Get Great Deals by Steve Calechman and Lindsay Moyer
With the economy tanking and the R-word headlining business news, now may not be the best time to burn through your moola. But that doesn't mean you have to stop shopping -- just be smart about it. Here's how to score the best buys.
Books: When to buy ASAP
Retailers slash prices when a book is first released, says Tina Jordan, vice president of the Association of American Publishers. It beats waiting for the paperback.
Being an early bird gets the bookworm as much as 40 percent off, according to Karen Hoxmeier, who runs mybargainbuddy.com.