Are You Ready for Black Friday? 9 Steps You Should Take Now
There’s a chill in the air, and leaves are falling. For dedicated bargain hunters, that means one thing: Black Friday will soon be upon us.
If you want to make the most of the killer deals this Black Friday, you need to start getting ready now. Here’s how best to prepare for the upcoming shopping madness.
1. Create a Budget and List
Though you may be tempted to jump directly into list making, you should determine your holiday shopping budget first — that way, you’ll know what you can (and can’t) include on your list. Once you know how much you can spend, make a list of what you need to buy. Keep in mind you probably won’t know prices yet, so to make it easier, divide the list into two groups: items you definitely want to purchase, and items you’ll purchase if you have money left over from your original budget.
2. Use a Credit Card With Price Protection
Spot a leaked ad featuring the toy your kids are clamoring over? If you have a credit card with price protection, avoid the lines by purchasing it before Black Friday. Then you can file a price protection claim and get the difference refunded to your card. This tactic won’t work for every purchase, though. Anything with a serial number may give you trouble, since some Black Friday items are different from regular items.
3. Buy Gift Cards
If you know you’re going to shop at a particular store, you can save money or earn rewards by purchasing gift cards ahead of time. Some sites sell discounted gift cards. (You can sell gift cards you don’t want, too!) You can also find gift card deals at your local grocery story.
4. Follow Retailers and Deals Sites
With today’s technology, preparing for Black Friday is easier than ever. One of your first stops should be the websites of all your favorite retailers — both big and small. Sign up for their email newsletters and follow them on your preferred social media networks.
5. Participate in Online Forums
Want to educate yourself before the season starts? Log into some online-shopping forums, where deal-hunting veterans share tips and answer questions.
6. Update Your Profiles on Your Favorite Sites
Have you ever found a great Black Friday deal online — only to have it disappear by the time you click “purchase”? Don’t let that happen this year: Update your profile on your favorite retailers’ sites ahead of time.
7. Familiarize Yourself With Store Policies
Let’s face it: Buyer’s remorse happens to the best of us. And when it strikes, it’s essential you’re able to return the items. Also good to know ahead of time? Which stores offer price matching.
8. Let Deal Sites Work for You
Don’t waste hours digging through Black Friday ads online and in the newspaper; that’s what the experts are for. Check websites like BlackFriday.com to compare prices.
9. Before Shopping, Analyze the Deals
Many Black Friday shoppers skip this step, and it’s a big mistake. Not only should you determine which stores have the best prices — you should also analyze whether the prices are actually a bargain. Money-saving browser extensions can help, too.
Susan Shain is a former senior writer for The Penny Hoarder.
