Jennifer Jolly, USA TODAY

Want to score huge deals this Black Friday and Cyber Monday? Well you're not alone, and you can bet that whatever stores you're planning on hitting will be filled with like-minded shoppers. It's a war zone out there, and if you want to emerge victorious you'll need to use the ultimate bargain-finding secret weapon: your beloved smartphone and a suite of powerful apps that will leave your bank account healthy and your Christmas list conquered.

SHOPPING APPS ARE NOT ONE SIZE FITS ALL

By Bruce Horovitz, USA TODAY

Sure, there are a few catches — and most require proof of military service. (You need to check company websites for the fine print.) But if you're a vet or active military, you might plan out a Freebie Monday that goes something like this:

• You wake up hungry.Head over to Denny's for all-you-can-eat stacks of buttermilk pancakes. But you've got to pay up for anything else you get.

•You're feeling scruffy. Great Clips has you covered. Vets can walk in on Monday — with no appointment — and get free haircuts. If you don't have the time Monday, or just got a buzz cut, you can still snatch a rain check for a freebie haircut.

Gather all of your DVDs into one spot. Fling any that you don’t love or that you really don’t want watch again. If you’ve bought the movies recently, you may be eligible for a digital copy that will allow you to get rid of the disk and case, or at least keep them in an out of the way place like a high closet shelf.  Libraries love to get DVDs to add to their collection or to sell in their used book sales. So fling away!