All deal seekers know that one of the best shopping days of the year is Black Friday.
Can you believe Black Friday is just a few short weeks away? It seems crazy!
I am a seasoned Black Friday shopper and have even started shopping Thanksgiving morning (online) to ensure I got the deal I was after.
After years of Black Friday shopping, I have learned a thing or two about how to score a great deal, and which stores aren’t worth the trouble.
If you are looking for some Black Friday shopping secrets, this is your guide!
I’m going to share all of my shopping secrets with you to help you get the best Black Friday deals possible!
1. Some Black Friday Deals Last All Month Long
Many stores will get into full-fledged Black Friday mode as soon as Halloween ends, others will start as early as the Sunday or Monday of Black Friday.
Last year Old Navy started their Black Friday shopping (secret yet not-so-secret) sale before Thanksgiving had even begun, and the deals were the exact same as they were on Black Friday.
Before you add a long list of stores to your shopping trip, see if there are any offering Black Friday sales ahead of time.
This will limit your time out, and keep you from missing the best deals. Plus the selection will ensure you don’t miss out on something you had your eyes on.
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2. Black Friday TV Deals Are Best On Smaller TVs
Every year you will see hundreds of people lined up outside the store waiting to score the “best deal” on a new flatscreen TV.
If you’re in the market for a High-end TV then it’s an important Black Friday shopping tip to wait until January or early February (think: Super Bowl season) and purchase one then.
However, the smaller TVs are a better deal during the usual Black Friday sale.
3. Not All Doorbusters Are A Good Deal
Doorbuster items are the store’s way of getting you to the store and hope that while you’re there, you’ll do the rest of your Christmas shopping.
You might be surprised to discover that it’s a big Black Friday shopping secret that the doorbuster item may not even be the best deal! (WHAT?!!)
While the sign “Laptops for under $100” might sound like a deal you can’t pass up; it may be a no-name brand item that most likely has significantly lower specifications than the brand name variety.
Make sure to research those doorbusters, before you wait in line. If you haven’t heard of the brand before, look it up on Amazon and see what kinds of reviews have been posted by real users. (Plus, use the Amazon Price-Tracker website CamelCamelCamel to see price history so that you can easily tell if that doorbuster is legit.)
Now, that’s not to say that you can’t score an amazing deal on an off-brand doorbuster product, one year we got a mini-crockpot for only $4 that we use regularly for nacho cheese dip, that was one of my best doorbuster purchases ever. But, c’mon, for $4 I really had nothing to lose, right?!
4. Kitchen Gadgets (and Vacuums) Are A Best-Buy
Kitchen gadgets seem to be the category of items I see that have the most savings throughout the whole Black Friday shopping “week” and through Cyber Monday also.
Usually, we’ll see the best prices of the year on virtually all small appliances but notably, Kitchenaid Mixers, Ninja Blenders, Keurigs, Cookware, Pyrex Sets, and just about anything else you’ll use in the kitchen.
Oh, and vacuums too! One of the best Black Friday shopping tips I always share is that I tracked prices for several years on the top gadget deals at over 50 stores and, surprisingly, I always found that vacuums have always been priced the lowest during Black Friday sales. In fact, I’ve purchased several Dyson vacuums during Black Friday sales.
5. Don’t Forget The Coupons!
Black Friday coupons are out there, and some of them could lead to massive savings! Kohl’s coupon shopping strategies are the best ones for saving money.
If you don’t usually get a newspaper, you’ll want to make sure to pick one up on Thanksgiving morning because that is the one that includes all the Black Friday Sale Advertisements. But be early because they usually end up going quickly, so pick one up as soon as you can, if you don’t have a paper delivered.
There will be tons of store coupons in the newspaper that you can use, in addition to any you find online.
Once you know what stores you’ll be going to, make sure to do a quick google search for that store and coupons to see if you can find any bonus discount coupons before you head out.
6. Stay Organized
The quickest way to overspend while you’re out on Black Friday is to be disorganized!
I’ve created a Black Friday Shopping Guide to help you get even more organized with a plan to bring to the store with you.
Make sure you know your schedule and the store opening and promotional times, and that you don’t spend too long in each store.
The more organized you are, the more success you’ll have on Black Friday.
BONUS FREE DOWNLOAD
Planning Is Key During The Holidays
Download these FREE Christmas Prep Cheat Sheets so you get ahead (of the spending) this year.
7. Shop Online
Did you know that sites like Amazon have Black Friday deals too?
Some stores even have their Black Friday sales online way before Black Friday is near.
Before you head out to the store, see if you can do your shopping from home.
You’ll avoid the long lines, traffic, and craziness of heading out on Black Friday, plus who wouldn’t want to do their shopping on the couch in pajamas? Yes, please!
Black Friday shopping doesn’t have to be as chaotic as the commercials make it sound.
Just remember these Black Friday shopping secrets to keep you on track and organized!
If you plan and prepare before you hit the stores, you’ll have no trouble scoring great deals at rock bottom prices.
And the best thing is you’ll be shopping smarter with these Black Friday shopping tips!
Your Turn: What shopping Black Friday shopping secret has helped you get the best deals every year? Share with me below!
