7 Black Friday Tips to Score Deals

Shoppers are gearing up to open their wallets wide this holiday season. Consumers plan to spend an average $890.49 per person on gifts, food, decorations and other seasonal items, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual survey.

Most of that spending will go toward gifts for family and friends at $627.93. The remaining $262.56 is expected to cover everything from festive meals to wrapping paper, greeting cards and home décor as people prepare for gatherings and celebrations.

With so much money in play, Black Friday and Cyber Monday remain key opportunities to stretch your budget. This makes it worth checking what the biggest retailers are offering right now so you can take advantage of early savings.

• Amazon's Black Friday deals
• Costco's Black Friday deals
• Target's Black Friday deals
• Walmart's Black Friday deals

However you choose to shop, we’re offering some guidance for smart shopping on both days and throughout the busy retail season. Have at it.

1. Remember the Black Friday and shopping day basics

Start with the basics: Black Friday is traditionally for in-store shopping, Cyber Monday is for online shopping.

And don't forget about Small Business Saturday (shop at local small businesses) and Giving Tuesday (time to make donations - which you can use for charitable tax deductions).

The deals are definitely on now, but you need to be cautious. Check price tags and asterisks carefully to be fully aware of the discounts on offer. Even if you're in the store, you can pull out your phone to check prices and offers.

The tradition of heading out on Thanksgiving Day to snag early Black Friday deals appears to be fading. Most major retailers are keeping their doors closed on Thanksgiving day and shifting their offers online. If you like to get an early start, it is smart to check the retailer’s website or call ahead to confirm store hours before you show up.

It also pays to join loyalty programs and sign up for emails. Many retailers offer exclusive deals or early access to members. Walmart gives Walmart+ members five hours of early access online beginning November 24 at 7 p.m. ET. On Cyber Monday Walmart+ members get the same early window beginning November 30 at 7 p.m. ET.

 2. You’d better shop around  

It’s a given to know your prices going into your bargain hunt, but in the thrill of the chase, sometimes people forget.

“You'll want to shop around for a couple of reasons,” says Julie Ramhold, consumer analyst at DealNews. “First, to make sure you're getting the best price, obviously, but also to see if other retailers are offering extra perks with their deals. For instance, many may be offering a product at the same price, but you may be able to save more with coupons, rebates, or store credit, which would push one retailer out in front of the others and ensure you'll save even more.”

Don't put all your buys in one shopping basket: Check multiple stores, as time allows.

3. Smart shoppers have a plan (and a backup plan)

Panic shopping could force you to buy something you really didn’t want to buy or force you to step out of your financial comfort zone. Or both.

For this reason, plan ahead and tackle Black Friday with a shopping list — and budget — in mind. Knowing what you’re looking for and how much you’re willing to spend before you start shopping can help you score the best deals, avoid overspending and simplify your shopping experience. Plus, it gives you time to plan accordingly if any items are unavailable.

Out-of-stock products could still be an issue for shoppers, especially on popular items (gaming devices on Cyber Monday, for example).

“Whether you're worried about items selling out or discounts not being what you need, it's good to have a backup plan in place,” says Ramhold. “That way, you have something in mind to shop for if your first choice doesn't work out for whatever reason, and you won't have to worry about panic shopping the big sales and potentially buying something that you'll regret later.”

4. Use cash-back apps and browser extensions  

Honing your cybershopping skills can save you money.

Ramhold says, “Using cash back apps and browser extensions is one way to make sure you save at least a little something on your shopping. Even if the rates are on the lower side, if you use the apps and extensions enough the cash back will add up over time and you may receive a significant check at the end of the season.”

