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Early holiday sales may give shoppers more chances to compare prices, but the available figures do not show that they will make holiday shopping more affordable. CNET’s 2026 listing says nearly one in three U.S. adults plan to shop early, while close to 40% expect to wait until November or December. Neither figure shows whether early buyers will save money or whether a deal will fit a smaller budget.
What CNET’s figures say—and what they don’t
CNET’s indexed 2026 listing reports that nearly one in three U.S. adults plan to shop early holiday sales. It also says close to 40% are waiting until November or December to begin shopping. These are headline-level figures, not enough to explain why people chose their timing or what they expect to spend. CNET’s indexed listing, surfaced via Readfeeds, does not provide accessible survey details such as field dates, sample size, sampling method, or exact question wording.
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A related CNET listing describes tighter holiday budgets amid rising technology costs and mentions an average holiday shopping budget of $808. That is a figure reported in the listing teaser; the underlying calculation, respondent base, and methodology are unavailable. It should not be treated as a universal target or as a measure of what every household can afford. A News Reel aggregation listing also reproduces the CNET headline and teaser.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsWill early deals help shoppers with smaller budgets?
It is possible to save by buying an item at a genuinely lower price, but the accessible CNET material does not compare early-sale prices with later prices, evaluate deal quality, or establish that early shopping improves affordability. It also does not show whether planned purchases fit respondents’ budgets. The figures therefore cannot answer whether deals will help smaller-budget shoppers as a group.
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For an individual shopper, a discount is useful only if the purchase is needed, the final cost is manageable, and buying now does not crowd out more important expenses. A lower sticker price is not the same as an affordable purchase.
How to judge a holiday sale against your budget
- Set a total limit first. Choose the amount you can spend on holiday purchases without relying on a hoped-for discount or borrowing you cannot comfortably repay.
- Make a list before browsing. Decide which items you actually intend to buy. This makes it easier to distinguish a needed purchase from an offer that simply creates pressure to spend.
- Compare the final cost. Check the price after shipping and applicable tax, rather than judging the offer by its advertised discount alone.
- Check delivery and return terms. Confirm when the item is expected to arrive and what the retailer’s return window and conditions allow. A low price may be less useful if delivery misses the occasion or a return is difficult.
- Keep a running total. Subtract each planned purchase from your limit. A simple note or budget planner can help keep the remaining amount visible; buying a planner is not necessary.
- Skip offers that break the limit. If the purchase pushes spending beyond your budget, waiting or passing on it is safer than treating the advertised savings as a reason to spend more.
Should you shop early or wait?
Neither timing choice is shown by these figures to be financially better. Shopping early can give you more time to compare offers and avoid last-minute decisions, while waiting may suit people who prefer to plan later. The available reporting does not establish that early prices are lower than November or December prices, so timing alone is not a reliable savings strategy.
Choose the timing that lets you check the total cost and terms without rushing. If you find an item already on your list at a price that fits your limit, it may be reasonable to buy it; if an offer requires stretching that limit, the discount does not make it a budget-friendly purchase.
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