Time for a little retail tough love: There are less than 60 shopping days until Christmas.

For most of us, finding the best deals on gifts this year is a must. According to new research from Information Resources Inc., Americans will be holiday shopping with lists in hand and a budget firmly in mind.

“While consumers are beginning to awaken from the economic sea change just in time for the beginning of the holidays, they are taking very thoughtful and strategic approaches to their purchasing and are sifting hard through such questions as: ‘What do I really need?’ ‘What does my family need?’ and ‘What can we still live without?’ ” IRI Consulting & Innovation president Thom Blischok said.

More Americans will be shopping on the Web this holiday season. Flexibility, saving time and avoiding crowds are all major draws that get consumers’ dollars online, according to IRI.

But wherever you shop, sorting through ever-changing sales and specials, studying circulars and surfing the Internet can eat up a lot of time.

Luckily, a number of new sites are designed to help make the process easier:

•CheapTweet.com compiles all the deals posted on the social-networking site Twitter. The site, which launched in 2008 on Black Friday, features a continually updated list of national retailers’ offers and local buys posted by deal-hunters across the country.

“Twitter is a great source for bargain hunters. Every major store, chain and brand has a Twitter account and posts specials,” says Jenn Appozite, co-founder and chief of community experience at CheapTweet. “People everywhere share local deals. We pull them all together in one spot.”

•SeatCity.com is an online ticket service that allows users to compare prices for concerts, sporting events, theater productions and other cultural happenings. SeatCity pulls data from StubHub, Tickets Now, Razorgator and other tickets sites and allows users to compare prices, inventory and seating charts.

•Become.com was named by the Sloan Center for Internet Retailing at the University of California as the best search and comparison site on the Internet. The site offers product reviews, buying guides and shopping advice, along with an easy-to-use price-comparison tool.

•PricePlease.com is an online shopping resource that lets you create a wish list and then sends you e-mail alerts when the price of any of your items drops.

•FabulousSavings.com offers thousands of discounts from national retailers. Check Fabuloussavings.com/x for exclusive offers the site claims you won’t find anywhere else.

•BlackFriday.gottadeal.com posts advance copies of holiday sale circulars, online deals and store specials. Sign up for their e-mail alerts, and you’ll get a heads-up whenever new ads are listed.