Couponsnapshot.com (ARA) - On average, Americans will spend $682.74 on holiday shopping this year, according to the National Retail Federation. That is down about $20 from last year's average spending.

And two-thirds of Americans also report that the economy is causing them to spend less this holiday season.

But the good news is that people will be shopping sales and discounts this year, according to the NRF, and one way to find great deals is using online coupons.

No matter if you're looking for clothing, home and gardening tools or even travel deals to present to your family and friends as holiday gifts, you can find coupons and discounts for the items, shipping or extra offers online.

CouponSnapshot.com offers up to 30,000 free bargains and deals from up to 8,000 online retailers. Look for Christmas coupons specifically, or just browse for discounts at your favorite stores. If you still have time to plan your holiday shopping, sign up for the Coupon Alert System, which notifies you by e-mail of the newest additions to the site for your favorite merchants. That means when Dell coupons are updated, you'll get a notice.

While doing your holiday shopping online, make sure you do your research on the products and the companies. This might not be a concern if you're shopping through a well-known retailer, but make sure the Web site and the company are legitimate and secure. Look for recognition from the Better Business Bureau, or search for customer feedback about the company and the Web site.

Reputable sites will also offer strong safety measures for when you plan to purchase something. Check to make sure a page is secure with the lock symbol when you enter your credit card number, or consider paying with a PayPal account which offers you protection for the purchase price and shipping costs.

Make sure you complete your holiday shopping list this year easily and for less money. Save money with online coupons and sales, but also make sure your purchase is safe and secure.

Courtesy of ARAcontent