Your Cart is Empty
FREE Shipping on all orders over $35
Did you get up early and stand in line for hours to get Black Friday deals? Did you stay home from work and check websites the entire day? Did you buy anything? If you answered “What is Black Friday?" or “No,” then it’s time to review your holiday shopping strategy. American consumers spend over $800 billion on goods every year — more than any other country. But how can we make that money go further? How can we stretch our dollars so that we get even more bang for our buck? If you are like most people, your budget isn’t unlimited this season. While Black Friday sales might seem like a great opportunity to save on presents and other items on your wish list, they aren’t the only way to find the perfect gift at a great price. In fact, there are some excellent alternatives.
First, let’s review some Black Friday basics. Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving and the kickoff to the holiday shopping season. It’s the day when retailers offer promotional sales to get people into their stores and spending money. These sales often include steep discounts, doorbuster items, and other special deals that last only on that day. Some stores are opening earlier than ever for Black Friday this year. Target, for example, is opening at 8pm on Thanksgiving Day. Walmart will have most of its deals available from 5pm on Thanksgiving Day until 10 p.m. that night. And Amazon will also offer special deals on Thanksgiving. If you plan to shop on Black Friday, be sure to set a budget and make a list of everything you want to buy. You can save money by avoiding the crowds and doing most of your shopping online. And you can save even more by following the tips below.
- Deals - Some retailers may offer special “doorbuster” deals on Black Friday that are only available for a limited time. If you miss out, that deal is gone forever. And if you’re in line at the store, you might not get one of the limited items.
- Price matching - Some stores will price match deals from other stores. So if you find an item for less at another store, you can get the lower price at your store.
- Endless aisles - You can shop in person no matter what your shipping address is. You can also try on clothes, look at a wide variety of items, and pick up gifts as you go.
- Shipping costs - You can get free shipping with many retailers. And all of the items you purchase will arrive at your doorstep.
Online shoppers can take advantage of sales, coupons, and other special offers. No matter what you buy, you can get free shipping. Plus, you can shop at any time of day or night.
- Endless aisles - You can shop from the comfort of your living room. You can also see reviews from other shoppers, compare prices from different websites, and read product details.
- Deals - Some retailers offer special discounts or promo codes just for online shoppers. And many websites offer price matching. If you find an item at a lower price at another website, you can often get the lower price without having to leave your house.
- Payment options - Depending on the website, you can choose to pay for your purchases with a credit card, debit card, or cash. Some sites even let you use a gift card and have the item shipped to someone else.
- Shipping costs - Some retailers offer free shipping on all of the items on their websites. And others will give you a free shipping code that you can use at checkout.
First, make a list of the gifts you need to buy. Then, look at the websites of your favorite retailers. Many sites will offer their best sales on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
- If a website has a “deals” or “sales” section, start there. You can also search for “Black Friday” or “Cyber Monday” deals.
- Make sure you are on the retailer’s website and not a third-party site like eBay or Amazon. - You can also sign up for alerts from retailers via email or text message. Many stores let you know when special sales begin and end, so you don’t miss out on a deal.
- Most retailers also have apps you can download for your computer, smartphone, or tablet. These apps have the same information as the retailer’s website.
- You can also download shopping apps. These apps let you scan barcodes, see reviews, and compare prices from different websites. They can also alert you when an item you want goes on sale.
First, make a list of the gifts you need to buy. Then, look at the websites of your favorite retailers. Many sites will offer their best sales on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Next, decide how much you are willing to spend on each item. Then, look at the sales each retailer has. You can also search for “Black Friday” or “Cyber Monday” deals on your smartphone while you’re out shopping.
Finally, use cash-back websites like Ebates or Swagbucks to earn cash back on your online purchases. You can also use price comparison websites like Shopping.com or Shoparoo to find the best deals.
