10 Black Friday Shopping Tips (To Find Deals, Save Money, and Have Fun)

When it comes to Black Friday shoppers, most people fall into one of two camps . . .

First, there’s the group who love the thrill of hunting down a good deal. They can’t wait to be one of the few who actually snag that $500 personal espresso machine for just $150. These shoppers mean business and don’t mind standing outside in the cold at 4 a.m.

Then there are those who scroll through deals on their phones from the coziness and quiet of their couch, maybe clicking “Add to Cart” here and there.

No matter where you land, you can totally make Black Friday work for you and your budget. With these Black Friday shopping tips, you can enjoy the thrill of the deal without getting caught up in the frenzy—or accidental mindless spending.

10 Black Friday Shopping Tips

Before you take off for the sales racks, keep these 10 Black Friday shopping tips in mind so you can not only save a ton of money but enjoy yourself knowing you’re shopping responsibly!

1. Make a shopping budget.

A budget is a plan for spending your money. If you plan on shopping this Black Friday, then you’ve got to budget before you hit the first store—online or in person. And heading into one of the biggest sale days of the year without a spending plan is a recipe for disaster!

As soon as you’re finished reading this article, start planning! You’ll need to set up a monthly budget first. Once you get your income and regular expenses accounted for in there, you can see how much you’ve got available to spend on Black Friday.

And be firm with yourself. Once you reach that planned spending limit, you’re done—no matter how much that monogrammed coffee cup is calling your name!

Pro tip: Check out the free EveryDollar Christmas Present Planner to get all your gift giving organized this year!

2. Research what you want to buy ahead of time.

Once you’ve decided how much you’ll spend, it’s time to do some research. Planning what you’ll buy and where you’ll buy it ahead of time will help you prioritize your spending.

Now, don’t spend your entire Thanksgiving Day searching the newspapers or store websites for $5 off an Easy Bake Oven. That’s valuable family time! But do make sure you have a sense of where the best deals are so you can hit fewer stops—and avoid overspending.

3. Take advantage of store loyalty programs.

Some loyalty programs offer exclusive Black Friday discounts and other holiday deals! Say you’ve got the Target Circle Card (it’s got a debit card option, and I love it!), and you’re also a member of the Target Circle rewards program. Target Circle alone is a bit lackluster, but combined with the Target Circle Card? You can get some serious savings—all year long!

Another awesome example is when Kroger offers extra fuel points for buying gift cards around the holidays. You can snag a present for your kid’s teacher and get extra cents knocked off at the pump for yourself!

Important callout here: Just make sure the loyalty program isn’t tied to credit cards. (More on that in tip #6.)

4. Shop online before (or after) Black Friday.

You don’t have to fight crowds for incredible deals on Black Friday because there are tons of online sales too. And some even start early—I’m talking weeks before you start prepping the cranberry sauce and stuffing the turkey!

And don’t forget about Cyber Monday when you’re budgeting. You can find a lot of prices on things without camping out in a parking lot all night or getting run over by frantic people looking for a half-priced big-screen TV.

Start budgeting with EveryDollar today!

If you’re over the crowds and the stress of this weekend, then online shopping might be a good option to get the same great deals.

5. Don’t stress yourself out.

Seriously, just relax! Remember, all this stuff . . . is just stuff. Ask yourself this: In a year or two, will I even remember what I’m buying? Better yet, will the person I’m buying this thing for still be using it?

Keep a healthy perspective and mindset. If you don’t buy that computer, television or game console, it’s not the end of the world. Don’t get so caught up in shopping and finding a deal that you lose sight of why you’re shopping and giving gifts in the first place.

6. Don’t spend money you don’t have.

This might seem like common sense, but a lot of people just don’t get it. If the only way to buy something is to put it on a credit card, that means you can’t afford it. Then, what might seem like a good idea in December becomes an awful idea in January when all the bills start rolling in. Don’t buy stuff you can’t afford!

And listen: You’re probably going to hear this in the checkout line: “Want to save an extra 15% by signing up for our store credit card?” Just say no! I know it sounds tempting to save even more money, but store credit cards are a bad idea any time of year.

7. Start your Black Friday shopping later in the day.

All the heavily promoted items might have sold, but you can still find great deals when you avoid the early morning crowds. It can get seriously crazy when the doors first open at some of the larger retail chains! If you do choose to go first thing in the morning, wear a helmet. (That’s a joke.)

8. Budget for personal spending.

Black Friday shopping isn’t just about saving money on Christmas gifts. If you want to catch some deals on tech items, clothing or other stuff as a treat to yourself, that’s fine—if it’s in the budget! This is also a great time to replace any appliances or other home wares that might need an upgrade.

9. Pack some snacks.

All right, if you’re going to make a full day of it, one of my favorite Black Friday shopping tips is to bring snacks with you. Toss some cut fruit, trail mix or a sandwich in your bag or a cooler you keep in your car. Not only will a quick snack break keep you fueled up, but when you bring snacks from home, you won’t be tempted to spend on unnecessary nibbles when you’re out and about. (Unless a stop at Chick-fil-A is in the budget, of course!)

10. Review each store’s return policy.

It’s totally possible that you’ll end up buying something you don’t need—and you’ll want to return it later. Fair enough! Make sure you keep all your receipts and review each store’s return policy (even Amazon’s) so you don’t get stuck with something that’s nonrefundable. Also, pay attention to return windows and the condition an item must be in for return.

Do You Really Save Money on Black Friday?

You can save money with these Black Friday tips, but here’s the bottom line: You’ve got to make a spending plan and stick to it! That means making a monthly budget that includes all those Black Friday deals. If you want to make the budgeting part way easier, download the free EveryDollar app. It’s what I use to track my spending, saving and giving—and that includes Black Friday shopping each year!

And one last thing: Remember that Black Friday is (mostly) a holiday marketing trick to get you to spend money. That’s fine, but be prepared! I want you to head into the sales with your eyes open and your budget ready. That’s how you get the sales to work for you instead of the other way around.