While this might seem antithetical to my online moniker of Money Saving Mom®, I won't be out shopping on Black Friday. I tried it one year and it was madness: long crazy lines, crowded aisles, and people walking around in the pajamas, looking like they had just rolled out of bed.

If you enjoy the thrill of a hunt or just love store-hopping when there are throngs of people out and about, then going out shopping on Black Friday might totally be your thing. But if that's not appealing to you, I have good news for you: the Black Friday deals online are just as good, or even better, than the the in-store deals.

I’ve proven this theory over the past few years by meticulously comparing the prices online versus the prices in-store. Plus, you don’t have to wait out in the cold for three hours and you can avoid all the stampeding and shoving crowds at the stores. Instead, you can get up a little early on Friday morning, sit in your PJ’s, sip your cup of coffee, and browse online.

There are other perks to shopping online for Black Friday:

You Have More of a Selection When Shopping Online

Typically, online sites are much more well-stocked and have more variety than you’re going to find in-store. However, do note that the deals still sell out fairly quickly online. So if you see a deal ahead of time that you’re particularly interested, you may want to wait up until midnight to go ahead and get it as it may be sold out by the morning.

You Don’t Have to Drive to Multiple Stores

One of the biggest headaches to Black Friday shopping is trying to strategize where to be when and how you’re going to be multiple places in time for the great sales. Save yourself gas and time by just clicking your way to savings.

Tip: Go ahead and set up an account the day before on the sites that have hot sales that might not last long online on Black Friday. That way, when you go to order, you can just login and go through checkout quickly.

You Can Use Online Coupon Codes

Many online sites will have coupon codes available for 10-15% off (or more!) that you can stack with their fantastic Black Friday sales. Before placing your order, check to see if there’s an online coupon code available for the site you’re ordering from.

Tip: If an online retailer isn't offering free shipping and you can't find a coupon code for free shipping, check to see if you can have the item shipped to your local store for free pick-up.

You Can Get Cashback

Get Cashback at over 1200 online retailers by shopping through BlackFriday.com. Just sign up for a free account here, search for the online retailer you are purchasing through, and click "Shop Now".

You'll usually get between 3-5% Cashback for each online transaction and this money will show up in your account within a few weeks. While it might only be a few dollars per purchase, it doesn't cost you any extra and can add up to a nice little bonus -- especially if you do a lot of online shopping!

If you look forward to missing sleep and going out and hitting the sales with half the city on Black Friday, be my guest. As for me, I’ll be snuggled up under a blanket with my mug of coffee and my laptop on Black Friday morning getting great deals from the comfort of my living room couch!

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