DEALS, Deals, and More Deals

As we get closer to Christmas, stores are offering more and more discounts, deals, and special offers to entice customers. this year, there are more Christmas-focused pre-Black Friday deals than ever before, with stores in a never-ending competition to snag the most customers and the biggest profits during the most shopping-focused time of year.

Some pre-Thanksgiving deals have already come and gone, and the Black Friday deals are too numerous for me to detail here. Instead, I'm simply listing some of the current offers that I find to be the best deals / the ones I'm most likely to use myself.

Because there are so many deals this time, I'm putting them all below the fold, so to speak. Click through for all 8 deals, which include Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Sears, Target, J.Crew Factory, Snapfish, and Bath & Body Works. Happy shopping!

1. Merry Monday at Gap.com

Apparently Cyber Monday isn't soon enough for the Gap family! For today only (Monday, November 21), enjoy 35% off your entire purchase from OldNavy.com, Gap.com, and BananaRepublic.com when you enter code MERRY at checkout. The deal only applies online and some restrictions apply; see any of the sites for details. Thanks to the nature of the company's sites, you can order from all three at one time, using only one shopping cart, making it easier to hit the $50 minimum to receive free shipping.

Sound good? Head on over to OldNavy.com, Gap.com, or BananaRepublic.com to start shopping.

The Limitations:

- Exclusively online
- Must use promo code MERRY at checkout
- Some product restrictions apply
- Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts
- Ends 11:59 p.m. ET on 11/21/2011

2. Cyber Monday Now at Sears.com

Apparently traditional Cyber Monday isn't soon enough for Sears, either! For today only (Monday, November 21), receive an additional 5% - 15% off sale prices at Sears.com. As always, some restrictions apply. While most of the discounts appear to be automatic, you must enter code REALJOY at checkout to receive 15% off shoes and fine jewelry. That code should also get you free shipping if you spend $99 or more.

Sound good? Head over to Sears.com to start shopping.

The Limitations:

- Online only
- Some product restrictions apply
- Discounts (5%, 10%, or 15%) vary by product categories
- Applies only to items sold by Sears.com
- Ends 11:59 p.m. ET on 11/21/2011

3. The 4-Day Sale at Target

Target is offering "Black Friday-like deals" now through Wednesday (November 23). As far as I can tell, deals are available both in-store and online, though there are two coupon codes that can only be used online. Discounts run the gamut from 10% off to more than 40% off.

Sound good? Head to Target.com or to a Target store to start shopping.

The Limitations:

- 4-day sale prices valid through 11/23/11 at 11:59 PM EST

Really, that's the only limitation listed.

4. 5-Hour Sales at Old Navy

The Gap corporation's Merry Monday sale is only online, but Old Navy's 5-hour "doorbusters" are only available in stores. Two were held over the weekend: 75% off adult outerwear on Saturday afternoon and 75% off adult sweaters on Sunday afternoon. Don't fret if you missed those, though, because they have 3 more this week.

Be warned: The stores will be chaotic and the lines will be long, but if you get on line before 5:00 p.m., you should get your items at the sale price, even if it's after 5:00 p.m. by the time you make it to the register.

The Sales:

Monday, November 21: Noon to 5:00 p.m.
75% off all adult graphic tees (excluding clearance items)

Tuesday, November 22: Noon to 5:00 p.m.
75% off adult long-sleeved tees (excluding clearance items and graphic tees)

Wednesday, November 23: Noon to 5:00 p.m.
Extra 50% off all adult clearance, no exclusions

5. J.Crew Factory Online

The online home of J.Crew's factory stores is usually only "open" on weekends. This week, though, they're staying open all week. The items available are typical J.Crew style, but are designed specifically for Factory Online and the factory stores, and prices are cheaper than regular J.Crew prices.

Sound good? Head to J.Crew Factory online or at your nearest outlet mall to start shopping.

6. Buy 1 Photo Book, Get 2 Free at Snapfish

Snapfish is offering a buy one, get two free deal on 20+ page photo books through November 26 (Saturday).

Snapfish is also offering 30% off holiday cards + free shipping through November 22 (Tuesday) when you use the coupon code CARDS30FS and 2 free calendars with the purchase of 1 through November 22 (Tuesday) when you use the coupon code 3CALENDARS.

Sound good? Head on over to Snapfish to start creating your photo books.

The Limitations:

- Must use the discount code NOVBOOKS at checkout.
- All 3 books must have the same base price.
- Disney-themed photo books are excluded.
- Only one coupon, promotion, or account credit can be applied per order.
- Offer applies to first 20 pages of photo book only. Additional pages will be charged at regular prices.
- Coupon code may be used up to 5 times per customer.
- Expires November 26, 2011.

7. Old Navy GOBBLEPALOOZA

Old Navy is really going all out this year. As if the 35% off online and the 5-hour sales weren't enough, they're also launching a 3-day extravaganza of in-store deals this week. On Thursday (yes, Thanksgiving day; I feel for the store employees), you get $10 off a $50+ purchase if you bring in the printable coupon. On Friday (November 21), receive a free Kodak Easyshare waterproof digital camera bundle with a $40+ purchase. On Saturday (November 22), the whole store will be on sale.

In my opinion, the deal on Thursday isn't good enough to warrant shopping on Thanksgiving. If you do feel compelled to shop that day, please be super kind to the store employees, who would probably prefer to be at home with their families than ringing up purchases.

Regarding Friday's deal, most Old Navy locations will be opening at midnight, and the customers will probably begin lining up before that. Some Old Navy outlet locations will be opening at 10:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving, with the camera deal available as soon as they open, so make sure you check your location's opening time if you want the deal. Also be warned that the stores will most likely be crazy on Friday, especially locations located in malls, so be careful, keep your wits about you, and be extra nice to employees, who have to deal with it much longer than you will.

Sound good? Check out the GOBBLEPALOOZA site for more details and to print your coupon.

8. Bath & Body Works Freebies

Now through Christmas Eve (December 24), receive an item of your choice ($13 or less) FREE when you spend $10 or more at Bath & Body Works. You must print the coupon to redeem in stores; enter code FREEGIFT50 to redeem online.

Sound good? Head to Bath & Body Works online or in your nearest mall to start shopping.

The Limitations:

- Free item can be up to a $13 value, gift sets excluded
- Must use coupon (in store) or code FREEGIFT50 (online)
- Limit one offer per customer
- Cannot be combined with any other promo code
- Not valid in outlet locations
- Ends 11:59 p.m. EST on December 24, 2011