The countdown to Black Friday has begun and though I don’t really consider myself as a shopper enthusiast, this is a time of year that I really get excited.
It is a reminder of how close it is to Christmas and that I should take advantage of every good sale that comes my way.
The components to having the best Black Friday ever are to have a game plan, a solid budget, and earn easy money without having to do much for it.
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Have A Plan
This is most important so that you aren’t randomly buying and the opportunity to miss a great deal is avoided.
- Think of all the people you need to buy for.
- Think of what you need to get for your home that may need to be replenished or restocked.
Speaking of restocking, how about getting rid of old things that you know for a long time you should have replaced them. - Old dented, rusted, pots and pans, worn-out bath towels where the inseams are coming apart. How about old sheets, or comforters, shoes, or old clothing?
Once you have a list of what you need to get for yourself, your home, and also a list of the people you will buy for, make note of items that are either electronics and kitchen.
These items tend to sell out pretty fast on Black Friday, so you will want to make sure that these items are first to purchase.
Note: You can use websites like blackfriday.com, or bestblackfriday.com to look at any of the upcoming deals at the stores you plan to buy along with their start times.
You can also check the newspaper, but if you’re like me, looking online versus getting a newspaper will allow you to research a lot more stores and what their deals will be in a shorter amount of time.
What is your planned budget for spending
I am always looking for ways to save money so having a budget in mind is essential. The one thing you don’t want to do is shop blindly by overspending, overcharging on the credit cards and find yourself in a mountain of holiday debt.
So for the list that you have created with all the names and items that you plan to purchase;
- Make sure to have an amount set for each person.
- Use cash only if possible.
- See which stores are offering cashback to maximize savings (earning while shopping is awesome).
Also make sure if you’re shopping in a store or shopping online, do it with Rakuten (formally known as Ebates) so that you can earn cashback.
Note: With Rakuten, you can earn cashback by shopping online or at select retailers in your local area.
To maximize savings and earning potential, add the Rakuten browser extension and download the Rakuten app on your smartphone. Double up on your savings and cashback with Ibotta also. Download the Ibotta app on your smartphone, view the cashback offers before shopping online or instore. Take a picture of your receipt as proof to earn the cashback.
I recommend using both and here’s why, though Rakuten has a much larger selection of stores to choose from, why not get extra money back from Ibotta especially if you are buying from major chains like Kohls, Target or Walmart.
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Black Friday Doorbusters or Early Bird Deals
Plan to be at the store at MINIMUM an hour two before the projected sale begins.
Doorbusters are a great way of getting really good discounts on clothing for sometimes 50 or 60% off.
Most don’t require you to be there at midnight. Most doorbusters start early as 7 AM and end at 10 AM or 11 AM.
Early bird deals are not only for in-store shopping but also for online shopping as well.
Black Friday Online
This is truly my preferred way to shop.
I like shopping online simply because I want to avoid the crowds plus I am able to search or shop at more stores in a shorter amount of time; versus getting in my car driving to one store, waiting in a long line for checkout, getting back in my car to another store, mind you there’s probably traffic everywhere…it just takes forever.
Online shopping is continuously growing every year and sometimes you may find better deals online. This brings me to my next point, coupons!
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Coupons In Your Emails
Let coupons be your best friend for Black Friday, it’s free money so use them.
Also for the stores that you plan to shop whether online or instore make sure you sign up so that you’re able to receive those store coupons.
Bath & Body Works has some of the best coupons for Black Friday, and if you’re like me this is the best time to stock up on home fragrances, candles, and hand soap.
If you are concerned that your email will be flooded with all these marketing Flyers then you can create a separate email account specifically for receiving coupons that way you’re not flooding your personal inbox.
Also, most retailers have the option to receive offers through text.
Are you an Amazon Prime member? Amazon also has coupons on select items, that allow you to save additional money on your purchases.
Just look for the “coupon” tag, click the checkbox and it will be applied at checkout.
Keep in mind you can earn cash back on certain categories in Amazon as well just by using Rakuten.
Taking these steps to prepare yourself for this big shopping day will help you save money, put more money in your pocket and give you the best Black Friday ever.
What are some ways that you save on Black Friday?
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