Plenty of shoppers are eager to get ahead of the expected holiday crowds, but they don't have to go without the holiday deals, and they don't have to leave their homes.
Consumers are getting a jump start on the holiday shopping season, but with the economy still weighing heavily on their minds, they're keeping a conservative approach when it comes to their gift-giving budgets.
Retailers are bracing for what could be a profitable holiday shopping season, despite a great deal of uncertainty. The National Retail Federation expects holiday sales this year to increase 4.1 percent to $586.1 billion.