9 Black Friday Tricks to Get the Best Deals

“Holiday shopping season kicked off earlier than usual, doorbell-like sales began in mid-October and continued into November long before the actual Black Friday sales event,” says the budgeting and money expert. Andrea Woroch.

“Shoppers, especially inflation consumers
Stressing out about welcoming the holidays also creates a lot of confusion. Millions of Americans wonder what to buy, when to buy, and how to make sure an existing sale is the best deal they can get. Doing your research and planning ahead are important steps in preparing for Black Friday, but there are a few other things you need to do to get a bigger bargain during this year’s holiday sale event.”

Before we begin, Woroch says it’s important to remember to have a plan and a detailed list to avoid temptations and limit impulse buying. Otherwise, it’s easy to overspend and take on unnecessary debt.

Once you’ve created your shopping game plan, follow these steps outlined by Woroch to save even more on every Black Friday sale.

Compare and track Black Friday ads.

“To understand which stores will have the best deals on items on your list, review Black Friday ads at, note the dates and times, and indicate whether the deal will be available in-store or online. Deal sites such as DealNews.com, BlackFriday.com, and Gotta Deal offer certain It collects circulars in one place with the option to filter by product category to help you find savings quickly. Finally, sign up for emails and text messages from your favorite stores and brands to receive alerts about the latest Black Friday deals and special coupons.

Review price histories and set up sell alerts.

“If a retailer has inflated the original price to make a deal look like better value, then the big discount claims introduced on Black Friday mean little. Something like CamelCamelCamel.com, which tracks price changes on items sold on Amazon in the last 30 to 120 days.” Beat this sales gimmick by reviewing price histories using the site.

By examining this data, you can determine whether the deal you’re currently watching is worthwhile or if it’s worthwhile to wait. For items likely to go on sale later in the season, use Honey’s DropList to set price drop alerts so you don’t miss out on future savings. The only time you shouldn’t wait is when you’re looking for a popular item in a particular color or style that is likely to be out of stock. Buy it and you can always ask for a price adjustment later if you find it cheaper.”

Take advantage of rewards or free gift cards.

“In addition to shopping for the lowest price, look for added value offered through extra rewards or free gift cards tied to a deal, both of which can offset future holiday purchases.

For example, Kohl’s offers $15 Kohl’s Cash for every $50 spent between November 20-25, and GAP says you can get $20 in GapCash for every $50+ spent until 11/30. These offers essentially work like in-store credit that you can use to purchase other items on your shopping list.

Meanwhile, big box retailers like Target will be offering a variety of free gift cards with certain purchases like $10 free when you spend $50 on certain LEGO sets. And Amazon will give you a $10 gift card when you purchase a $50 gift card. Check out this list of gift card deals you can catch on Black Friday.

Rethink this discount.

“Black Friday deals aren’t always what they seem until you read the small print. Some gate hunters may require you to submit a discount to qualify for the lower advertised price, but you will have to pay more upfront. While this isn’t exactly hard work, there may be steps you can’t complete for gift items, like cutting out the barcode on a product box. In the end, you have to ask yourself if you can actually complete the discount.

Ultimately, you might be better off offering to spend a little more for an instant savings deal at another store. That doesn’t mean you can’t earn anything for your purchase. Sign up for free loyalty programs to earn cashback on future purchases and convert shopping receipts into free gift cards using the Fetch Rewards cashback app.

Don’t stop at the selling price.

“Black Friday sales are great, but they could be even better. In fact, many retailers offer coupons that you can apply in addition to a discounted deal to increase savings. Before checking out, always search for a coupon code by searching on the retailer’s homepage, social media account, or directly through a deal aggregator that organizes deals by store name, such as CouponFollow.com. Otherwise, download a coupon plugin like Cently that automatically applies promo codes to your online cart.

Think strategically about your delivery choice when checking out, as popular items may run out before they’re shipped. So instead of waiting for home delivery, it’s better to choose drive-in for items found in nearby stores.”

Watch out for derivatives.

“Low prices excite many customers who ignore quality in favor of savings. Beware of door knockers, as many of them are made specifically for Black Friday and can be made in poor quality. For example, a household item or clothing item may be made of poor quality material, while a doorbell electronics may be missing key components or features. While we all want to save money and get the lowest price, a lousy product quickly breaks or falls apart and needs to be replaced sooner, making it a bad buy.

Defend against these derivatives by doing your research. When it comes to gadgets, check out the model numbers and read the reviews to make sure you’re getting everything you need and want. When it comes to homeware, fashion and shoes, evaluate the quality yourself or make sure you can get free return shipping if you don’t like it.”

Consider credit card offers carefully.

“You might be tempted to open a new store card to get an additional discount alongside the Black Friday promotion (GAP offers new cardholders an extra 25% off, and JCPenney says new card members can get 35% off certain purchases). But be careful: In-store credit cards come with low credit limits and high interest rates and are loaded with fees. Not to mention, they have limited options to earn and redeem rewards. You’d better open a new cashback credit card that gives you a signup bonus or more cashback.

For example, with the Bread Cashback American Express card, you can get 2% cash back on every holiday purchase, regardless of what you buy or where you shop from. Use the money you earn to pay for some of the gifts you receive, or save it for yourself a special treat. Before choosing a card, though, read reviews on sites like CardRates.com to find the one that best fits your spending needs.”

Know what to buy and what to skip.

“Retailers want you to think everything is a good deal on Black Friday, but the truth is that some savings are better than others and some items are actually cheaper after the sale event.

Expect the best deals on big screen TVs, personal electronics, smart home appliances and small kitchen gadgets. However, while past years have shown better purchases of clothing, shoes and beauty products on Cyber ​​Monday, travel deals on Airfare, car rentals and hotels are more plentiful on Tuesday via the Hopper app scheduled for Tuesday, November 30. Finally, toys often get less in the last two weeks before Christmas, holiday decorations and winter clothing become cheaper after December 25, and bedding and linens are best bought during the January White Sale.

Review store policies.

“It’s important to review store policies during the holidays as so many are changed this time of year, including returns eligibility and price matching. Pay attention to returns details before purchasing so you know if something is final sale or limited to store credit only. Gadgets Watch out for potential restocking fees for appliances and appliances and only buy what you need.Some stores are more generous during the holidays, while others impose more restrictions, so consider shopping at a more flexible store and avoid these 10 stores with the worst return conditions.