I am going to make a confession here that will excite some of you and turn the rest of you away in a combination of head-shaking and grumbles: I love Black Friday. I love the excitement, the frenetic energy, and the hoards of shoppers trying to get their hands on deals that are only slightly less (and in some cases more) than they are other times of the year. I love that Black Friday is getting earlier. Thanksgiving day shopping? Yes, please.
I do know the complaints about Black Friday on Thursday. Mostly they concern the retail workers who are made to work on a holiday that everyone else gets to celebrate. This is where I have to admit that though I recognize that is a problem for some, I simply don't understand it. I don't "get" why the Thanksgiving meal can't be celebrated on Wednesday evening or Saturday afternoon. There is nothing magical to me about the fourth Thursday in November. Indeed, there are plenty of non-retail jobs that require Thanksgiving employment. Where would we be without our police officers, firefighters, and nurses on Thanksgiving day? Many restaurants stay open for those who are traveling out of town or simply don't have the desire to cook a big, ostentatious meal. My family would not have Thanksgiving at all if we didn't have a hotel, but it doesn't shut down because of a holiday. That is not to say that I believe retail is not hard work. It is very hard, especially on Black Friday when we all lose our minds. I am grateful to those who sign on to work retail this time of the year. I have never worked retail and so I cannot fully appreciate the difficulty of it. Still, I love it and I will never be on the boycott Black Friday bandwagon.
Now onto the good stuff: How do you really save when Black Friday shopping?
The most important thing you can do is have a game plan. I use a website, like BFAds.net, to keep track of all of the Black Friday sales. However, and I think this is vital to money-saving, you should make your shopping list before you start looking at sales. Then, only look for the items you were planning on buying anyway. Best Buy might have a $7 sandwich maker, but do you really need one? Does anybody? Sure, it's only $7, but a cart full of $7 items that will only end up in a yard sale next summer can add up fast.
Next, use logic when scouring Black Friday ads. Bed Bath and Beyond is selling a Dyson Animal DC65 for $499.99 on Black Friday. Don't line up just yet: You can already purchase the Dyson for that price with free shipping if you order directly through the manufacturer.
This year I am in the market for an XBox and a horrible singing Elsa doll. It looks like Walmart will have what I need, but I have done the Black Friday thing at Walmart before and it is not pretty. There are generally about three of the really good items in stock, and fellow Black Friday shoppers will line up hours in advance with their hand firmly on the shrink wrapped items. As soon as the bell strikes six, the air turns into a mixture of sweat and cellophane until you are left holding what you hope is your chosen item but probably turns out to be an English Leather Gift Set. This is when you have to decide how much your time is worth. Are you really saving on Black Friday when you spend five or more hours in line to save $10 on a toy that will be forgotten within two days of the holiday?
Naturally, it is the big, electronic items that get all of the buzz on Black Friday. If you need a washer/dryer set, you may think this is the time to buy it. But is it really? Last year, I did some research for one of my clients on the best time to purchase large appliances. The answer might surprise you. Early fall is generally the best time to buy any large appliances, except refrigerators. New models hit the market for the holidays, so appliance stores, both large and small, often want to liquidate their inventory in late-September/early-October. Refrigerators are on a different life cycle. Look for those in May. Yes, you can find a deal on Black Friday, but you won't have the widest selection or the time it takes to make sure you are getting the best large appliance for your needs.
Now you might be asking why you should bother Black Friday shopping if you get better deals on bigger items during other times of the year. That is not what I am saying at all. I am simply telling you to have a method when enjoying the madness. My suggestions:
Places to Skip
Old Navy
They are offering 50% off the entire store, but when it comes to Old Navy, that really isn't much better than you can find throughout the year.
Bed Bath and Beyond
They are counting on getting people in the store by offering a 20 percent off discount. The problem is, they regularly offer that discount anyway. Just sign up for their emails and you will have them under your promotions tab on an almost daily basis.
Macy's
The best deals advertised by Macy's require you to mail in a rebate to get the low price. The manufacturer and the store count on you forgetting to mail in said rebate, which is the case most of the time. According to Consumer Affairs, about $500 million goes unclaimed in rebates every year. Don't add to that statistic this Black Friday.
Any Place with a Long Line
A few years ago, I decided that it was worth my time and effort to stand in line for three hours to buy a $20 bench, only to find that they were on sale for $25 the following week. There and then I decided that a long line was not worth my time. Only you can make the same decision for yourself, but I advise to spend your time elsewhere.
Places to Shop
Gamestop
The Gamestop Black Friday ad has not come out yet, but they tend to have low prices on video games and consoles without being as packed as places like Walmart and Best Buy.
Update: Gamestop has just published their Black Friday ad. While it is not as robust as it has been in previous years, there is still plenty to go around for those of us who absolutely must have a new video game console/babysitter.
Toys R Us
If you are willing to brave the crowds, you can complete your gift list in one place. You can get some real deals on board games, Lego, and kids' tablets. However, I do tend to skip the doorbusters in order to skip the long lines.
Big Lots
I. Love. Big Lots. You don't have to wait until Black Friday to get really great deals there. However, this year, they will have low prices on Christmas trees if you, like me, didn't do the smart thing and buy your tree immediately after the holidays in 2013. They also have a Brother sewing machine for $40, and most toys are buy one get one at 50 percent.
Michaels
If you are lucky enough to have one near you, go to a Michaels. Their prices remain low throughout the season, but early shoppers get to take advantage of multiple coupons along with their discounted products. Craft kits, science kits, toys, and baking supplies are at the top of my list, but their pre-lit Christmas trees are priced to move as well.
