The Friday after Thanksgiving, popularly known as “Black Friday,” is one of the most highly anticipated days of the year as it offers consumers a chance to purchase a wide variety of items at significantly lower prices. While sales occur throughout the year, many people consider Black Friday deals to be the best. After all, shopping during this time provides so much more than the satisfying feeling of scoring great deals. With spirits high from the celebration the night before, some take the day as an opportunity for family and friends to spend more time together and create fun memories. For others, it’s a chance to get away from their usual routine, collect unique experiences, and relieve stress.
Whatever reasons you have for shopping this coming Black Friday, you may want to learn a few tricks before you get swept up in the excitement. Otherwise, you may end up overspending or regretting many of your purchases. If you want to make the most of your Black Friday shopping experience, consider the following tips:
Do Your Research
It’s inevitable to make some purchases that you’ll regret later on, but the risk is often higher when you buy things on Black Friday. With so many bargain sales and other promotions, you’ll be more tempted to purchase something that you may not really need or that is not as good of a deal as you thought. To avoid this experience, it helps to research the items you intend to purchase beforehand.
Let’s say you want to shop leggings and other staple clothing pieces. Consider browsing customer reviews of different brands to find quality items and reputable retailers. You can also search for styles, colors, and features that suit your lifestyle and fashion preference. Most importantly, try to find the original prices of the items you’re eyeing. That way, you can readily distinguish substantial markdowns from small discounts. When you take the time to do your research before your shopping day, you can focus on items that you truly need, save more money, and purchase products that meet your standards.
Be an Early Bird
Contrary to a common misconception, you don’t have to wait for Black Friday weekend to score the best deals. Many in-store and online retailers offer early-bird discounts on practically all product categories way ahead of the biggest sale of the year.
So, be on the lookout for various deals and discounts for your desired products starting in the first week of November. You can check the websites of your preferred stores or sign up for email alerts to receive up-to-date information. Who knows? Perhaps you can complete your holiday shopping early without worrying about large crowds or limited stocks.
Take Advantage of Shopping Apps
To stretch your shopping budget and save money, you need to know which retailers offer the best deals. The last thing you want is to buy something from one store only to discover that it is significantly cheaper in another. If you want to avoid buyer’s remorse and the hassle of going store by store to compare prices, consider using shopping applications.
Try using price comparison apps to browse prices from multiple stores, especially when buying big-ticket items. That way, you can easily find retailers that offer the lowest prices. You can also download online deal apps that allow you to scan barcodes and QR codes to compare prices and find discount coupons. Your favorite stores probably have their own apps, so you may want to download them as well to learn about exclusive Black Friday promos and score great deals.
Consider Shopping Online
Unless going to the mall at the crack of dawn to do Black Friday shopping is a tradition your family enjoys, you may want to consider doing your shopping online. Most retailers will provide similar, if not the same, deals and promotions online as they do in their physical stores. Besides avoiding large crowds and long lines, shopping online is significantly more convenient and hassle-free. You can even search for promotions and browse through store selections while cozily wrapped up in a soft, warm blanket at home.
To help you achieve a safe, money-saving, and stress-free online shopping experience, below are a few pointers you may want to remember:
● Use browser extensions that show you the price history of products, allow you to compare prices, and help you discover coupon codes, so you can find the best deals and stretch your money.
● Start adding your preferred items to your shopping cart ahead of time. That way, you’ll be all set to order as soon as they go on sale.
● Opt for retailers with hassle-free return policies to avoid stress and other issues if you decide to return any purchased items later.
● Be wary of online shops that offer products at suspiciously low prices. Remember, no reputable business will function at a loss. If the price of an item is too good to be true, there’s a great chance something’s wrong with it.
At the end of the day, the key to making the most of Black Friday sales is proper preparation. Whether you intend to purchase in-store or from online shops, it’s best to do so with a plan in mind. Consider the tips above as you create your Black Friday game plan so that you can find the best deals, make the most of your budget, and improve your shopping experience.
