To the vigilant go the savings. Watch for sales - especially pre-Thanksgiving sales - in ads and fliers. Shopping for one gift can get you another free. This past week we saw: Buy-one-get-one-free ad for Route 66 jeans from Kmart; a buy-one-get-a-second-at-50-percent-off on Legos from Toys R Us; buy $50 merchandise from Linens `n' Things and get a glass wine decanter, a six-month subscription to Food and Wine magazine and the mag's wine guide free; a four-day 15 percent off storewide sale at King Arthur's Toys and a free companion's airline ticket with a $50 purchase at Garden Ridge.

If you don't see any specials on entering a store, ask at the customer service counter. Many stores have extra printouts of ad inserts and coupons for customers.

Shopping the Internet? Ask about free shipping. If there's a minimum, wait until you get a list long enough to take advantage.

Local craft shows are another penny-pinching source for gifts. Go to Cincinnati.Com's Holiday Guide or check out the Circle This listings on Saturdays and the Sunday Datebook page in the Tempo section.

Joy Kraft