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Once upon a time the concept of online shopping was all about convenience and ease of access. Now with the looming financial crisis of 2008 casting a pall over this holiday season, it has become about saving money. The closer we get to "Black Friday" the concerns about recession are taking their toll on the once easy credit, free spending that has been part of the past several years. In order to get a corner on the market more and more retailers are hoping that their loyal shoppers go to their Web sites to do their on line gift shopping. In return for this loyalty they offer promises of discounts and special - online only deals.

Over the years the general stigma of shopping online has become a thing of the past. Even grannies shop from home these days. It is really a convenient way to shop. You can even buy your favorite item at a store not even in your town while at work. So the whole concept of not just saving time but avoiding the crush of shoppers is the biggest reasons behind the movement away from brick and mortar stores. Now before you just start Googling all kinds of items. We want to assist you with finding good deals so her is a short guide outlining 3 points I find helpful and for you to keep in your mind:

1. WHEN & WHERE TO BUY - Think about the brick and morter stores you like to frequent so that you can get a feel for what you are looking for. Think of the clothing or handbag brands that you appreciate and then head on over to Shopping.com to begin your research. If it is toys you want go over to Amazon and look at their hottest toys. If you are still going to shop Sears and Target, see what deals they have. Once upon a time they offered discounts for shopping on line, now the opposite may be true as the crowds dwindle at the brick and mortar, they may want reward you for coming in, so find out. Compare, Compare, Compare

Once your local brick-and-mortar stores start to advertise their Day after Thanksgiving or "Black Friday" deals in your paper then get on line and start looking as the days tick off down to Thanksgiving. Places like Amazon.com. Buy.com and Overstock.com aggressively begin setting out deals that are trying to beat the offers of physical stores.

2. GET IN ON THE DEAL - Check out sites like CyberMonday.com, Dealnews.com, or Shop.org. They are specialized sites that offer online shopping information and guides for getting the best discounts on Black Friday and beyond towards Christmas.

Shopping portals such as Market America that have thousands or top brand retailers at one site. Many of these portals will offer you savings for shopping there. As technology gets more savvy they can also offer a single check out option for all your purchases across multiple stores. So you can shop at Sears, Walmart, Target and Neman Marcus all at one place.

3. ONLINE-ONLY STORES - It is important to note that you should always check exclusive online retailers like Buy.com, Overstock.com or Amazon.com . They don't have the same issues as a chain with lots of overhead in the physical building. So often these online dealers can offer better and cheaper prices for the same or similar products. Also check out new sites like NewEgg.com for electronic or SmartBargains.com or 6pm.com, for fashion. There is lots to choose from this year.

One final tip is to just be cautious and protect yourself. It is worthwhile, if you are leery to stop by bbb.org, the Better Business Bureau website. There you are able to check on many retailers and you can see what their satisfaction rating is. No complaints then they could be a good deal, but they could also be too new on the scene so tread lightly at new shopping portals. If you are new to online shopping it is better to stick with sites have been around for a few years.

Lessons over, now go check your budget, get your credit card out and start Googling. It is easy to get carried away with online sales and to max out your card, so stick to a list and a budget. It is easy to be tempted by all the shiny items before your eyes.