Black Friday is one of the biggest shopping days of the year. Here are the best Black Friday tips to help you save money and curb your extra Black Friday spending.
Black Friday is the busiest shopping day in the United States. As Black Friday has evolved throughout the years, and with the addition of Cyber Monday, the actual day has become less of a focus.
Not all Bad
So many people rely on Black Friday sales to get their kids and loved ones the things they want.
I remember my parents buying the newspaper before Black Friday and waking up at 5 am to get us toys and other things we needed.
One year my sister and I got a Razor Scooter (remember when those were a new thing!?) thanks to a 5 am Walmart trip. They probably would not have been able to afford it had it not been for that sale. They were all the rage back then, and “everyone” had one! We were so thrilled and could barely wait for Hanukkah when they gifted it to us.
Black Friday can be a day to get some good stuff you need, but it can also be a day where you blow all your money on impulse shopping.
Not Affordable
If you are spending money that you don’t have, then you CANNOT AFFORD IT. This is true for credit cards as well. If there is no money in the bank to immediately pay it off, you cannot afford it even if you are getting cash back, points, or rewards.
You have to evaluate every “deal” by recognizing that you borrow money for it. Are you willing to borrow money for this “amazing deal”? Chances are NO.
If you budgeted and planned for the shopping that you are doing on Black Friday, then you are good to go! For many people, this is a chance to get things that they really need at a price that they can afford. Also, if you celebrate the holidays by giving gifts, this can be a fantastic opportunity to get the people you love the things they want.
This can also be a time to stock up on things you may need, like clothing, winter gear, or baby stuff But it’s not worth it to buy the stuff you MAY need if you have to borrow money on a credit card to do so.
Don’t forget that stores have put lots and lots of effort into making you think you need something you don’t and into thinking you can afford things that you really can’t afford. They want you to believe that the deals are amazing- but remember: a deal is only a deal if you can afford it!
How Can You Make the Best of Black Friday?
I asked some Personal Finance Bloggers for their best Black Friday Hacks and Cyber Monday deals to help you get the best bang for your buck (and time!) without getting too caught up in the temptations surrounding the biggest shopping day of the year.
Because, as excellent as the deals are, a deal is not a deal if you can’t afford it. Stores know exactly how to bombard you with advertising and marketing to spend the most money at their stores.
Sometimes they do such a good job that they even pass off not such great deals as great sales and doorbusters.
BUT: They don’t have your best interest in mind, and they aren’t the ones paying the credit card bills months after Black Friday is over. They aren’t the ones paying interest on purchases that are already in the trash or chasing after rebate money that you were counting on to pay for those pricey electronics.
7 Best Black Friday Tips
The Best Advice for Black Friday Shopping Is to Shop Smart.
And without further ado, here are some tips that will get you the most out of Black Friday and Cyber Monday:
1. Plan Ahead
Brian from Debt Discipline says the best tip I can offer for Black Friday, which may be an obvious one, is to plan what you are shopping for. Use the power of the internet to research any item on your list ahead of Black Friday and make sure you are getting the best deal. Just because it’s a Black Friday deal doesn’t mean it’s the best price, do your homework!
2. Do Your Homework
JoeHx from JoeHx Blog says to plan what you want to get BEFORE seeing the “deals.” Ensure what you’re buying is actually a deal and isn’t simply discounted after raising the price the week before. Finally, don’t buy anything just because it’s on “sale.”
3. Plan Strategically
Mr. SR From Semi-Retire Plan says, plan ahead! Especially when shopping Black Friday at a brick-and-mortar retail store, the big-ticket items often quickly sell out. Check the sales at your local retailers online before the sale begins. Then plan strategically so you can be at the front of the line for the item that will offer you the biggest savings — like you would “beeline” to the most popular roller coaster at an amusement park right when the park opens.
4. Use Deal Sites
Jarek from Time in The Market says, Check out websites such as slickdeals.net. There are people on there doing most of the legwork for you and posting the best deals. Even Reddit has useful subreddits such as r/frugalmalefashion or r/frugalfemalefashion that will help you spot deals with almost no work.
5. Avoid Impulse Purchases
Kevin from Just Start Investing says, obviously, there are deals everywhere on Black Friday, but just because something is on a crazy good deal doesn’t mean you should buy it. Scope out what you need ahead of time, find the best deals for it, and avoid making any impulse purchases that you’ll regret a few weeks later!
6. Be Pragmatic
MC at Keeping Up With The Bulls says, don’t use Black Friday and that something is “such a great deal” to justify spending. Instead, be very pragmatic about your purchases.
What are things you regularly buy that you may be able to get a deal on during Black Friday or Cyber Monday? What gifts will you be buying for the holidays? What is the normal price of these items, and is there a better price during Black Friday or Cyber Monday?
There are lots of deals during the holiday shopping season. If you’re not deliberate with your purchases, it’s easy to spend way more than you planned and regret spending so much!
7. Research in Advance
Enoch from Savvy New Canadians says your Black Friday preparations should begin several weeks before. Start with making a list of the things you need to buy and do your research by clarifying the technical specifications for electronics, identifying the models you prefer, comparing prices, warranties, and return policies, and determining how much you plan to spend on shopping.
Make a note of when your preferred stores go live with deals online and the in-store shopping hours on Black Friday. Be ready to jump online before the start time to avoid delays at the checkout and products getting sold out.
I recommend buying big-ticket items first, especially when the discounts are deep. Keep an eye on your spending, and don’t break your budget by purchasing what is not on your list. If you use a credit card, plan to pay off your balance quickly, not carry over debt into the new year.
Don’t forget to KEEP ALL RECEIPTS from your shopping expeditions so that you can return items if you do have buyer’s regret. I wouldn’t recommend counting on rebates. They often have complex and complicated rules that are designed to have a high rejection rate.
If you are planning on applying for one- keep all the paperwork and receipts in a specific place, so there is less chance of you misplacing them.
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