How to Get the Most Out of Black Friday and Cyber Monday

It’s that time of the year again!  The time of amazing shopping deals!  Black Friday and cyber Monday are a handful of days away, are you prepared?!  We all know too well how crazy some of those black Friday shoppers can get so it’s important to have a game plan, be prepared, and be safe.  We have found some of the greatest tips and tricks to help you get through both black Friday and cyber Monday.

Black Friday:

• Download the Amazon app and use it to scan barcodes to instantly compare prices with Amazon – sometimes black Friday deals aren’t always the good deals you think they are!
• Instead of dealing with an annoying shopping cart that gets in the way far too often, take a couple huge reusable bags like the ones from IKEA.
• Waiting in lines and running around can really take it out of you.  Take some snacks to keep yourself energized!  Check out these healthy snacks or these DIY granola bars.
• Worried about spending too much?  Set a budget for yourself or consider only taking cash – leave all your credit cards at home!
• If you want to really get ahead of the game, go check out the stores the day before to map out your plan of action and see where they’re setting up doorbuster items.
• Check store websites and their social media accounts for any coupons, or run over to raise.com for discounted gift cards!

• Take a friend.  Split up your holiday list, then divide and conquer!  You’ll get more done in less time this way.
• Don’t just shop for holiday gifts.  Do you know someone that’s getting married next year?  Or having a birthday?  Or a baby shower?  Black Friday is a great time to shop for those gifts as well!
• Save all your receipts in case you need to return something!
• Finally, remember to stay safe!  People can get a little overbearing over black Friday deals, so try and steer clear of mayhem!

Cyber Monday:

• Use the online chat feature on store websites to ask if they have any coupons codes you can use when you check out!
• Download Honey on your computer!  I kid you not, this is my best friend when it comes to shopping online.  Honey collects deals and, at check out, you can ask it to scan all the deals it has found and it will let you know if any of them work – it’s so amazing!  I can’t tell you the number of times it has come in handy.
• For safety reasons, use your credit card when purchasing online.  If someone happens to get your card info online and spends your hard-earned money, it is easier for banks to reimburse you when you use a credit card versus a debit card.
• Cyber Monday and Black Friday deals are also plentiful when it comes to travel.  Expedia, along with other travel sites, offer some great deals on hotels, flights, vacation packages, and cruises.
• Stay safe and don’t input your debit/credit card info on dodgy websites – stick with the stores you know!