Modern tech tools make it easier than ever for older adults to snag the season’s best bargains from the comforts of home.

The holiday season is fast approaching, and while visions of sugarplums may dance in your head, shoppers can choose to fight the feeding frenzy of in-person crowds at brick-and-mortar retailers or shop online trying to find the best pricing and deals for their naughty and nice list. And, not to add any additional stress, don’t forget about the holiday credit card bills arriving in January.

No matter what your holiday search entails, Senior Planet researched browser extensions, apps and websites to help readers spend less on gift shopping, travel and meal planning to please even the fussiest grinches.

Travel – Catch Flights before Prices Take Off 

Flying this season? Even though timing is crucial, booking flights can be challenging since prices can change daily. Skyscanner compares flights across airlines and often finds cheaper routes or flexible date options. Meanwhile, Hopper uses predictive algorithms to suggest the best time to book for the lowest price, acting like a data-driven travel agent.

Skyscanner 4.8 app rating, 480K reviews

Hopper: 4.8 app rating, 1.2M reviews

Price Trackers, Coupon Codes and Cashback

For Amazon Price Trackers:  Amazon deals can be tricky; prices rise and fall like a seesaw. CamelCamelCamel tracks price histories for millions of products and can alert shoppers when an item drops to your target price.   Bonus: You’ll see if that “limited time sale” is a bargain or just marketing sleight of hand.

CamelCamelCamel

Google, The Ultimate Comparison Tool:  Before making an impulse purchase, quickly search Google Shopping’s website. It’s a free online platform that enables users to search, compare, and shop for products from retailers. Think of it as a search engine specifically for shopping products.

Google Shopping

Honey, The Browser Extension That Works While You Shop:  Honey is a hugely popular browser extension. It’s an easy way to save money. Owned by PayPal, Honey automatically searches for and applies the best coupon codes and cashback offers at checkout when you shop online.

Honey

Stack Rewards Like a Pro: There are two apps that can multiply your deals and savings. RetailMeNot is a free app, browser extension and website that aggregates promo codes, cashback offers, and sales from major retailers. Rakuten takes it a step further—when you shop through its portal and offers cashback on top of existing discounts.

RetailMeNot: 4.8 app rating, 541K reviews

Rakuten: 4.8 app rating, 361K reviews

FOOD

A Festive Feast That Won’t Break the Bank:   Aldi’s Thanksgiving meal bundle is designed to feed 10 people for $40, or about $4 per person. It includes 21 products for a traditional feast, such as a 14-pound turkey, and is available from October 15 through December 24 via in-store or online purchase. Walmart has a similar meal bundle promotion.

Aldi: 4.8 app rating, 81K reviews

Pro Tip: Timing Is Everything

Tech tools work best when paired with a little strategic planning. Big sales like Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday are obvious, but don’t ignore “Green Monday” or “Free Shipping Day” Many deal sites let you set alerts weeks in advance, so you can strike when the price is right rather than panic-buying on December 23rd.

The Bottom line

The best holiday deals aren’t just about luck—they’re about leverage. By setting up the online extensions, trackers, and comparison tools early, shoppers can make their money stretch further. Let 2025 be the year the algorithms do the heavy lifting while you sip eggnog and enjoy the festivities.

YOUR TURN

What are your fave apps for finding holiday deals?  Let us know in the comments!

Deborah Reale is a digital marketing and communications consultant specializing in social media, analytics, content writing, and editing. Ms. Reale has written for Business Development Magazine, Construction Industry Today, and quoted in Investor’s Business Daily and the book Social Media in Action. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and a graduate degree in business administration.

The content on the Senior Planet website is intended strictly for general informational purposes and does not constitute an endorsement or warranty regarding privacy, security, app permissions, or changes in the app’s terms of service. Please scrutinize each app’s privacy policy, terms of use, data collection or other permissions before downloading or using the app.