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It kind of seems unreal that we’re even having this conversation. Is it just us or does it seem like we just watched another New Year’s ball drop no less than a few short months ago—and now, another holiday shopping season is upon us? We all know what that means—Black Friday. Crowds, traffic, and also some of the best holiday shopping deals around!
Is money super tight this year? If the thought of braving the crowds and traffic has you slightly hyperventilating, we’ve got a few tips that will make this year one of the best Black Fridays you’ve had in a very long time.
Put Together a Budget for Holiday Shopping
Christmas is a lot like weddings in the sense that we spend a TON of money for just one day. Meanwhile, the debt can last for weeks and months (maybe even years). No matter how much into the Christmas spirit you might be, always remember that mortgages need to be paid and grocery shopping needs to be done. Download a budgeting app so that you can decide just how much you want to spend on holiday shopping before heading out to your favorite stores. You’ll thank us come February!
Then Put Together a Plan
In order to make it through Black Friday holiday shopping in one piece, something else that you’ll need is a navigation plan. It should consist of what stores you want to go to and what you plan to buy once you get there. Also, remember that you can always save time (and gas) by using a GPS app to figure out the quickest routes to where you want to go. Once you know your route, make sure to also make a plan for the gifts you need to buy for family and friends. Don’t forget about yourself! If you need help figuring out what to get them (or yourself), check out our gift guide!
Download a Black Friday Shopping App
Some deals come up on the day of Black Friday. Aside from reading your friends’ texts about the great sales they’re seeing on the other side of town, you can also keep up with moment-by-moment updates if you download a few Black Friday apps. Some of our favorites include ShopSavvy and Price Cruncher.
Follow Retailers on Social Media
Speaking of keeping up with last-minute info, another great tip is to follow some of your favorite retailers on their Twitter and Instagram accounts. It’s pretty common for them to list last-minute deals—both on and offline; ones that you wouldn’t hear about any other way.
Go Out Early
No one really wants to get off of their couch (or roll out of bed) after having a big Thanksgiving dinner. But if you want to avoid traffic and long lines, it really is best to head out to the mall very late (Thanksgiving) night or extremely early in the (Black Friday) morning. Although you might think that tons of people will be there, the reality is that most folks still don’t head out until around 1 pm or so.
Sign Up for Loyalty Programs
No one likes having a ton of spam in their inbox. But if you want to be able to get in on special holiday shopping deals and discounts, it can never hurt to sign up for a few loyalty programs; the sooner, the better, too. Getting Black Friday deals at brands like Target makes it well worth your while to get their updates sent to your email account.
Start Holiday Shopping Online
Thanks to cyberspace, you can avoid a lot of the Black Friday holiday shopping crowd drama by shopping online instead. Many companies will have special deals for the whole week! However, when you’re shopping on random websites, remember to only shop on secure platforms (ones that have a “lock” symbol right before their addresses). Otherwise, your data might be vulnerable to hackers.
Want great deals from a variety of luxury stores? Try shopping at Shop Premium Outlets for great Black Friday deals on your favorite brands!
Use Promo Codes
Coupons aren’t just for grocery shopping. They are also something that can come in really handy while you’re doing your holiday shopping, too. If you do decide to stay in on Black Friday, make sure you’re using coupons to get the best deals!
Quality, Not Quantity
When purchasing things like electronics, stick with the brands that you know. Sure, you’ll see a lot of televisions and computers that have super-low price tags, but that doesn’t mean that they all are top-notch quality. You’d be better off getting several dollars off from a refurbished familiar brand than “saving” a mint from an unknown one that could break down moments after buying it.
Happy Black Friday holiday shopping, everyone!
