Issue link: https://www.cominghomemag.com/i/1483107
The dos and don'ts of the big sale. FOR SOME, Black Friday—the Friday after Thanksgiving on which retailers offer special sales—may as well be its own holiday. While apps and online stores have made Black Friday shopping tremendously easier, it can still feel stressful and intense when you're scrambling to find the best deals and the hottest gifts. To help you go into Black Friday calmly and collectedly, we've put together our top dos and don'ts for the big day. Follow these tips to do Black Friday the right way! BLACK FRIDAY TO-DOS BLACK FRIDAY TO-DON'TS CREATE A PLAN. Make a list of items you plan on buying during the sale and compare prices at least a week in advance. Not only will prices vary from store to store—possibly by a difference of hundreds of dollars—but some stores also offer exclusive online or in-store deals. CONSIDER WAITING FOR OTHER BIG SHOPPING DAYS. It seems like major deals start at the beginning of November and stretch all the way to Black Friday. However, many retailers wait until Cyber Monday (the last Monday of the month) and slash prices even further. Cyber Monday is a great opportunity to use cashback sites, like Rakuten, and browser extensions, like Honey, to earn money just for shopping online, too! COME PREPARED. If you're braving the crowds to go shopping, remember a lot of other people are doing the same. Plan your route, double-check sale times, and read the fine print for return policies. Knowing this information will save you time in stores and headaches when you get home. GET TOO COMPETITIVE. The last thing you want is to become this week's viral video. Don't let yourself get dragged into the hype; try to relax. If someone reaches for a product before you do, shrug it off and let it go. There will be more deals, and you can always look elsewhere for similar products. SPEND IMPULSIVELY. It can be tempting to buy an item just because it's on sale. But if it's not on your list and you don't actually need it, admire the deal and don't give in to the price tag. The more impulsively you spend, the more likely you'll fill your cart with stuff you don't need—which means you run the risk of spending your entire budget before hitting all the stores. BUY INTO THE BIG•TICKET HYPE. Seeing those deeply discounted appliances and electronics can be oh-so enticing; however, there's a reason they're marked down so much. Many retailers use Black Friday to clear old inventory and make room for the upcoming year's latest models. An older model isn't necessarily bad, but you'll see lower prices when the new inventory comes in. Unless you absolutely must have it, hold off. 16