The holiday shopping season is upon us. Black Friday is just a few weeks away. We have retail expectations for the season and how consumers can maximize their money.

Thanksgiving is later this year, which means those big Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday sales are closer to Christmas. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find a deal at the beginning of the month.

And there’s a lot of interesting new data about spending trends and the types of gifts people will buy this holiday season.

“We’re really interested in how people spend so we can find the best ways for them to save,” Bella Gerard said of Rakuten.

So cash-back platform Rakuten just completed a consumer holiday spending survey and found a particularly fascinating fact about so-called “obligation gifts.”

“You know that gift you feel like you have to get someone, whether it’s been given to you in the past, or you’ve been giving it for years, and you feel like it’s kind of overdue. People don’t really care anymore. Gerard said.

Rakuten found that only 20% of all shoppers say they will buy gifts with obligation.

“Gender. Whey in particular is leading this charge. We found that 49% of Gen Z shoppers prioritize gifts for themselves over gifts for others,” said Gerard.

And 54% of all shoppers admit they will spend less on others, even their friends and family, in order to spend more on themselves.

Whether you’re shopping for yourself or others, Consumer Reports says there’s no better time of year for bargain shoppers than the entire month of November.

“You don’t have to wait until Black Friday to get a great deal. Throughout the month of November, we see a lot of really good prices. These tend to come and go. So keep an eye out for whenever you want to shop and you could score some big savings before the end of the month,” said Samantha Gordon of Consumer Reports.

Don’t forget to use browser extensions that will automatically scan and apply coupon codes for you. And if you download a platform like Rakutan, you can stack cash back on top of these deals.

“After downloading the browser extension, you can access Bloomingdale’s, ShopBop, Sephorathousands of retailers. And when you’re about to check out, you’ll get this little pop-up that says you can save money back, and then you’ll get a check in the mail later and get the money back right in your pocket,” Gerard said.

Another interesting trend that emerged from that survey, 58 percent of shoppers say they’re willing to pay more if they get a good deal — meaning they prioritize stretching the dollar and getting the most bang for their buck over saving money and putting it in your pocket.

Now to some offers.

If you’re shopping for your favorite cook, you can’t go wrong with a versatile dutch oven. The 5.5 liter Le Creuset is on sale for $340 on Amazon. It has been a top performer in CR ratings for years, heats up quickly and is easy to clean.

A great choice for those who love sleek-looking kitchen appliances, the Cosori Dual Blaze Air Fryer is now $160 on Amazon. It has a large capacity and is easy to clean.

Give the gift that keeps on giving with a cool gadget that will do some dirty work around the house. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra Robot Vacuum is $1,099 at Amazon. It got an excellent score in the CR carpet test and works as a robot wet mop.

For the true tech lover on your list, the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 LTE is $199 at Amazon. While it’s not the latest model, it keeps up with newer competitors with a range of sensors to track exercise, sleep and heart rate.

Finally, November wouldn’t be November without TV deals. The LG OLED costs $1,424 at Walmart and about $1,500 at Amazon, Crutchfield, and Best Buy. The 65-inch set offers excellent picture quality, high dynamic range performance and sound.

Consumer Reports says you can also watch for deals on headphones, mixers, smartphones and even major appliances this month.