Written by Elina Furman, co-founder of Mamaista.com

Sample Site Madness
Like most moms, our days of running off to the latest sample sales are a thing of the past. What with the kid’s demanding schedules, there’s simply no time to rummage through all those racks and take advantage of the savings. Luckily, there are a whole slew of online sample sites that you can visit from the comfort of your couch.

For moms looking to find fashionable new holiday wear, look no further than sites like Gilt.com, HauteLook.com and BillionDollarBabes.com. Many of these sites also offer lux home wear and gift items that you can stock up throughout the year and then hand out as gifts during the holiday season or on birthdays.

If you’re looking for gifts for the smallest members of your household, there are also sample sales sites that cater to the little ones. Toys, clothes and baby gear can be found at rock-bottom prices at sites like TheMiniSocial.com and Totsy.com.

Trade It In
If you’re in dire need of raising some extra funds, don’t despair. You need only rummage your drawers and closet for what could be an avalanche of riches. Whether you’ve been sitting on a pile of unwanted gift cards or looking to score some discounted cards at your favorite shops, head straight to PlasticJungle.com. The site features a genius concept, since they let you buy, sell and exchange your old gift cards. Not only that, if you don’t want the cash, you can start the season off right by donating unwanted even partially used gift cards to a charity of your choice.

Speaking of swapping your old cards, how about trading in some of your unwanted items for something you actually need. And we’re not just talking about eBay, but at a whole new crop of sites who let you exchange your unwanted CDs, book, apparel, and baby stuff. Websites such as Handmedowns.com, Swaptree.com, and BookMooch.com are just a few of the many out there that will have you smiling this holiday season.

One Deal, One Day!
Moms looking to score the best on everything from toys to museum admission to massages need to sign up at these new websites taking the internet by storm. Here’s how it works. You sign up for their daily deal alert, get an email with one amazing offer, and then speed on over to the website to claim your deal before it’s all gone.

And there’s something for everyone — even hubby. Woot.com offers daily deals on high-end electronics and Kids.woot.com for babies and kids. Groupon.com offers amazing savings at local restaurants, spas and attractions that are sure to guarantee a festive holiday season and beyond. Also, look for deal-a-day sites offering savings on kids clothes and gear. Two top sites are greenbabybargains.com and babysteals.com (who also recently launched kidsteals.com for older kids).

So there you have it! With all the amazing deals online and new ways to save money on luxury, quality finds, there’s absolutely no stopping your family from having one of the most festive holidays seasons yet.

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