10 Black Friday Shopping Tips to Save Money

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Black Friday isn’t what it used to be. These days, retailers start rolling out deals weeks before Thanksgiving, and online shopping makes it easier than ever to compare prices without leaving home. However, finding a good deal still takes some planning. You don’t want to spend money on something just because it has a big discount attached to it.

Whether you’re shopping from your couch or planning a quick in-store run, these 10 Black Friday shopping tips will help you save money, avoid buyer’s regret, and make the most of the holiday sales.

Black Friday Shopping Tips

1. Shop Online First

Shopping online is a great way to avoid the Black Friday lines. You can do that at any time of the day. You can shop online during your lunch break (if you have to work) or in the comfort of your home. You should sign up with your favorite stores to get email alerts, but more on that later. Some of them will have sales before Black Friday. You want to take advantage of the deals.

You’re probably already getting emails from your favorite stores or businesses. I know I’ve seen some from Walmart and Amazon already.

Shopping online can also be quite competitive, but here are a few secret tips to ease your online shopping experience during black Friday.

2. Use Live Chat to Ask for Coupons

If you reach checkout and the shipping or taxes push the price higher than expected, use the store’s live chat feature.

Politely ask:
“Do you have any coupons available today? Even free shipping would help.”

You’ll be surprised how often they say yes, especially during Black Friday week. Stores want to close the sale, and chat reps often have private discount codes they can offer.

3. Don’t Shop at Peak Hours

Peak hours = long lines and heightened stress.

If you prefer shopping in person:

Shop early.

The earlier you arrive, the better your chances of avoiding massive crowds.

Many people are tired after a big Thanksgiving dinner. Arriving at dawn (or shopping right when stores open) can help you get in, get out, and get deals without dealing with chaos.

Why go in-store at all?

Some of the best doorbusters are in-store only, especially for TVs, laptops, gaming bundles, and seasonal items.

4. Shop at Less Popular Stores

Big stores like Walmart, Target, and Apple will be slammed. But smaller local shops, outlets, or non-big-box retailers are often overlooked, which works in your favor.

Smaller stores may offer:

• Bigger discounts

• Better customer service

• Less competition

• Hidden gems you won’t find in major chains

Mom-and-pop stores also tend to offer great deals because they want to attract holiday traffic.

5. Start Early – Really Early

Black Friday deals start in early November now. If you wait until the Friday after Thanksgiving, you’re fighting for leftovers.

Benefits of starting early:

• Bigger selection

• No long lines

• Less stress

• Ability to compare prices

• Price-drop adjustments

Some retailers offer price protection, meaning that if the cost drops later, you can request a refund for the difference. Always keep your receipts.

6. Use Shopping Apps

If you want to skip the Black Friday lines, you have to use apps. Apps are a marketplace for online shopping, and they are a great way to get products on an average day, and even better during black Friday. You can use apps to look at available deals to make the best choice for you. You can also use these apps to track the prices of these items and purchase them at just the right price. It’s also pretty easy that you don’t have to check out these deals, retailer by retailer.

You could quickly look at the Consumer Reports website, where you can get a list of different products and their current prices at various shops, and then make your comparison.

Good apps to install:

• Walmart

• Target

• Rakuten

• ShopSavvy

• Amazon

• Honey

• Capital One Shopping

Many of these allow barcode scanning so you can check real-time pricing and discounts.

7. Use Social Media for Deals

Social media is excellent for getting the most out of Black Friday sales and avoiding the tiresome lines. Many retailers these days use social media to advertise their products. With the launch of platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, social media advertising has risen exponentially. Many retailers use their pages to post products and get their followers to offer enticing deals. You have to keep up with their posts and be engaging.

Some retailers do giveaways on their platforms so those who comment, like, or follow them can get good black Friday coupons and discounts. You could also use the platform to get information from fellow users on the best deals. You can get this information in a comment in the comment section of popular brands or by following popular brand influencers who review products and post them on their page. These influencers tend to give discount codes to their followers to enable them to get some specific products at a good rate. This way, you don’t have to go to the shop and wait in line to get the best black Friday deals.

8. Leave Items in Your Online Cart

This trick sometimes works, and it’s worth trying if you’re not in a rush to buy something.

A few days before Black Friday:

• Add the items you want to your online shopping cart.
• Make sure you’re signed in to your account.
• Leave the items in your cart without completing the purchase.
• Watch your email for possible discount offers.

Some retailers send abandoned-cart reminders with coupon codes or free shipping offers to encourage shoppers to complete their purchases. However, not every store does this, and there’s no guarantee you’ll receive a discount.

If you’re shopping for something popular, don’t wait too long and risk having it sell out. Compare prices and make sure any coupon actually saves you money.

9. Subscribe to Brand Newsletters

This is one way to stay up to date on what you want for Black Friday. You have to keep up with your favorite brands. Aside from following them on social media, you could also subscribe to their newsletters. This ensures that you always receive their emails when they put one out, ensuring you get the best deal as early as possible. This way, you can watch out for special discounts and coupons that others won’t get, so it’ll be easy and cheap to get the products without waiting in line. You can even share these deals with friends and family.

10. Don’t Overlook Walmart

Walmart is one of the retailers worth checking during Black Friday. The store typically offers holiday deals on electronics, clothing, household products, toys, and other popular items. You can find discounts both online and in stores.

One thing I recommend is checking Walmart’s website or app before heading to the store. Some deals may be available online first, while others could have limited quantities. Walmart+ members may also receive early access to select Black Friday promotions.

Don’t assume something is a great deal just because it’s advertised as a Black Friday special. Compare prices with other retailers, check customer reviews, and make sure you’re actually saving money.

Also, review Walmart’s current return and price-match policies before making a large purchase. Black Friday promotions may have special restrictions, and Walmart generally doesn’t offer price adjustments when an item’s price drops after you’ve purchased it.

If you need help picking gifts, check out my Christmas Gift Guide for inspiration.