7 Ways to Save Money Black Friday Shopping

October is quickly drawing to a close, which means Black Friday is right around the corner. You’re probably already seeing ads for Black Friday deals as you browse different sites online.

And this is a good thing because Black Friday can be a great way to save money on your holiday shopping. By taking advantage of rock bottom deals, you can get your Christmas shopping covered without overspending.

The key is to go into it with a plan. Let’s look at seven ways you can save money on your Black Friday shopping this year.  

1. Come Up With a Budget

As you’re preparing for Black Friday, the first place to start is to come up with a budget. Knowing exactly how much you have to spend will save you from buying unnecessary items or overspending. Remember, you aren’t saving money if you purchase something you don’t need.  bettingvn.com

When you’re creating a shopping budget, make sure you account for your other Christmas expenses. For instance, do you plan to send out holiday cards or host Christmas dinner? 

Make sure your budget leaves you enough cash to account for all of your other holiday expenses. That way, you won’t have to charge these items on a credit card due to a lack of planning. 

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2. Come Up With a Shopping Plan

In addition to a budget, you should make a detailed shopping plan. Your plan should include a list of things you need and people you need to buy for. It should also outline where you plan to shop. 

Write out everyone that you need to buy gifts for, and come up with some ideas for things they may want. Doing this will help you see roughly how much you plan to spend per person.

From there, you should decide whether you’re going to shop online or in-person and what stores you plan to visit. Personally, I recommend shopping online for better deals and a better experience overall.

In the past, there were significant incentives to do your Black Friday shopping in person. But now, you’ll find many of the same deals online that you’d find in a store. And it’s easier to compare pricing online.     

3. Compare Prices

Now that you know where you plan to shop and what you’re buying, it’s a good idea to start comparing prices. You can do this by using a price comparison tool like PriceGrabber.com. 

You can also use deal alert websites to track sales for a particular item you want. Using these kinds of sites is a great way to find the lowest price with a minimal time commitment. 

But no matter how good the deal is, make sure you only buy from credible vendors with a verified purchase history. Amazon has been cracking down on fake sellers, but sometimes they don’t catch them in time. If a price point seems too good to be true, then it probably is. 

4. Use a Cashback App

Another great way to save money on your Black Friday shopping is by utilizing cashback apps. These apps let you receive cashback on your purchases, and you’ll either download an app or use a browser extension.

You do have to create an account before you can start using these apps, so it’ll take a little preparation ahead of time. Here are four different apps you can try:

• Mr. Rebates: Mr. Rebates is an app that’s available to download on iOS and Android devices. It only takes a few minutes to create an account, and you’ll have access to deals with stores like Amazon, Macy’s, and eBay.  
• Rakuten: Rakuten (formerly Ebates) is a browser extension that will alert you to cashback opportunities as you’re shopping. The company is already highlighting some of its best Black Friday deals, so be sure to check them out. 
• Honey: Honey is another browser extension, and it automatically pulls up coupon codes for over 30,000 stores. According to the site, the average shopper saves $126 a year with Honey. 
• Drop: Drop is an app that lets you earn gift cards you can spend with different retailers. When you set up your account, you’ll tell Drop your five favorite stores. Once you’ve selected those stores, you can begin shopping and receiving cashback rewards. 

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5. Start Looking Early

Did you know that many of the best Black Friday deals come out on Thanksgiving? Many stores offer early bird pricing and midnight madness sales. 

Since you know where you’ll be shopping, you can get a list of those stores’ holiday hours. That way, you’ll know when to score the best deals. 

But shopping early will do more than help you get the best deals — this year, it could ensure that you find the items you need. Supply chain problems mean that many stores are low on inventory this year, so if you wait too long, you may not be able to find the items you want. 

6. Sign Up For Shopping Alerts

Since you know where you’ll be shopping, it’s a good idea to sign up for those stores’ email lists. Many stores will send their email subscribers early access to deals, and you may qualify for coupons or other store promotions.

7. Know the Store’s Return Policies

And finally, make sure you’re familiar with the return policies of every store you plan to shop at and save all of your receipts. When you’re shopping online, it’s hard to truly know what you’re going to get, so you want the ability to return items if necessary.

In addition, you should check to see what a store’s policies are on price match guarantees. For instance, some stores suspend their price match guarantees on certain items during Black Friday. You want to know about this ahead of time. 

The Bottom Line

If you’re strategic about it, Black Friday shopping can be a great way to save money on your Christmas gifts. Just make sure to have a budget, go into it with a plan, and utilize cashback apps.