Here’s her guidance:

• Review price histories using CamelCamelCamel.com to see what an item has sold for previously, up to 120 days prior.
• Compare competitor prices using the PriceBlink tool so you don't miss out on any better deals, even from sites you wouldn't have thought to check.
• Beware of derivative doorbusters — off-brand electronics or models made for holiday sales may be missing key components and features or made of cheap material to keep prices low.
• Research potential purchases (by model number, even) to figure out whether they have been offered all year long. Reviews on trusted sites can help you make sure you're getting what you want.
• Compare coupons in one place using a deal aggregator like CouponCabin.com.
• Be cautious about rebate promotions – if you’re giving a gift, for example, you’re unlikely to be able to claim it if you have to do something like cut out a barcode from the product packaging. Instead, opt for a smaller discount from a retailer offering instant savings and earn a rebate by using a cash back app like Fetch, which gives you free gift cards for snapping pictures of your receipts.
• Set sale alerts using Paypal Honey Droplist or SlickDeals and track price drops even after purchase, as you may be eligible for a price adjustment through the store or credit card you bought it with.
• Skip store credit card offers — they have high-interest rates and expensive fees, and low credit limits rarely outweigh the rewards offered (which are generally linked just to that retailer.) You're better off using a general-use cash back credit card that can earn you more back over the entire holiday season than whatever amount you'd save in a single transaction.

5. Know which sales to skip

Not everything is a good buy at sales time, of course. We’ve already offered you some tools to figure out if a seemingly good buy is really a good buy. Here are a few more things to skip:

Avoid buying clothing, beauty and footwear on Black Friday. These are best to buy on Cyber Monday. Look for coupon codes to save more via text alerts, email newsletters or coupon sites.

Some items are better to wait on. Toys usually see deeper markdowns in the last two weeks of December and winter apparel often hits its lowest prices in the days just before Christmas and immediately after. Bedding and linen are worth holding off on until the new year when January white sales bring the best discounts.

6. Stores to hit for Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping 

Malls and shopping centers remain popular stops for early-rising shoppers on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but it helps to think beyond those traditional destinations.

Big box stores often offer strong promotions throughout the holiday weekend and are worth a closer look. Members of Costco, Sam’s Club or BJ’s should check the stores’ ad circulars to see what is planned for Cyber Weekend since these retailers frequently roll out significant deals.

Small Business Saturday, held the day after Thanksgiving, is also a good opportunity to find deals at local retailers. Created by American Express in 2010 and supported by the Small Business Administration, the event encourages shoppers to spend money in their own communities and support the small businesses that keep local economies thriving.

7. Shopping tips specifically for Cyber Monday 

Cyber Monday is the junior of the two big holiday shopping launch days. It picked up its name, courtesy of the National Retail Federation, in 2005, and it’s been a focal point of the holiday season ever since.

Cyber Monday can be challenging if you are not familiar with typical prices or feel uncertain about buying tech online. These strategies can help you shop with confidence:

• Save payment and shipping info on sites (possibly by creating an account) ahead of time so you can jump on hot-selling items that might sell out.
• Set sale alerts using Honey's DropList for items that will go on sale at different times of the day.
• Install browser tools like Cently that automatically add coupons and cash back.
• Avoid delivery delays and potential order cancellations by opting to buy online and pick up in store. Many retailers, including Walmart and Target, are building out areas on the store property dedicated specifically for BOPIS — buy online, pickup in store — shoppers.
• Find out if your credit card is offering cash back or extra points for select stores.
• Beware of free shipping minimums designed to get you to buy more. Buy from stores that offer no-minimum free shipping.
• Refrain from buying items that require mail-in rebates as part of the deal. It's tedious, many things could go wrong and you don't receive cash back in a timely fashion.
• Review return policies to avoid restocking fees and return shipping fees.
• Keep your data safe! Shop on a secure network, only buy from reputable retailers you are familiar with, use virtual cards (credit card providers like Capital One offer these) and don’t click links from emails you don’t know.
• Track online orders to avoid package theft. Often, retailers will provide tracking numbers you can use on the major delivery company sites.

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• Check Out Walmart Black Friday Deals
• Shop Target's Black Friday Deals
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