We’d be remiss to send you off to shop without a few extra pointers for squeezing out the most savings.
Beyond the eye-catching store markdowns, you can shave even more off your holiday bill with discounted gift cards, coupons and rebates.
Follow these steps to convert your Black Friday bargains into savings only a dedicated Savinly reader could pull off.
1. Decide What You Want to Buy
Begin by figuring out which purchases are worth hunting for on Black Friday. Certain categories tend to see meaningful price cuts, while others are more bait for impulse spending.
Hold off on buying toys, apparel and travel until Cyber Monday. Those categories often see thin Black Friday reductions but deeper online discounts a few days later.
Also be cautious with some electronics. A number of “sale” gadgets are actually lower-spec models produced specifically for Black Friday.
2. Make a List — and Stick to It
Create your list before you dive into shopping.
Big department stores can quickly overwhelm, with sprawling layouts and hectic crowds. It’s simple to lose track of what you came for — and somehow end up with a trunkful of unexpected purchases.
A shopping list gives you a plan so you can resist distractions, stay focused and keep your spending in check. Download a store map and map out your route before you step inside!
3. Find Deals and Compare Prices
Once your list is ready, make sure you know the best retailer for each item. Planning ahead is essential to landing the top bargain.
Compare Prices
Before settling on a store, use PriceGrabber to compare prices for the products on your list.
The site shows retailers that carry an item online or in-store with side-by-side pricing, so you can quickly spot the best offer.
Find Deals
Deals can be hard to track any time of year — which is why deal aggregators are so helpful.
4. Choose the Best Way to Pay
When it’s time to check out, pick your payment method carefully. That choice can affect your total savings.
Store Credit Cards
This could influence which retailer ends up being the best value for the items on your list. What perks or rewards do you get by using a store’s branded credit card?
Store cards may have downsides — high APRs, restricted acceptance — but here are three cards Credit.com recommends considering before holiday shopping:
You don’t earn points per purchase, but you’ll receive at least a dozen coupons annually offering 15–30% off.
Choose between 5% cash back or promotional financing. Plus get free shipping on online orders of $35+, exclusive discounts, special sales and members-only events.
Although rewards and discounts are modest, this card can help if you’re building or repairing credit.
It’s among the easiest store cards to get approved for and includes perks like a free monthly FICO score and fee-free in-store cash advances.
Discounted Gift Cards
Planning ahead can lead to big savings on Black Friday — buy discounted gift cards in advance.
Once you know what you’ll buy and where, visit Raise to snag a gift card for that retailer. Sellers often unload cards they received as gifts or don’t want.
You’ll pay less than the card’s face value — an instant discount on everything purchased with it!
If you’re a heavy shopper, stock up on cards from popular stores like Target or Best Buy. Keep them organized with Gyft so they’re ready when you check out.
Use CostShredder to determine which marketplaces offer the best deals on gift cards for the store you plan to visit.
Rewards Credit Card
Have a cash-back credit card? If you pay your balance off each month, these cards are an efficient way to earn rewards on purchases you’d already make.
Compare the rewards you’d gain by using your cash-back card on Black Friday versus savings from other payment methods. Your credit card may offer the superior value.
Or maybe you’ve been banking points for a trip or bonus — Black Friday might be the nudge you need to reach that goal.
Stretch Your Money Further
If you use a credit or debit card, make your purchase work harder by linking the card to an automatic savings app — our pick is Acorns.
When you buy with a card tied to the app, Acorns rounds your purchase up to the next dollar and transfers the “spare change” into your Acorns account.
The app invests those funds into simple portfolios to help your money grow. It’s an easy way to save and earn a little extra while you shop.
You likely won’t miss that small change — why not put it to work?
5. Shop Through a Cash-Back Website
If your Black Friday shopping will be online, take advantage of cash-back platforms!
Reclaim a portion of your spending at every site — you’ll receive cash back or points redeemable for gift cards at major retailers.
Here are favorite cash-back sites:
- Ebates
- Swagbucks
- Ibotta
Even better, Cashbackholic and CostShredder can show which rebate site is offering the highest cash back for the store you’re using.
As an added bonus, after the shopping rush ends you can “recycle” your savings by spending the gift cards you earn through these platforms on additional gifts.
6. Look for Coupons
Besides Black Friday ticketed discounts and rebates, you may be able to save even more by stacking coupons on top of sales.
Many coupons exclude already-discounted items or can’t be combined with other promotions. Always read the fine print before using them.
When you find a coupon that can be applied alongside other discounts, use it at checkout to make an already-good deal even sweeter.
Deal aggregators frequently list coupons and rebates that stack with current sales. You can also find coupons through these sites:
- RetailMeNot
- Coupons.com
- Valpak.com
- Groupon
7. Don’t Pay for Shipping When Shopping Online
You can score fantastic online deals on Black Friday — until shipping charges pile on.
Paying $5 or $10 for delivery can wipe out the savings you just found!
To avoid that extra cost, check out these 17 retailers that offer free shipping — including big names like Target, Dell and Nordstrom.
8. Use a Rebate App
One final step!
After your shopping is complete, open Ibotta and Checkout51 to hunt for extra rebates on anything you bought.
These apps are best known for grocery savings, but they also list deals on other retail items. Look for cash back on your Black Friday purchases, and remember to submit items when they arrive.
Create Your Holiday Shopping Plan
You’re ready! Now that you know the steps to score the best Black Friday savings, get organized and start shopping!
Your Turn: Know of an amazing Black Friday find? Share it in the comments!
Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. We would have shared them regardless, but a savvy Savinly reader would take advantage of the referral earnings.
Alex Morgan (@alexmorgan) is a staff writer at Savinly. Alex has contributed to numerous publications and will likely spend Cyber Monday polishing a few stubborn essays and sampling every last bit of leftover green bean casserole.
