Top 10+ Black Friday shopping tips

1. Come prepared with PPE.

Black Friday will look a lot different in 2020 than in years past, as many stores will remain closed on Thanksgiving Day and implement new safety and social distancing measures. If you plan to head out to physical stores this Black Friday, don’t forget to bring along a face mask and hand sanitizer to help reduce the spread of germs and ensure that you’re able to enter the store and snag the deals you’ve been eyeing.

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2. Know your measurements.

There’s nothing like a mile-long line for the dressing room to kill your holiday spirit. Know your exact sizes in advance so you can bypass the fitting rooms and head straight from the rack to the checkout counter. If you’re shopping for someone else, have an idea of what sizes to look for before you get to the store.

And if you’re shopping online, it’s even more important to have a handle on your sizes so you can be spared a delivery day heartache.

3. Bring snacks and water.

Camping out for doorbuster sales? Pack plenty of snacks, water and entertainment — you could be waiting a while to get inside. Plus, you don’t want to waste time navigating a crowded food court when you should be lining up for a killer deal inside a store.

4. Shop online.

Don’t forget that online sales can be just as good — if not better — than in-store deals. Ditch the crowds and crazy lines and shop from the comfort of your living room instead.

Keep your eyes peeled for bonus online sales that often start well before Black Friday officially kicks off and extend past some in-store offers.

5. Make a list and check it twice.

Black Friday isn’t necessarily the best time to mosey through the store and browse for any old item that catches your eye. However, it is the best time of year to buy lots of big-ticket items like TVs, computers, mattresses and so much more. Come prepared with a list of your must-haves and check those off before browsing for hidden gems.

6. Know where to find the best Black Friday deals.

Do your homework before surfing the web or leaving home on Black Friday. Check out the latest Black Friday ads and compare deals and prices from different stores so you know you’re getting the absolute best offers around.

And if you see a better price advertised by a competitor, see if the retailer will price match on Black Friday.

7. Check for early sales.

Last year, most stores launched early Black Friday sales to entice customers to shop their deals instead of competitors’ that pop up the day after Thanksgiving.

Be on the lookout for early deals from retailers like:

8. Use or open a rewards credit card.

Black Friday is the perfect opportunity to reap plenty of reward points or cash back on those big purchases. And if you were thinking of opening up a new rewards card account, the month leading up to the Black Friday blitz is the time to do it – put your purchases on your new card to make obtaining that juicy welcome offer that much easier.

Compare reward credit cards to find one that lines up with your favorite spending categories.

9. Team up with friends.

Not only is shopping with friends more fun than going it alone, but including a pal or two could also help you score extra perks — particularly online. While several online shops offer free shipping during Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, some still have a minimum purchase amount that you’ll have to reach before your items will ship for free.

If you’re not quite there yet, see if a friend or family member wants in on the order so you can both get free shipping without spending any more than you’d planned.

Take advantage of referral offers too. If you know a friend or family member is interested in shopping on the same site, send them a referral link so you can both run away with a deal.

10. Check your connection.

If you’re shopping online, make sure all’s well with your Internet connection or data on your smartphone before the big day. You don’t want to miss out on the deal of the year because of a shoddy Wi-Fi signal. If you’re new online shopping, take a look at our guide on how to shop securely online.

11. Shop early in the morning.

There’s no shortage of Black Friday deals, but oftentimes supply is limited. So if you have your eye on a stellar deal, don’t wait until the last minute to scoop it up.

12. Set a budget and stick to it.

Your budget doesn’t have to go out the window just because there are Black Friday deals left and right this time of year. Pick and choose items offered at truly unbeatable prices and which ones you could do without — or catch for less another time of year.