This is especially true this time of year, with a shopping list a mile long.

Check out these tips and tricks to save yourself some big money this holiday season.

In most cases, online retailers will have lower prices on the same products.

Check outbuying an HDTV online or in-storeandHow not to get ripped off buying a TV onlinefor more info.

The way stores make money is through add-ons like cables and extended warranties.

Personally, I’m not a big fan of extended warranties.

LCDs and plasmashave been found to be extremely reliable.

Receivers and speakers rarely break, unless your kids have a party.

Blu-ray players are practically disposable at this point.

And DON’T buy cables at a store.

HDMI cables shouldn’t cost you more than $5.

You’d think four articles would be enough, but nope.

Some people still don’t believe that cheap HDMI cables are great.

To wit:4K HDMI cables are nonsense, andThere’s no such thing as HDMI 2.0 cables.

The two most popular brands for cheap HDMI are Monoprice and Amazon.

Check outAmazon Basics vs. Monoprice: Which HDMI cable to buy?

Doorbusters, like $200 TVs, are worth what you pay for them.

They aren’t going to have the picture quality of name-brand TVs.

If your goal is to just getaTV, then go for it.

If you’re looking for something good, these aren’t a good deal, they’re just cheap.

Along the same lines,don’t buy a used plasma TV.

This is because all the companies making plasma TVs have ceased production.

TheF8500is still a great TV if you could find it, though.

While videophiles lament the loss of plasma, there are a few glimmers of hope.

This year’s 55-inch OLED model from LGlooks great.

Somebigger, 4K models are due soon.

However, they’re all very expensive.

Features likelocal dimming,High Dynamic Range (HDR), andblack frame insertionall improve LCD picture quality.

Also, just because a TV uses LEDs doesn’t mean it has good picture quality.

In some ways it can actually be worse.

Blu-ray playersPretty much all Blu-ray players have built-in Wi-Fi, 3D, and Internet streaming.

Not all Internet streaming suites are the same, though.

All will have Netflix, but not all have VUDU and Amazon Instant Video.

If your goal is to get access to the most online content, VUDU and Amazon are vital.

Of course, they don’t play discs like a Blu-ray player.

There’s always a catch.

Look very closely at the fine print.

Rarely is a superspecial offer actually for a good product.

It’s just there to get you to come to the store so they can sell you something else.

Just because something is cheap, doesn’t mean it’s a good value.

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