There’s a crispness in the air and the trees are shedding their leaves. For serious deal seekers, that signals one thing: Black Friday is right around the corner.
If you want to maximize the incredible savings this Black Friday, you should begin preparing now. Below are the most effective ways to get ready for the upcoming shopping frenzy.
1. Set a Budget and Make a Shopping List
Although you might be eager to jump straight into listing gifts, start by deciding your holiday shopping budget — this lets you know what you can (and can’t) include. Once you establish how much you can spend, create a list of items you intend to buy. Since you likely won’t know exact prices yet, split the list into two categories: things you definitely plan to purchase, and items you’ll buy only if funds remain after your primary purchases.
2. Use a Card That Offers Price Protection
Spotted a leaked ad for the toy your kids are begging for? If you carry a credit card with price protection, consider buying it before Black Friday to avoid long lines. Later, you can file a price-protection claim and receive the price difference back on your card. Keep in mind this method doesn’t apply to every product — items with serial numbers can cause issues, since some Black Friday versions differ from standard models.
3. Purchase Gift Cards in Advance
If you know you’ll be shopping at a specific retailer, you can save money or rack up rewards by buying gift cards ahead of time. Some platforms offer discounted gift cards, and you can also sell unwanted cards if necessary. Additionally, local grocery stores occasionally run promotions on gift cards.
4. Follow Retailers and Deal-Hunting Sites
With modern tools, getting ready for Black Friday is simpler than ever. One of your first stops should be the websites of all your favorite merchants — large and small. Subscribe to their email lists and connect with them on your preferred social networks.
5. Join Online Deal Communities
Want to learn from experienced shoppers before the season begins? Join online shopping forums where veteran bargain hunters share strategies and respond to questions.
6. Update Your Accounts on Favorite Retailers
Have you ever discovered an excellent Black Friday offer only to see it gone by the time you click “buy”? Avoid that frustration this year by updating your account details on favorite stores ahead of time.
7. Learn Store Return and Price-Match Policies
Let’s be honest: buyer’s remorse affects everyone sometimes. When it happens, you’ll want to be able to return purchases easily. It’s also wise to know which retailers provide price matching before you shop.
8. Let Deal Sites Do the Heavy Lifting
Don’t waste hours sifting through Black Friday circulars and ads — that’s what the deal experts are for. Visit sites like BlackFriday.com to compare ads and prices efficiently.
9. Evaluate Deals Before You Buy
Many shoppers skip this critical step, and it’s a costly oversight. Besides determining which stores offer the lowest prices, check whether those prices truly represent bargains. Money-saving browser extensions can assist in this comparison as well.
Alex Carter is a former senior writer for Savinly.
