Is it worth braving the crowds and traffic to find those great prices on Black Friday? It depends on what you're buying.

Whether you brave the lines for Black Friday sales, or shop from home for Cyber Monday deals, experts say start out by getting easy discounts like using coupons and shopping with a rewards credit card. Using plastic instead of cash also gets you extra protection.

Getting good discounts also comes down to good timing. Experts say buy clothing now; you'll find a greater variety of sizes. Don't buy jewelry; those prices are usually better in mid-December. Do buy electronics, they're often deeply discounted.

Don't just jump at the lowest-priced computer or TV -- check the specs, make sure you're not buying an outdated model. Do buy smart home devices; there are good Cyber Monday sales this year on Amazon Echo, Google Home and Apple HomePod. But don't rush to buy toys; prices will usually drop as much as 50 percent before Christmas.

The one exception is if you're buying one of this year's hot-selling toys, which you might want to grab while you still can.