Black Friday is approaching, who’s ready? Are you one of those ‘get up at 4am to be the first in line at the store’ kinda girl or are you the, ‘umm no way- I’ll pass’ kinda girl? I think I fall in the middle. I’m always interested in what the hot sales are, but would rather sleep in the day after Thanksgiving- I’ll blame it on the turkey 😉
If you decide that this year you are ready to tackle the lines and start your holiday shopping early, than I have compiled a guide to help you get the best bang for your buck.
- Do your research– Get prepared for the madness! Compare ad prices with different stores selling similar products. Use the amazon app to compare prices and see if you are actually getting a good deal. To your surprise, some stores will actually price match products. Bring your research with you. Take a copy of the ad with the best price to the stores you are shopping at, so that you can get the item you want for cheaper. Also, be careful. Don’t assume because something is listed as a ‘door-buster deal’, that you are actually getting a good deal. Black Friday deals can be misleading and ads can leave out important details, such as – the first 100 people in line will receive this or that. Take the time to educate yourself on the deals before heading out to the store (super) early.
- Shop with a purpose– Have a shopping goal in mind. Don’t be fooled into spending more than you wanted to, or can afford to pay for! Make a list and shop intentionally. Most importantly, shop within your budget.
- Know your timing– Find out when the best time is to buy. You may think that you are getting a great bargain on Black Friday, but Cyber Monday deals may be better. Sometimes even waiting until a week or two before Christmas can be the best time to shop. Stores will offer free shipping codes and list items at the cheapest costs, in hope of making last minute sales. Be patient. If you miss one deal, there will be another. I promise. This all times back to ‘do your research.’
- Pretend to shop– You are probably wondering what I mean by this. I have actually read that if you do your online shopping about a week before Black Friday, and then abandon your online cart, stores likely to email you a coupon or discount code, in hopes of getting you to buy. It is worth trying out, especially if you can save on shipping costs or get a special discount.
- Save extra bucks– One of my favorite money-saving apps is one called Raise. Raise is an app that let’s you purchase used gift cards at discounted prices. If you plan to spend let’s say, $100 at Dick’s Sporting Goods, you may be able to buy a $100 gift card for only $94 on Raise. Prices of cards depend on the sell-back rates on the app and vary from shop to shop. If at the end of the day you can save extra money just by buying these gift cards and using them when you shop. My only personal suggestion when using the app is to check if the GC you want to buy is available by mobile or mail. I recommend buying the mobile gift cards because you can use in the store at time of purchase. If you order a ‘mailed’ gift card, that is fine, however you will receive it from the seller a week or two later. Download the app ahead of time and take a look at any gift cards that may work in your favor. By using apps like this, you are becoming a smart shopper and saving some extra money!
Have any tips other tips for getting the best Black Friday deals? Be sure to leave a comment below! Happy shopping everyone + be safe!
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