Black Friday is the biggest shopping event of the year. You don’t want to miss out on it—and you certainly don’t want to make spending blunders during it. Read this list of dos and don’ts to get the most out of the event.
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Do: Ask for Price Matching
Some retailers will offer price matching (matching the price of a product sold by competitors). This could help you save money without having to rush to another store.
Don’t: Assume All Sales Are Worth It
Some retailers will drop an item’s price by a small fraction and place a giant red “Sale” sticker on it. Ignore the advertising and take a hard look at the price tag when you shop. Is it really a bargain? If the sale doesn’t seem worth it, don’t open your wallet.
Do: Use Your Points
Do you have loyalty cards, gift cards, rewards cards or store credits that could help you lower the cost of your final bill even more? Now’s the perfect time to use them. Take inventory of all of these benefits before you hit the stores to see what extra savings you could get at the checkout aisle.
Don’t: Spend Beyond Your Means
Buying discounted items is only a financially savvy move when you can afford it. You’re not exactly “saving money” or “getting a good deal” when you’re putting your checking account into overdraft or draining your savings account. You should always make sure that your Black Friday shopping fits within your budget.
Otherwise, you run the risk of overspending and making yourself financially vulnerable before the winter holidays. What if you have to deal with a sudden expense? What if your pipes freeze in the cold weather and you need to call a plumber to thaw them? What if your car stalls in the parking lot and you need to go to a mechanic for repairs? You won’t have the funds to resolve these expenses right away.
If you’re ever in this stressful situation, you still have an option. You could go to a website like CreditFresh and see whether you’re eligible for an emergency loan. If you’re eligible, you can fill out your emergency loan application online and wait to hear about your approval status. An approved loan could give you access to enough funds to resolve an urgent expense in a short amount of time.
Never use emergency online loans for non-emergencies. They’re not meant for your monthly bills, your rent or your shopping excursions. It’ll be much easier to avoid this scenario by following a budget and shopping within your means.
Do: Be Considerate of Retail Workers
Black Friday would not be possible without a fleet of retail workers stocking shelves, scanning items and helping customers find what they’re looking for. It’s common for workers to clock in for long shifts during this annual shopping event, where they are on their feet from early in the morning ‘til late at night when the stores finally close. They often contend with large crowds, long lines and rude customers.
Be patient and considerate of retail workers. They are doing their best.
Don’t: Forget about Online Shopping
Are you worried about the crowds clamoring for items at retailers? You don’t have to step out your front door to get Black Friday deals. The deals might be even better for the following Monday, called Cyber Monday — the focus of this event is on discounted items via online shopping. Many retailers offer the same deals on their websites.
Follow these dos and don’ts this Black Friday! They will make your shopping weekend a breeze.
