10 Great Black Friday Shopping Tips

Black Friday shopping can net major savings for you and your family. Creating a strategic shopping plan for one of the year’s biggest retail events can result in even bigger discounts on holiday gifts and big-ticket items. From establishing a spending limit to saving more with cash-back rebates, find out how easy it can be to do Black Friday on a budget. These 10 tips for saving money on Black Friday will help make this a peaceful, productive holiday shopping season.

1. Google ‘Black Friday ads’ to get an early look at what’s on sale. While not all retailers may be listed, you can get an idea of the prices you can expect. You may also find store-specific gift guides for holiday inspiration; just be aware that not all of those gift ideas will be budget-friendly.

2. Sign up for stores’ email lists. In addition to receiving sale alerts, you’ll get coupons and promo codes for discounts or free shipping. Knowing how much extra you can save makes it easier to plan your shopping budget.

3. Follow your favorite stores on social media. You may get early access to sales, as well as exclusive promo codes and info on when video games, tech products and other hot items hit the store shelves.

4. Create a shopping budget. Whether you plan to work around Black Friday sales or only want to allocate a certain portion of your gift budget for these special deals, it’s important to know how much you can afford to spend.

5. If price-matching is part of your strategy for saving money on Black Friday, read the fine print in all sales ads. Stores that normally offer to match other stores’ sale prices may not provide this money-saving perk on Black Friday.

6. Downloading the Amazon app can help you do Black Friday on a budget. The app allows you to use your phone as a price scanner by simply swiping an item’s barcode. Use it in stores to see if items are available for less online.

7. If you’re doing your Black Friday shopping online, install a price-comparison browser add-on. You’ll receive alerts when another site has a better price on an item you’re interested in buying. Some of these add-ons also allow you to find promo codes.

8. Watch for inflated prices. Some stores raise prices before placing items on sale so they can claim higher-percentage discounts. Instead of relying on a percentage to guide your purchases, monitor everyday prices beforehand or use the Amazon app while you shop. You can also check sites like CamelCamelCamel, which tracks the prices a given item has sold for on various websites.

9. Maximize your savings with cashback sites. You’ll get rebates for items you’re already buying — and many rebate sites ramp up the cash back percentages on Black Friday. Ibotta, MyPoints and eBates are a few of the popular sites and apps that give you a percentage of your purchase back. You may get cash back or be paid in points redeemable for gift cards.

10. Have an alternate gift idea at the ready for each item on your Black Friday shopping list. If stores are out of a popular item, you won’t be stuck paying full price for something your recipient may not even want.

Doing Black Friday on a budget can be satisfying. Make the most of post-Thanksgiving sales by incorporating technology, sticking to a budget and planning every purchase. Saving money on Black Friday gives you peace of mind and helps you achieve next year’s financial goals, so start the coffee maker and get ready to scour the sales ads!