Americans really want to score some deals this holiday shopping season—well, and gift cards.

With just over two months until Christmas , many consumers are starting to strategize how they’ll tackle their gift lists this year. And the current state of the economy will weigh on spending plans for 56% of consumers, according to a new report from the National Retail Federation .

Amid concerns about an affordability crisis, many Americans plan to make some changes this year to keep the season as merry as possible—including shopping for sales, comparing prices online, and using coupons.…