I wanted to share some Black Friday shopping tips that have really saved my sanity during the craziness of the holiday shopping season. If you hate dealing with the Black Friday crowds but still want to get the best deal, you have come to the right place.
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I am the first one to admit that I love scoring a great deal so Black Friday prices are my jam. I hate dealing with the crowds, the traffic, the parking, and getting up early so you can see my dilemma.
Luckily, I can still get the best prices without having to deal with all of the anxiety that large crowds can give me.
I know that some people love the Black Friday experience and maybe it is a tradition for you and your family to get up early and brave the crowds. That’s great but it just isn’t for everyone, especially if you have little kids at home.
Avoid Black Friday Crowds by Shopping Online
I have noticed that for the past couple of years, stores are offering Black Friday sales and prices earlier and earlier. As of this posting (Nov. 2, 2018) I have already scored Black Friday deals online.
I love that stores do this now because it helps to stagger the crowds on certain shopping days. You may be worried that there will be a better offer later on or exactly on Black Friday but here is my favorite Black Friday shopping tip:
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check for leaked ad scans.
Most Black Friday ads are leaked online starting in October. Just do a quick Google search for the stores you are interested in , ex. “Target Black Friday ad scan 2018”, and you can see the exact sales that they will be offering on Black Friday and if it is worth the wait.
Make sure you read the fine print as some prices and coupon offers will be in-store only, but not all. If they don’t say in-store only, you can wait until Black Friday and score the same deal online.
Whenever you shop online, make sure you shop through Ebates to save extra money on top of your Black Friday savings. I used Ebates last year and saved an extra 9% off of my order at Kohl’s.
Ebates is free to use and they usually double or triple the percentage you will get back at select stores on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Free Shipping Offers
Many stores will be offering free shipping during the holiday shopping season. If you have a Target REDcard, you will get free shipping on any order. Walmart is offering free shipping on a $35 order.
If your store doesn’t offer free shipping or it has a high price threshold that you don’t want to spend, see if they offer in-store pickup. You can order it on Black Friday and get Black Friday pricing but pick it up at a later date to avoid the crowds.
I know that Kohl’s will sometimes offer you an extra $5 in Kohl’s Cash if you choose in-store pickup, so why not get an extra $5 to spend later?!
Black Friday Shopping Tips: Know What to Buy When
A lot of people think that you will get the best prices on Black Friday, which just isn’t true anymore. Do your research by looking up the ad scans and comparing prices.
According to research by Adobe Analytics, these are the days to get the best deals on the most popular items:
- Black Friday: Electronics
- Cyber Monday: Toys
- Sunday before Cyber Monday: Clothing and Appliances
So unless you are looking for a great deal on a TV, gaming system, computer, or another electronic device, you really don’t need to brave the Black Friday crowds unless you want to. Remember to check to see if you can also get the deals online and just have it shipped to you!
In-Store Black Friday Shopping Tips
If you still want to go in-store because your deal isn’t offered online, use these Black Friday Shopping tips to beat the crowds and get out as quickly as possible.
Shop Later
Unless you are just going for one special deal and you know it won’t last, it is probably better to wait to go shopping later in the day.
Black Friday crowds are at their peak from opening to about 11 am. If you go after 11 a.m., things will be picked over but you can still score some great deals without the heavy crowds.
Use the Apps
If the store you will be shopping with has an app, use it! I know that Walmart will have store maps for each individual store on their app to make finding things easier and faster. They will also show you where to find people throughout the store to help you with checkout, not just at the normal checkout areas.
Download the apps before heading out to the store to see what features you can use to make your shopping experience go a lot smoother.
Use these Black Friday shopping tips to get the most bang for your buck while avoiding the Black Friday crowds. Have a very happy holiday season!
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