The name Black Friday still implies a single day of retail offers after the Thanksgiving holiday. The reality is that the term actually describes weeks on end of offers and marketing.
On one hand, this means consumers can snare some great bargains for a longer period of time. On the other hand, it makes it all the more important to have a plan in mind for you Black Friday spending. This can avoid some unnecessarily high credit card bills right before the Christmas holidays period begins.
Shop smart
The first step to shopping smart this Black Friday 2021 is to avoid being sucked into the ‘grab a bargain’ mentality. However tempting the offer may be, a product will only deliver true value to you if you actually need it. For every genuinely great bargain people bag on Black Friday, there are dozens of others gathering dust in the back of a closet and not being used.
The best plan is to use Black Friday to get products you have been thinking about for some time, or for upgrading things that are coming to the end of their life. When used with this approach, Black Friday can be a great way of saving hard-earned cash.
This may sound easy, but in reality, it will take some discipline. This is especially true when you are having all kinds of enticing advertising cast in your direction. So, stay on course, stick to you plan, and you will feel a lot better about it!
Take a step back
Always try to sleep on an offer before you go ahead and buy. This can be difficult if stocks or time are limited. But, if possible, it is worth doing.
Also, if an offer seems too good, ask yourself why that is. Would a top selling product really be peddled for an 80% discount by a retailer? Unlikely. Remember, retailers are trying to clear the clutter in time for the holiday season and the new year, so be careful you are not helping them out by taking on their problem stock.
Focus on the genuine top deals
When you have your plan in mind, you will know what the genuine top deals are. You’ll have done a little shopping around, read user reviews, and considered whether you actually need that product.
With all these boxes ticked and decision time closing in, make sure you have your accounts logged in and your payment details to hand. Even with the best planning in the world, some retailers’ websites have a nasty habit of falling over with the traffic surges during Black Friday. If you are ready to check out and have done all your homework, don’t let small details such as passwords or credit card details hold you back from your valued purchase.
Be patient – if needed!
If you do not find the bargain to suit you on Black Friday, hold your nerve! There are plenty of other sales to benefit from during the year. Look out for those rather than making a rushed purchase that you could regret later on.
