How I save money on Black Friday and Cyber Monday without ever leaving the couch

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Black Friday and Cyber Monday have always been my go-to times of the year for purchasing holiday gifts. But, the older I get, the more I prefer to trade in the traffic and long checkout lines for a cozy seat on the couch.

Here's how I manage to score some savings without ever having to step foot in stores.

Sometimes, Black Friday and Cyber Monday "sales" are illusions. The original price of an item actually increases right before the sale and then once the sale starts, prices are marked back down. So, you're not really getting that item for a deal.

When shopping on Amazon, I use a browser extension called camelcamelcamel, which displays the pricing history of any item on the site. This lets me see what the pricing changes have been like over the last few weeks and even months, so I know if I'm actually purchasing something at a lower price.

You can also receive email alerts when camelcamelcamel finds a price drop on an item you've been watching. The extension is free to use, so you don't have to pay anything to save some money.

I have the American Express® Gold Card and one of its less talked-about perks is its shopping offers. Some retailers will offer special discounts on certain products for Amex Gold cardholders, usually ranging from a $5 to $25 statement credit, to additional membership points, or even small discounts on beauty and lifestyle products. Enrollment required.

Discounts and statement credits can help you save on your purchases, so I try to peruse the Amex app to make sure I'm not missing out on an opportunity to save on something I was planning to buy. Sometimes, though, you have to enroll to opt in to receive the offer so make sure you double check the terms before making your purchase.

I've been a long-time user of the Honey browser extension because it automatically applies the available coupon codes to help me save on my purchases. Otherwise, I'd be stuck Googling discount codes for every retailer I'd like to buy from. Plus, Honey works across thousands of retailers, so odds are good that it can help you try out some coupon codes before you check out.

Rakuten is another browser extension I like to use to rack up savings, this time by getting cash back after making a purchase at one of the retailers in its partnership network. Rakuten has some very popular brands like Sephora, Chewy and Old Navy.

The cash back can range from 1% to sometimes 28% and beyond, and during holiday events, the platform has offered double cash back in the past. If you're spending hundreds of dollars on holiday gifting during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, you may actually get back a good chunk of cash.

There are three ways you can receive your cash back with Rakuten: A check mailed out to you, sent digitally through PayPal or receive American Express Membership Rewards®. If you value the cold hard cash back in your pocket to spend or save how you wish, then opting for payment via PayPal or a check may be the way to go.

Go in with a game plan

Make a list of all the things you need or want to buy during the sales event, so you go in already knowing what you're looking for and won't be as distracted by all the shiny objects you see sales tags for. Also have a plan for how you'll pay.

Create a budget ahead of time

Some shoppers spend first and then assess the damage later — and sometimes that damage winds up being a heftier-than-expected credit card bill.

Going into Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping with a preset budget helps you be a bit more discerning about your purchases and you can decide how much or how little you can reasonably afford. This way, you don't have to worry about doing damage control in your bank account after the fact.

Review return policies

These sales don't last forever and sometimes when you're feeling pinched for time, you can end up making spur-of-the-moment buying decisions that you regret later on. Make sure you're aware of the return policies for the retailers you're shopping with, so you know if they allow returns for a full refund or store credit for a future purchase (or just exchanges only).

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