Black Friday Shopping Tips: How to Get the Best Deals After Thanksgiving

The holiday season is just around the corner! For most people, kicking off the holiday shopping season means looking for the hottest deals on Black Friday. Shopping on Black Friday can be chaotic, stressful and time-consuming if you don’t have the right tips and tricks to make the most of your Black Friday shopping experience. With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, knowing how to save time, money and even our sanity on Black Friday is a huge bonus!

Check out the tips below!

Tips for Black Friday Shopping

Don’t go alone. Not only will it be more fun to shop with someone else, but you can also double team the deals as well. While one of you is in the electronics department grabbing stuff for both of you, the other can be in the toy department doing the same. You can map out stores and meet to pay for your purchases at a certain time. Plus, you have someone to watch your cart should you need to use the restroom.

Make a plan. Look over the ads and decide which store you will visit and for which deals. Most of the time they are “leaked” online before the Thanksgiving day newspaper comes out. Don’t shop early bird deals if they don’t appeal to you. There is no reason to worry about them unless you have to. While coming up with your plan, make a “plan B” as well, in case the item you are looking for is sold out. This way, you can scoop up the next best deal right away.

Use a holiday gift list. This goes hand in hand with making a plan (as mentioned above) and having a budget (see below). By writing down ideas you would like to get everyone on your list, you can easily see if there is a deal on it for Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Use this free holiday gift list to get your start planning now, so you are ready to shop until you drop!

Have a budget. Worrying about overspending is one of the biggest reasons Black Friday can be stressful. The best way to avoid this is to make a budget. Leave all other forms of payment behind that don’t match your budget, so you are not tempted to spend extra money. Also, have a “price point”. A price point means you decide how much you will spend for specific items on your list so you will know if it fits your budget and how much you are personally willing to pay.

Bring ads with you. Some stores will match lower prices of their competitors if you have an ad to show them. This doesn’t always work on Black Friday, but it could save you a trip to different stores in your area.

Get techy. There are apps available on your Android or iPhone that can help you have a smooth shopping experience on Black Friday by comparing prices for you, show extra store savings and even help navigate a shopping plan at the local mall.

Be ready to say “No”.This not only applies to purchases that are not on your list or budget but also at the register when stores will be pushing credit card offers to save money on your purchase when you sign up. Staying away from these cards is best for your budget because while you may score a great deal now, there is no need to go into debt for holiday shopping. Plus, these cards tend to carry extremely high-interest rates.