Black Friday Deals

For retailers these days, there's no sense waiting for Black Friday to pour on sales and promotions, especially with the commerce department reporting consumer spending on food and retail was up in September, by one percent.

"It's not even Halloween yet. I'm concentrating on Halloween costumes and getting the pumpkins carved, not even thinking about Christmas yet" says Shopper Peggy Felt.

"Well if I honestly thought they were doing it to bring the deals out earlier ok, but I don't think they are. They're just merchandising earlier" adds Theresa McClary.

"I'd rather they wait until close to Thanksgiving" says Nadine Crockett.

Retailers around here are hoping to cash in on September's spike in consumer spending. According to the NYS Retail Council, the Capital Region tends to do better then the National average.

"You know we draw from such a large radius if you're a hundred miles away you'll still drive here because we have the mix of stores independent and national" says Ted Potrikus with the NYS Retail Council.

Unlike a decade ago don't expect stores to have a large inventory of items this season.

A smaller inventory allows retailers to offer lower prices, but there's a downside.

"It's a tighter inventory so if you do see something that you like and you think oh I'm going to put that aside because it will be 20% less a week from now, it might not be there."

On the other hand, know your limit.

"If I shop early then I tend to buy too much" Felt admits.

With deep discounts starting in October experts say whatever you do keep your receipt; it could come in handy come December.

"You know some stores will have a policy that if you buy something today and it goes on sale for a lower price down the road within a certain period of time you can get the difference" says Potrikus.

A whole new set of shopping rules for a struggling economy, keep your receipt, don't shop too early, or too late. For some it's too much to think about in October.

"It's still warm out; the leaves are on the trees."

For Felt, when the snow and cold weather arrives, she'll feel in the holiday shopping spirit. The Retail Council also tells CBS 6 layaway is back at most major retailers this year, another option for people who are trying to be more careful about using credit cards.