Black Friday used to be a shopping holiday only in the US. A day after Thanksgiving, dedicated to end-of-year holiday shopping. Today, Black Friday is a worldwide thing.
This holiday became a lucrative business all over the world. However, unlike before, online shopping this year is going to be at its highest. This doesn’t mean that in-store shopping won’t be popular and that you shouldn’t prepare for it as well. Quite the contrary, it’s time to get ready for both.
With this shopping holiday quickly approaching, it’s time to prepare for shopping. Luckily for you, we gathered all the best tips for your 2023 Black Friday shopping.
Prepare in advance
Our number one tip is to prepare well before Black Friday. What this means is that you should make a budget of some kind, research pre-Black Friday prices, make a plan and know approximately what you want to buy.
Having a clear budget will help you stick to it. You can create a budget by making a list of all the people for whom you’ll be shopping. Also, add to the list what you want to buy and research pre-Black Friday prices of those items. As the holiday comes closer the prices will change and you’ll be able to get a good deal for your gifts.
Sign up for newsletters
Make sure that you’re signed up for all your favorite stores’ newsletters. Newsletters will inform you about whether or not a store has a Black Friday sale. In most cases, all the good stores make the most of this consumer holiday, so you can expect your favorite stores to have sales as well.
Pay attention to newsletters that start coming a couple of weeks before the holiday. Newsletters are your best option to find out about all Black Friday deals and sales.
Make the most of loyalty programs
Loyalty programs are nothing new, but when Black Friday rolls in, they can be very useful. These loyalty cards can offer some great perks and rewards.
For example, if you have a loyalty card from a certain store, you can get early access to sales and promotions.
The great thing about loyalty cards during Black Friday is that you can find out if the products you’re interested in are in stock, and if you can buy them online or in-store.
Understand return policies
Another thing that you should know about before Black Friday is return policies and fees. Before you buy anything, make sure you read a store return policy. Doing this will save you a lot of unnecessary headaches.
If you don’t read the return policy, you risk your money. You might not be able to return something you bought, and the money you’ve spent will be wasted.
Thankfully, most retailers have decent return policies that they improve during the holiday season so that their stores can stand out from the competitors. Some stores will go so far as to extend their returns until January.
Optimize recent purchases
As mentioned, some stores offer extended returns around the holidays. Thanks to this, you can easily optimize your recent purchases.
For example, you might have bought something that wasn’t at a discounted price, and soon after you see that same item with a great deal. Don’t beat yourself up about it because you can return it and buy it again, but this time at a lower price.
So, follow the situation even after Black Friday to see if there are some even better deals going on.
Prepare for in-store shopping on Black Friday
If you’re going to be shopping in-store, you need to prepare accordingly. The best deals usually happen early in the morning around 4 a.m. This is why you need to arrive quite a bit early at shopping centers.
Be patient and prepare to wait in lines. Dress appropriately, nothing too bulky or heavy but something warm that will keep the early morning chill away. Also, prepare a warm drink, a coffee or tea, to keep you warm and awake. Make sure you use your cute personalised stubby holders to keep your drinks warm for a long time.
Additionally, crowds and traffic are going to be crazy during Black Friday, so try to avoid any arguments and altercations. Simply avoid unsafe situations.
If you can, shop online
If you want to save time and if you’re not a fan of these Black Friday crowds and all the chaos that ensues, maybe you should shop online. As mentioned, this year, online shopping is going to be at its peak, so why not make the most of it?
Not to mention that you might have more luck shopping online. You’ll have more options as well. Retailers are doing everything they can to promote online shopping, so expect the same, if not better, promotions in online shops.
Make the most of social media
If you love buying from small businesses, head to the social media channels. Many small retailers will be offering great deals or running special promotions. So, if you’re following them on social media, you might be alerted about Black Friday deals before others. And you know what they say, the early bird catches the worm!
Use price comparison tools
The great thing about online shopping is all the price comparison tools that you can use. Black Friday is a perfect time for retailers to compete against each other, and you can make the most of this.
Before you start your online shopping, download a price comparison app or tool into your toolbar. This program will automatically compare prices. For example, some of the most popular apps include Shop Savvy, BuyVia, and Amazon, to name a few.
Conclusion
Black Friday is definitely one of the craziest consumer holidays, and it’s also the beginning of the holiday shopping season. With these couple of tips, you will be all set for a Black Friday shopping spree.
Remember, prepare a budget in advance, do some research, and relax. Black Friday should be fun and not stressful.
Author bio: Erin Lane is a creative writer and lifestyle blogger from Canberra, Australia. She is a hard-working, organized, dedicated professional interested in learning new things. With five years of experience in writing, Erin has covered numerous topics, including health, fashion, fitness, makeup, home improvement, decoration, business, and finances. Erin is an active person who enjoys nature and traveling.
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