Black Friday, the most anticipated sales day of the year is almost here.
The history of Black Friday is quite fascinating; its name was coined because of the large traffic and accidents caused by shoppers immediately after Thanksgiving celebrations.
As early as in the ’50s, people began taking advantage of the last week of November to complete their Christmas shopping lists.
Hence, most offices had to make this day an official holiday, rather than having most of their workers calling in sick that day.
Best Shopping Tips during Black Friday
The holidays are upon us which means discount sales are right around the corner.
Black Friday would not be the same without major sales that would leave you in awe. However, these time-sensitive sales were designed to lure shoppers into stores with the hope of getting them to spend money on nonessentials that they wouldn’t buy on a normal day.
On this particular shopping day, most businesses attach steep discounts on their products to encourage customers to shop from them.
To help you get a good deal, I have written down the best tips to ensure you save money and make the best buying decisions while shopping.
- Have a Plan
Where do you plan to shop on Black Friday?
What’s the time limit for the shop deals and how good is the deal?
Black Friday is more than walking into stores and selecting items, or buying stuff online via shopping sites. Since everyone has the same intention as you, you need to strategize and create a plan on how you can get the best deals.
Once you have a clear plan, you will be able to cut down on impulse shopping.
- Set a Budget
Before you browse through online stores, set a budget. This is so you do not spend more than you can afford. It is easy to get carried away when shopping, so make a list of what you want to buy, including the prices of these items, and stick to your list.
Of course, there will be deals that will be hard to resist, however, your bank account will thank you later on.
- Shop Early
The early bird gets the best worms.
A fun and shocking fact to most people is that the best sales aren’t released on Black Friday.
The prices are actually reduced throughout the week before Black Friday, so the earlier you begin shopping, the greater your chances of finding your desired items that are on sale and in stock.
This does not mean that you should avoid the main Black Friday sales, but also be on the lookout the week prior.
- Compare Prices
Have you found what looks like the perfect deal for an item and want to jump on it?
Before you buy anything, first compare the prices via a price-comparison engine like Google Shopping, Shop Savvy, or Price Grabber. There are also browser extensions such as Honey and Invisible Hand that will instantly check if you’re getting the best price on the item you want to buy.
- Follow Your Favourite Stores on Social Media
Do you want to be the first to be informed immediately the sales are on?
The best way you can get a leg up is by following your favorite stores and retailers on their social media platforms. Long before Black Friday, compile a list of your favourite stores, and subscribe to their mailing list.
Do not be shocked if you find secret coupon codes or early deals on their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.
- Carry Out your Research
Although every store advertises that they have huge discounts, only a few of these discounts are worth your money.
Hence, before you join the Black Friday frenzy; carry out your research on the actual prices of the goods. You have to be careful not to fall victim to this dishonest habit of stores inflating prices a few days to Black Friday. Some of these deals might be falsely advertised as a “discounted price”.
The best way to avoid getting scammed is to set price alerts for the products you want to purchase from different stores. This way, you will be able to compare prices and get the best possible deal.
- Go For The Bigger Goods
If you have the money, always go for the bigger goods such as phones, television sets, ovens, etc.
This is because most times these items have the biggest discounts on Black Friday. Hence, the bigger goods should be your priority as only a few of these products would be available for purchase.
- Consider Shopping at Night
Take advantage of night shopping as most stores advertise their best deals before dawn. To be motivated to stay awake, just remember that you are not the only one that wants to buy discounted products at the lowest price.
The best time to shop is when other shoppers are asleep and there are fewer chances of you finding products sold-out and out of stock.
- Avoid Pre-shopping
If you are shopping online during Black Friday, putting items in your cart the day won’t keep it from running out of stock. It can also backfire by not showing the discounted prices on Black Friday. Instead, make a note of items that are of interest to you and re-check for them on the sales day.
- Abandon Your Online Cart
When you are shopping online and you cannot find any good discounts, just close your browser and wait a few hours.
In a few hours or the next day, you might get an email from the store giving you coupon codes. However, this trick of abandoning your cart works well with stores where you shop frequently.
Finally,
Shopping during Black Friday can be confusing and nearly terrifying to new shoppers. Do not forget to have fun while also saving money as you shop! Maximize the tips above to ensure your Black Friday is a shopping success.
Are there any tips not listed above? Let me know in the comment section below. Also, do not forget to share this post with your friends, family, and fellow shoppers!
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Rachael Ebuh otherwise known as #pinchofchel is a Food and Lifestyle blogger. Passionate about food, spirituality, wild life conservation and human connection.
