10 Tips for Black Friday Shopping
It’s the most wonderful time of the year… for sale addicts! As the end of the month approaches, retailers are already prepping for the shopping holiday season, which kicks off with Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Whether you will be doing your Black Friday shopping in Canada or whether you decide to take a trip down to the United States, things can get kind of crazy. Here are some tips to make sure you get all the best deals without all the stress:
1. Set a budget and stick with it
If you’re planning on shopping during the Black Friday sales, chances are you have a rough idea of how much you want to spend. Sorry, but that isn’t enough. Pick a definite number and plan ahead about how you’ll pay. While cash is good for keeping to a budget, it can be a little impractical. I find using prepaid debit cards is a great way to keep things under control while providing more security than just walking around with pockets full of cash.
2. Credit cards are your friend
Some credit cards may offer extra rewards during Black Friday shopping. Make sure you look at your cards and see what benefit there might be to using it for your shopping spree. Of course using a credit card comes with the risk of racking up a whole lot of ugly debt. While rewards are great, make sure you have a plan for paying off the card balance in a timely fashion or all your rewards savings will be eaten up by interest.
3. Keep an eye out for deals and plan your hit list
Try to make a list of the items you’re interested in. Black Friday flyers and ads ALWAYS find their way online ahead of the big day. Make sure you know what stores you need to hit and how you’re going to travel from one to the next.
4. Prepare for a day in shopping hell
Shopping centres on Black Friday weekend will be guaranteed madhouses. Expect to be standing in line for hours. Expect to have to fight for a seat to rest your weary butt. And expect to get hungry at the worst possible moment. Preparing for the journey is key to making the experience a little more enjoyable. If you’re crossing the border be sure to get travel insurance. While shopping may not seem like a huge risk, Black Friday crowds have a vicious reputation.
5. Don’t go it alone
It’s going to be a long day. Wouldn’t it be better to spend it with someone you like? At the very least it’s another pair of hands to help carry all your new stuff or even double up on chances to score door crashers by splitting up the hit list.
6. It’s not just about Friday
Much like Boxing Day, Black Friday is fast becoming too big for a mere 24 hours. While the most enticing deals often are reserved for brick-and-mortar stores on Friday in order to get the buildings packed full of throngs of paying customers, the deals often continue through the weekend – and sometimes into the next week. In addition to that, Cyber Monday, which takes place the Monday following American Thanksgiving has also rapidly grown to become just as popular and important as Black Friday.
7. Your first stop should be your computer screen
Some people don’t like buying things online. I absolutely love it. While it’s true you may be taking a bit of a risk buying some things like clothes, which may not fit like you expected, most stores have return policies and nothing matches the convenience of being able to buy from your couch. The Black Friday shopping deals are often pretty awesome too, and many retailers offer free shipping for the holidays.
8. Avoid pricey extras
For us, Black Friday is about saving money, but for retailers it’s about making money. One of the ways they do this during big sales is to offer big discounts on an item you’re looking for but then make up for it by selling you a bunch of related items. The classic example: buying electronics and being offered extended warranties or unneeded accessories.
9. There really is an app for that
If you’re shopping on Black Friday without comparing, you’re probably wasting money. While you may have already done your research and compared prices manually, smartphones can make it even easier to find what stores near you have the lowest prices on items. Use an app like Shopsavvy or Red Laser to scan the barcodes of items while you shop to see if there’s a lower price in your immediate area.
10. The best deal isn’t always the best deal for you
Getting a crazy deal on a brand new juicer you know you aren’t going to use or on a TV that doesn’t have the features you’re looking for isn’t saving money at all. Don’t get caught up in the hype of the Black Friday sales. If you’re going to make an impulse buy, make sure it’s for something you know you really want.
Remember to stay safe out there and be smart about your Black Friday shopping. Happy deal-hunting!
Image Courtesy of Adobe Stock