By Kelly Herdrich,

With Thanksgiving out of the way, retailers are counting on Christmas sales to make or break them this year. In order to help them along the way, Cyber Monday promotions have already started popping up across the Internet. These sales and advertisements, geared at online shoppers hoping to avoid the Black Friday crowds or to get a deal without fighting the crowds, have earned the Monday after Thanksgiving the name, "Cyber Monday." Where should you look for Cyber Monday deals and steals? Should you head to the stores on Black Friday, or wait it out and see what Monday brings? Whenever and however you shop for Christmas, the next week could make or break your gift giving.

According to the Boston Globe, "is expected to be more promotional than ever this year because of the "challenging" holiday shopping season, the National Retail Federation said today." With the economy in turmoil, many are counting on Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales to enable them to give as usual this holiday season. While Black Friday sales mean stores opening early and fighting off crowds, Cyber Monday sales don't require the same degree of work. Rather than combing through print advertisements to find the best Black Friday sales, Internet users are searching the net for the best Cyber Monday sales.

If you are searching for some of the must have items this Christmas, Cyber Monday sales might leave you wanting. Though my mother searched long and hard for an Playstation 3 two years ago, Internet promotions left her wanting. It wasn't until a random shipment appeared at Best Buy and went unadvertised that she was able to leave the store with that season's must have item. So don't count on Cyber Monday (or Black Friday) sales to help you get a must have item. Unfortunately, dumb luck might be your best bet.

If you are hoping to get some good deals this holiday season and you're counting on Cyber Monday sales to help you do it, consider checking out Dealworker's ongoing list of Cyber Monday sales. The list is updated regularly, and might help you find online stores that have just what you are looking for this holiday season

Are you planning to spend less on gifts this holiday season? Well if you still desire to get primo gifts for cheap from the major retailers, most would agree that the best deals come during “Black Friday” (the Friday after Thanksgiving.)

With retailers desperate to meet sales goals during this bleek holiday season, you will start see a lot of “Black Friday” kind of deals early this month. Stay on top of all the door-buster deals by subscribing your email address at bfads.net

You will be the first to know about the latest and greatest door buster deals that will lead up to Black Friday, including special sales and clearance items that are not heavily promoted (like $298 HP Laptops.) You will get early access to Black Friday items lists from major retailers like Wal-mart, Target, Best-Buy etc.

Once you get all the info on the best deals on the items you want, you pick and choose which stores you will battle out in and which stores you plan to skip. Have Bargain Shopping!