If you've spent any time in the past few days watching the news or reading newspapers, you've been reminded that this is the official start of the holiday gift-buying season.  You've seen the interviews with 8-months-pregnant women who are planning to sleep in tents in front of big-box stores (in subfreezing weather) so they can score this year's hot toy for their other children.

Maybe you've gone out shopping on Black Friday in years past.  I have--once.  That was enough to cure me of ever thinking of it again.  The first store I hit wasn't too bad, but my second stop was the toy store, where lines stretched into the aisles of stock so you couldn't maneuver your cart around the store.  People had sleepy toddlers in pajamas sitting in shopping carts in the predawn hours.  I stood there in line trying to figure out what I was doing there and if it was really worth it.

After I waited for nearly an hour to pay for four toys, I was ready to head to the local "mart."  The lot was so full that I practically had to park my car in the next zip code.  As I got closer to the entrance of the store, I saw several police cars and an ambulance in the front, and people spilling out of the door of the store.  No thanks!  I went home and put away my few purchases before the rest of my family was even awake.  Later I learned that there had been rioting at that store--over a Tickle Me Elmo.

I found in later years that online shopping could get me the same great deals without the tents, the cold, the crying toddlers and the riots.  I don't plan to leave my house today to buy so much as a loaf of bread, but I'm sure I can get a lot of shopping accomplished.

COUPON TIME

Here are some of the very best deals from our own Holiday Gift Guide!  Unlike Black Friday sales, these coupons don't expire TODAY.  And you don't have to sleep outside in a tent the night before to take advantage of them.

15% off your order at The Sports Authority
Eligible items will have the following note on their product page: "Ultimate Coupons - 15% OFF Your Entire Order"
Valid online only. Use this link to activate the coupon. If there's a problem, enter promotion/discount code ULTIMATE15 in your cart.
Valid through: January 31, 2009 11:59pm ET

20% off your order at ICE.com
Use this link to activate the coupon code.
Valid through: December 20, 2008 11:59pm ET

$10 off online orders over $50 at HP Home & Home Office
Use coupon code SV2130.
Valid through: January 31, 2009

$50 off a hotel stay of 3 or more nights via Orbitz.com
Use promotion code 50AFFORB. Valid through: December 31, 2008
To display qualifying hotels, go to the Hotels tab, click "I have a promotion code," enter the above code and look for hotels marked with the icon "COUPON."

$10 off online orders over $125 at Brookstone.com
Use promotion code AF8NOV. Valid through: December 15, 2008

15% off your order at FTD.COM
Use this link. Your discount should be displayed at the top of the page. Discount will be reflected in the prices you see.
Valid through: Unknown