Both retailers are offering price protection through most of the holiday shopping season as well, so if you buy early and the same item drops to a lower price, you can retroactively get that better deal.

Target is hoping to get the jump on the competition by holding an Early Black Friday Sale over the three days running from Thursday, Nov. 7 to Saturday, Nov. 9. The retailer is promising "thousands of hot new deals," many up to 50% off.

Black Friday may technically just be one day, but it’s evolved to consume the entire month of November in the US at this point. For the past few years, retailers like Amazon, Walmart and Target have ushered in the holiday shopping season earlier and earlier,