How to Save on Black Friday Shopping

Why do people do it?  Line up on a cold Friday morning to get their holiday shopping done.  It really seems like a relic of the pre-internet age.  Of course, this could seem a little self-serving--Savings.com is obviously internet-based--but there is no longer an overwhelming need to hit the sales early in-store because so many deals can be found online.

At the same time, Black Friday isn't just about saving money--just as Thanksgiving isn't just another meal.  For some people, shopping the deals on Black Friday is a tradition.  To each his or her own because to wake up at the crack of dawn and tussle for merchandise with hundreds of other people doesn't seem entirely relaxing, especially when there are simple alternatives.

One of the reasons that Black Friday doesn't make sense is that you're limited to one store.  There could be a better price clear across town, but you wouldn't know that because you're stuck at the local shopping mall.  Certainly, Black Friday can be an all day affair in your town, but what if there's a better deal in another part of the country?  This is why localized Black Friday shopping doesn't always cut it.  It might say 30% off, but 30% off a higher price is still too expensive.

The web has changed all that by making national, or even worldwide, stores more accessible.  The name of the game with Black Friday is comparison shopping and you can do so much more easily online. This is not to say there aren't great Black Friday deals out in the shopping wilderness--there certainly are.  Retailers mark down items considerably to draw shoppers to the doors. Check those deals against what's available online to see if those deals truly aren't available elsewhere.

Black Friday Shopping Online

One important note about shopping Black Friday deals online:  they work very much like traditional Black Friday shopping, i.e. these are one-day only sales with limited supply, just like the regular brick and mortar stores.  Don't just assume that because it's online, you can be more leisurely about it.  Many online Black Friday deals expire the day of.  Your best bet is to check midnight on Thanksgiving to see if these deals have gone live.  And if you miss the thrill of waking up at the crack of dawn, you can still do it--just go to your computer desktop rather than starting up the car.

Some basic tips for Black Friday:

1. Spend some on credit - but only if you can pay off the balance.  Here are some credit card spending tips for the holidays.  Rewards points can work in your favor if included with coupon discounts and you don't pay interest.

2. Don't go by percentage off.  A larger percentage off at one store can actually be more than a lower percentage off at another.  Have a calculator handy to see just how much you're saving - and be certain to factor in shipping costs.

3.  Look for a low-price guarantee.  Though Black Friday has the reputation of having the lowest prices, don't just assume that to be the case.  Prices could go down in the future (especially if retailers get desperate).  With a low price guarantee, you can get a refund on the difference of the future sale price.

4. Check newspaper/online ads about brick and mortar deals and compare those to the available website deals, factoring in shipping and coupon code discounts.  Savings.com is no doubt vigilant about gathering together Black Friday deals, so check us out. 

How about you?  Are you doing your Black Friday online?  Are you going to stores because you like the ritual of it or because of the better savings?  A little of both?  Let us know about your Black Friday plans.