
no junk food
include your friends and family
in time , you will be down to your size
dont forget your fruits and veggie too
drink water that's the magic
its all about control
some gyms you can pay by the day $5.00 - $10.00
without joining .
Jenny Craig is there to make $$$$$$$$$$
that applies to any business ................
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justme said 3:12PM on 4-17-2008
Opppssss Do eat your fruit and veggies
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justme said 3:13PM on 4-17-2008
I moved to an area where we've bike trails , they go for hundreds of miles . You should see the people on it dailyyyy.....
Plus we've 2 hugeee gyms in our town each one has 2 indoor /outdoor pools, climbing wall , so much more to explain ......everything you can imagination that gym has ........even a walking track .......there's hourly programs for you .....the place is packed daily .....
They're very active in this town ..........
There's no excuse to stay active .........On this note , I 'm leaving to
go to the gymmmmmmm................
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Patricia said 10:09AM on 4-18-2008
well haha its hard enough to afford to put gas in my car. I sure can't afford Jenny. Anyway i lost it myself. Its called will power!! No brainer duh huh
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Tanya said 12:20PM on 4-18-2008
Eating Healthy is Expensive.... I have been struggling with my weight since a very young age...I have tried many diet pills and was unsuccessful until Metabolite with Ephedra..I could literally kick myself in the ass for not buying a truck full.. However Now there is this Diet Pill called Alli and it truly works faster results than Metabolite... My friend so far lost 30 pounds within 2months..and it still is off, To me that is a lot.. I cannot afford Jenny Craig or Curve or any other Healthy Weight Place that works with meal plans.. However I have found that on Alli I can eat whatever I want and loose weight... So Thank You to the People who made Alli and I wish that Metabolite with Ephedra would come back out..
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Sue said 6:11AM on 1-20-2008
what do you do Valerie when your not rich and can't afford to spend money on Jenny Craig or any other expensive weight loss program?
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tony said 1:32PM on 4-23-2008
this is very simple.....GET UP AND EXCERCISE!!!!!! There is no excuse period.....all you have to do is eat 500 less calories and do some sort of cardio an hour a day 4 to 5 days a week and you will drop 1 pound a week........
Glo said 9:08PM on 4-17-2008
Go to weight watchers!
lori swope said 6:25AM on 1-20-2008
you dont have to be rich to afford jenny craig. you save a ton of money by not eating out or buying fast food!
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colinda said 6:31AM on 1-20-2008
weight loss programs are not all so expensive weight watchers is very affordable for all and its about learning to eat healthy and in the right protions and it takes a star doing it for so people to get started and at least she is better than the oter one they used Kirstie Alley
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Valerie Sweeney said 5:51PM on 1-20-2008
Food is like any other addiction-We need recovery
to maintain- its a process that requires prayer, support, evaluations & action. Why do we over eat? We may it road blocks even after we have met our goal weight- it needs to be a life style-
Again why do we over eat or binge? Failures of the past? Deniel of the present? Fear of the future? We need to celebrate our recovery & work through the garbage so we do not relapse.
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Shirley said 6:40AM on 1-20-2008
Who says you can't eat out. I eat out almost everyday and I lost over a 100 lbs. on WW's and I'm still maintaining it after three years. It's not easy, nothing ever is...It's hard work, but it can be worth it to keep ugle things like diabetes under control..not to menetion insurance rates!
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Stackman518 said 7:41AM on 1-23-2008
Does not have to be rich, gets paid verry well for commercial that more than pays for it.
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gary reinl said 4:40AM on 1-21-2008
Food is not the problem. Losing weight is not the sollution. Learn the facts @ whyarewesofat.com
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