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Nov 24,2009
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BLACK FRIDAY & CYBER MONDAY 101

Black Friday is famous for great deals, limited-time sales, and embarking on early morning shopping expeditions (seriously, really early) -- so famous, there's even been a song written about it. Luckily, we have the scoop on the best Black Friday Deals and shopping strategies. Keep up with Black Friday news wherever you are on the Web with the Black Friday Toolbar.

If you are not up for the early wake-up call, Cyber Monday might be for you. AOL Shopping has a Cyber Monday gallery to help you find the best online deals out there. And to make sure you shop safely, check out this list of Online Shopping Do's and Don'ts.

THE BEST GUIDE TO GIFT GUIDES

Now that you know when to shop, what do you get? If you need inspiration for the perfect present, look no further than the alphabet with the Holiday Gifts A-Z Guide. If you've got kids to shop for, try the Toys by Age Guide. For the gadget guru in your life, check out Engadget's Gift Guide. Got gamers to buy for? Don't miss the Games.com Gift Guide for a list of best sellers, games for him, her or the kids, and even games under $10. You can get help with your shopping wherever you go on the Web with the Holiday Shopping Toolbar. Need more inspiration? Holidash has 21 gift guides, which include suggestions on what to get for people who hate the holidays and an incredible list of gifts under $5.

GET SWEPT AWAY WITH SWEEPSTAKES GALORE

With all the shopping you may be doing over the next few weeks, why not take a minute to possibly get something back? Check out these fun sweepstakes:

AOL Shopping has a new sweepstakes every week until the end of the year to help you with all your holiday shopping. They are giving away the hottest holiday gifts of the year -- with a new prize each week.

NiceOne -- the feel-good Web site devoted to good deeds is doing a good deed of its own: a good deeds contest. Just submit a short story of kind-doings -- the first 500 entries will get a t-shirt. Plus, every week one story will be featured on the site and a $1,000 donation to St. Jude's will be made in the winner's name. Everyone is entered for the grand prize -- a trip to see an AOL Music session.

Coming soon... Starting Dec. 1, MapQuest is giving one lucky winner a $500 gas card and five additional winners will each receive a $100 gas card.

Games.com has two sweepstakes going. Texas Hold'em Tournaments are back with two winter tournaments running Nov. 15-29 and Dec. 13-27. One grand prize winner for each tournament will receive a trip for two to Las Vegas. If poker isn't your game, you can try the Play to Win Marathon, which runs Dec. 1-7. Just play the featured game and you'll earn entries into the sweepstakes where you could win $2,000 cash. Now that's handy for holiday shopping!
Are you scratching your head wondering how on earth you are going to pay for everything this holiday? One popular way to manage your seasonal spending is to get a credit card just for the holidays. WalletPop has rounded up the best credit cards out there when it comes to rates, fees, rewards and perks. It's worth checking out, even beyond the holidays.

Thinking about Windows 7? Windows XP® users should be aware that upgrading requires a clean hard drive. Therefore, XP users will need to back up all their files prior to switching, and reinstall AOL once the upgrade to Windows 7 is complete. One easy way to back up your files is with a online storage program like Mozy.

StyleList is sending a piece of clothing a week to eight style bloggers across America. Those eight bloggers compete to see who styles it best. Some of the biggest names in fashion weigh in, but the ultimate winner is determined by you! See what the contestants have done so far and vote for America's Most Stylish Blogger.

What is your favorite shopping day?

Take the poll above to vote!
Q: Why does my computer stop while I'm trying to open my AOL software?

A: Sometimes your AOL software may freeze while trying to connect to AOL. If your computer doesn't meet the minimum system requirements, you may experience this issue. Another cause could be programs that are set to start automatically when a computer is turned on, which cause your computer to slow down. Click the button below to find out how to solve these problems.

Cast Your Vote Now

Tips Greatest Hits

Here are the top features Tips readers have been clicking on.

  1. MapQuest Gas Prices

    Find the lowest price for gas in your area.

  2. AOL® 9.5

    AOL members told us they wanted a faster AOL -- and we've listened! We took the familiar AOL software you know and love and improved performance for a better online experience, whether you are on broadband or dial-up. Combining email, instant messaging and Web browsing, AOL 9.5 is compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista® and the new Windows 7 operating systems

  3. McAfee® VirusScan Plus -- Special edition from AOL

    Comprehensive protection from a leading name in security.

  4. AIM® 7.0

    Send messages to your friends and family instantly. Lifestream helps you stay in touch with your friends, whether they are on AIM, Facebook, Twitter, or elsewhere. AIM is faster, lighter with a fresh look, and it's free!

  5. Fantastic Freebies

    Every single day, find something new you can get for free.

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    All your favorite AOL stations as well as 150+ CBS Radio stations from around the US.

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