Holiday shopping woes? Say no more. Here’s a foolproof step-by-step list of things to do in preparation and domination of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. That’s right, we’re giving you the scoop on how to truly kill it this holiday shopping season.

It’s no secret that the best sales of the year come around Thanksgiving, so make sure you survive Black Friday and Cyber Monday this season with these incredibly simple tips to shop from the comfort of your own home.

1. Planning is everything

   Yep, this seems like a no-brainer, but with our busy lives, holiday shopping just isn’t at the top of our priority list.
   How far in advance should you start planning? Well, that depends on the list of people you need to get gifts for–and how long that list may be. Think about family, friends, coworkers, and even any holiday gift games like Secret Santa or White Elephant!

   Start your list a month before the sales start happening, and start planning and brainstorming what to gift each person. The next step is to peruse the internet for sites that have great sales where you can totally score for those items. Make sure you take note of what shops you’ll need to hit up.

2. Subscribe to emails
   

   These can get annoying, but for the holiday sale season, it’s crucial. Emails are the most convenient way to get the lowdown on the best deals. I mean, think about it… if shops didn’t email us, we’d have to type in each store into Google to see what sale is happening. At least in your inbox, you’ll have everything right there. You can even compare the best deals all in one place. Don’t forget to do this at least a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving–some companies give early access or extra deals to their email subscribers!

3. Download shopping apps

   
   What a day to be alive! Shopping apps have changed the way we shop, and whether you’re a shopaholic or just someone trying to get through the holiday season, these are the best way to get in on all the deals.
   Ever run into the issue of trying to shop on your phone through your web browsing app? No shade to Safari, but oftentimes, we’ve had to wait to get home to use a desktop or laptop in order to make our purchases. Well, apps solve those problems with streamlined, designed-for-mobile shopping, so you can shop from the bathroom at work, on your commute, or even in the comfort of your bed, snuggled up under the covers.
   Some apps have push notifications. You’ll want to turn these on in the time leading up to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. If an app offers this feature, it’s because they intend to send push notifications when they’re promoting a deal–and you def want the scoop on that.
   Don’t forget to sign up for an account–most apps make it easy just by linking your Facebook or Google accounts so you don’t have to remember another password. By having an account on a website or an app, you can save info for quick and easy checkout when the time comes–streamlining your entire shopping process. This is especially helpful if you’re switching between apps and sites.

4. Save items from your list

   This is where we tie everything together. Hopefully, at this point, you’ve planned your list, have items in mind for each gift recipient, subscribed to emails, downloaded shopping apps, and have your holiday budget solidified.

   
   Most apps will have the option of adding items to cart and keeping them there until you delete them. Some apps will only keep them in your cart for a certain amount of time (sometimes it’s only for an hour or until your next session). If you find that the app deletes your cart after a period of time, find the ‘wishlist’ or ‘save for later’ option where you can add them to a long list of things you are planning to buy. When the time comes, you can just go to this wishlist to start adding to cart, and boom–you’re ready to check out.