Black Friday is Coming!

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Thanksgiving is already upon up, which means so is Black Friday. Maybe you're really organized and have already finished your Christmas shopping, but if you're like the rest of us, this can be a great time to check a few items off your list. Though you have to be careful, because if you don't have a plan you may end up breaking your budget on Black Friday or missing out on some of the best deals while you're trying to get an ok deal. We're going cover a few basics to keep you on track for a big win this Black Friday.
 
Plan Ahead!!
There are plenty of ads out already and available online to view deals. A few easy ones to find are BlackFriday.com, BFads.net, or FatWallet.com, as well as the store websites. Try to make a shopping list now to make your Friday shopping easier. If you are doing some Christmas shopping, write out a list of everyone you are buying presents for and try to think of ideas for them. You can then check to see if there are deals on any of those items or maybe you can look through the ads and pick presents accordingly. If you're shopping for yourself, which is perfectly normal to take advantage of deals for your home too, you still definitely want a list of what you're looking for.
Many stores, including Walmart, Target, JCPenny's, and more have online ads that allow you to create shopping list and print it from their websites. This is great because once you get to the store, you will already know what you're looking for.
Another reason to plan ahead is that sometimes the Black Friday deals aren't really deals at all. If you plan ahead you will be able to see if you're actually saving or if your just getting tricked in to buying an item. 

Budget

Having a budget can be like a 4-letter word for some folks, but try to think of it as being helpful rather than holding you back. Creating a budget to go with your shopping plan will keep you from experiencing the after Christmas sticker shock when you get your credit card bills. When you're writing up your list of gifts or items for yourself, try to decide how much you can afford to spend. Maybe you'll have to change your gift ideas if they become too expensive. 

Shop Online

 Why fight the crowds if the same deal is online? Check out what deals stores have online before waiting in lines at the stores. Be sure to check shipping costs. If you have to pay an arm and a leg for shipping, it may wipe out any savings you got for shopping online. Stick to you plan here. It can be easy when you have an online cart and you don't see the amount of stuff you are actually purchasing. Be sure if you're shopping online you use a rebates program like ebates to save the most money.

 Price Match

Many stores have price matching policies. This can be a great secret weapon if you're willing to hold up lines to get it. This can also keep your line waiting to a minimum. Check into store policies before requesting a price match.

Start Early

Some sales are already occurring. If you have time this week, try heading to the shops ahead of Thanksgiving.

APPS

Download apps like Ibotta, checkout51, savingscatcher, or mobisave, among many others. These allow to get coupons on your phone and save even more money on black Friday deals. You have to pick out the deal ahead of time though as you can't get money back if you've already purchased an item.
Try again Next Year

If a few items just aren't in your budget this year, there is good news. The deals this year have been shown to be almost the exact same deals as last year. That means that if you had your heart set on a new TV, it'll probably have a great deal again next year. That way you can save up and be prepared for next time it rolls around.  

Final Tips
  • Wear comfortable shoes, clothes, etc. It could be a long day.
  •  Give yourself time to eat. It's no fun shopping with a grouch and we all tend to get a bit grouchy when we haven't eaten all day.
  • Sometimes the cheapest item, isn't the best deal. If you're on a budget though, it may be a good idea to take the cheapest item if it'll keep you within your limits.
 
 
What are you buying this Black Friday? Any tips you want to share? We'd love to hear them!

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