If I’m being totally honest, this past week was one big blur of car line pickups, waiting outside gyms, and scrolling deal sites from the driver’s seat. People always ask me how I find the time to juggle everything, and the truth is… I don’t magically have the time. I just make the most of the in-between moments — the parking lot moments, the “practice ends in 12 minutes” moments, the “I’m already sitting here, so why not?” moments.
And with Christmas creeping up, my brain naturally shifts right back into the world I started in.
Back in 2009 — before sheds and ice cream sammies and podcasts and all the beautiful chaos of today — I ran what we used to call a deal blog. I spent my days tracking sales, updating posts before offers expired, and coordinating with my two virtual assistants to make sure people got the best prices fast. It was wild, but it lit me up. Finding a good deal still gives me that little spark of joy.
I have been sharing some frugal shopping tips each week, if you missed my favorite, Open When booklet. And of course, I have gotten so much positive feedback about The Year Book and who doesn’t love cash back, How I Earn Cash Back on Holiday Shopping (Without Clipping Coupons)
So this week, I wanted to share the exact places I check first when I’m trying to save money and get ahead on Christmas shopping — especially for items that need to ship or tend to sell out.
Think of this like your personal cheat sheet for early shopping.
1. TODAY Show Deals — Especially the Monday Boxes
These boxes drop during the first and third hours of the TODAY Show every Monday, and they are GOOD.
Limited quantity, deeply discounted, and usually full of items that make great gifts or stocking stuffers.
You can check them here:
👉 https://marketplace.today.com/boxes
Pro tip:
Set a reminder for Monday morning and refresh around the hour — these sell out fast.
2. Deals.Today
A quick, easy stop for curated flash-style sales.
I check this every time I’m sitting in car line or between practices because new deals pop up constantly.
Simple, clean, and worth bookmarking:
👉 https://deals.today.com/
3. GMA Deals & Steals
The Good Morning America shop page is another spot I check frequently.
From gifts under $20 to big markdowns on name-brand items, you can usually find something surprising here.
Browse the current deals at:
👉 https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/shop
Tip: Filter by discount or price low-to-high to quickly spot the biggest savings.
4. My OG Favorite: Hip2Save
I can’t talk deals without mentioning Colin from Hip2Save.
I’ve followed her for almost 20 years, which in my mind officially makes us friends (even though she has no idea who I am).
If you’re serious about saving money this season, you absolutely need to bookmark this:
👉 THE Black Friday Spreadsheet
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/2/d/e/2PACX-1vSf_FnjgIpA5nlfR1zx86kGnJwG_EZb4xPbZ2hFDn10JNp_pK54R3tk3HhR6dlx-VEhY8Q1iD4aimQ0/pubhtml
It’s color-coded, updated constantly, and honestly one of the best tools out there.
Why I Love Sharing This Stuff
As I was listening to a podcast this week, I started thinking about what genuinely brings me joy… and it always comes back to this:
hunting down a good deal and sharing it with someone who needs it.
Deals bring me back to my roots.
They’re fun.
They save money.
And during a season that already feels heavy and expensive — a good deal is a little win we all deserve.
Next week, I’ll send out a full Small Business Saturday + Cyber Monday guide. But for now, this list should help you get ahead, snag some gifts early, and maybe even enjoy the process a little.
A Quick Note About Amazon
I don’t have an official Amazon storefront (yet!) but I am an Amazon affiliate.
So if you’re shopping on Amazon this season and would like to support my work, you can use my link below.
It doesn’t cost you anything extra — I just earn a tiny commission.
It’s not much, but it helps, and I’m grateful for every click.
👉 Use my Amazon link when you shop: Jenna’s Amazon Store
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