Black Friday Shoppers, Beware: Gift Prices are Climbing

So if you want to cross off every item on your holiday shopping list, you'll likely have to dig for discounts.

Not sure how to bargain hunt to keep your seasonal shopping spree below budget? Here are one personal finance expert's tips on how to score the best deals this holiday season.

Don't Get Duped by Doorbuster Deals

During Black Friday, many major retailers offer exclusive doorbuster deals, or deeply discounted goods, at their brick-and-mortar stores. However, if a deal seems too good to be true, it's often because it is, according to a personal finance expert.

According to the expert, doorbuster deals are often offered on outdated and lower-quality products. Additionally, those deals are often harder to snag because they typically only apply to items that are in "very limited supply".

The expert advises shoppers to have an idea of what they're looking to buy before visiting their local stores. Shoppers should also consider how flexible they're willing to be on an item's make and model.

Stack store discounts with credit card offers

During the holidays, many credit card issuers offer additional discounts for purchases at popular retailers. To see if your credit card comes with any special offers, check your care issuer's app or website. If available, you should opt into holiday offers to get extra discounts (often in the form of statement credits) for shopping at your favorite stores.

While retailers may limit how many coupons you can use per purchase, you can easily combine credit card-issued discounts with store coupons, allowing you to maximize your savings at checkout.

"A great way to shop is to stack those discounts on top of each other," Palmer said. "You might get a 10% discount through your credit card, and then you get a Black Friday or Cyber Monday deal that adds another 10% [discount] to your purchase."

Time your purchases with deep discounts

Knowing when to shop for certain items, can save you big bucks around the holidays, according to Palmer.

If you're looking to scoop up the season's hottest toys, postpone your shopping trip until right before the major gift-giving holidays, Palmer advises. Conversely, if you're looking to pick up a television, computer or smartphone, you'll likely find better deals on or around Black Friday, when electronic prices are likely to dip, she said.

Maximize Your Savings with Browser Extensions

If you love online shopping and want to save money, consider using browser extensions that are designed to help you find bargains. One popular extension is Honey, which automatically searches for and tests coupon codes for over 30,000 online shops. This can potentially save you a lot of money on your purchases. Another extension to consider is Rakuten, which offers cash-back deals for shopping at over 3,500 stores including Target, Macy's, Walmart, Ulta, and Nike. By using Rakuten, you can earn money back on your purchases. Lastly, if you frequently shop on Amazon, you can use a tool called CamelCamelCamel to monitor millions of product prices and receive alerts when those prices drop. This can help you snag great deals on Amazon products.