Local Stores
Small Business Saturday is one of my favorite days, but there are also plenty of small businesses that open on Black Friday. Check out the local retailers. You may find more unique gifts offered at great deals, however their advertising is overshadowed by their big box counterparts.
I do know the complaints about Black Friday on Thursday. Mostly they concern the retail workers who are made to work on a holiday that everyone else gets to celebrate. This is where I have to admit that though I recognize that is a problem for some, I simply don't understand it. I don't "get" why the Thanksgiving meal can't be celebrated on Wednesday evening or Saturday afternoon. There is nothing magical to me about the fourth Thursday in November. Indeed, there are plenty of non-retail jobs that require Thanksgiving employment. Where would we be without our police officers, firefighters, and nurses on Thanksgiving day? Many restaurants stay open for those who are traveling out of town or simply don't have the desire to cook a big, ostentatious meal. My family would not have Thanksgiving at all if we didn't have a hotel, but it doesn't shut down because of a holiday. That is not to say that I believe retail is not hard work. It is very hard, especially on Black Friday when we all lose our minds. I am grateful to those who sign on to work retail this time of the year. I have never worked retail and so I cannot fully appreciate the difficulty of it. Still, I love it and I will never be on the boycott Black Friday bandwagon.
Now onto the good stuff: How do you really save when Black Friday shopping?
The most important thing you can do is have a game plan. I use a website, like BFAds.net, to keep track of all of the Black Friday sales. However, and I think this is vital to money-saving, you should make your shopping list before you start looking at sales. Then, only look for the items you were planning on buying anyway. Best Buy might have a $7 sandwich maker, but do you really need one? Does anybody? Sure, it's only $7, but a cart full of $7 items that will only end up in a yard sale next summer can add up fast.
Next, use logic when scouring Black Friday ads. Bed Bath and Beyond is selling a Dyson Animal DC65 for $499.99 on Black Friday. Don't line up just yet: You can already purchase the Dyson for that price with free shipping if you order directly through the manufacturer.
This year I am in the market for an XBox and a horrible singing Elsa doll. It looks like Walmart will have what I need, but I have done the Black Friday thing at Walmart before and it is not pretty. There are generally about three of the really good items in stock, and fellow Black Friday shoppers will line up hours in advance with their hand firmly on the shrink wrapped items. As soon as the bell strikes six, the air turns into a mixture of sweat and cellophane until you are left holding what you hope is your chosen item but probably turns out to be an English Leather Gift Set. This is when you have to decide how much your time is worth. Are you really saving on Black Friday when you spend five or more hours in line to save $10 on a toy that will be forgotten within two days of the holiday?
Naturally, it is the big, electronic items that get all of the buzz on Black Friday. If you need a washer/dryer set, you may think this is the time to buy it. But is it really? Last year, I did some research for one of my clients on the best time to purchase large appliances. The answer might surprise you. Early fall is generally the best time to buy any large appliances, except refrigerators. New models hit the market for the holidays, so appliance stores, both large and small, often want to liquidate their inventory in late-September/early-October. Refrigerators are on a different life cycle. Look for those in May. Yes, you can find a deal on Black Friday, but you won't have the widest selection or the time it takes to make sure you are getting the best large appliance for your needs.
Now you might be asking why you should bother Black Friday shopping if you get better deals on bigger items during other times of the year. That is not what I am saying at all. I am simply telling you to have a method when enjoying the madness. My suggestions:
Places to Skip
Old Navy
They are offering 50% off the entire store, but when it comes to Old Navy, that really isn't much better than you can find throughout the year.
Bed Bath and Beyond
They are counting on getting people in the store by offering a 20 percent off discount. The problem is, they regularly offer that discount anyway. Just sign up for their emails and you will have them under your promotions tab on an almost daily basis.
Macy's
The best deals advertised by Macy's require you to mail in a rebate to get the low price. The manufacturer and the store count on you forgetting to mail in said rebate, which is the case most of the time. According to Consumer Affairs, about $500 million goes unclaimed in rebates every year. Don't add to that statistic this Black Friday.
Any Place with a Long Line
A few years ago, I decided that it was worth my time and effort to stand in line for three hours to buy a $20 bench, only to find that they were on sale for $25 the following week. There and then I decided that a long line was not worth my time. Only you can make the same decision for yourself, but I advise to spend your time elsewhere.
Places to Shop
Gamestop
The Gamestop Black Friday ad has not come out yet, but they tend to have low prices on video games and consoles without being as packed as places like Walmart and Best Buy.
Update: Gamestop has just published their Black Friday ad. While it is not as robust as it has been in previous years, there is still plenty to go around for those of us who absolutely must have a new video game console/babysitter.
Toys R Us
If you are willing to brave the crowds, you can complete your gift list in one place. You can get some real deals on board games, Lego, and kids' tablets. However, I do tend to skip the doorbusters in order to skip the long lines.
Big Lots
I. Love. Big Lots. You don't have to wait until Black Friday to get really great deals there. However, this year, they will have low prices on Christmas trees if you, like me, didn't do the smart thing and buy your tree immediately after the holidays in 2013. They also have a Brother sewing machine for $40, and most toys are buy one get one at 50 percent.
Michaels
If you are lucky enough to have one near you, go to a Michaels. Their prices remain low throughout the season, but early shoppers get to take advantage of multiple coupons along with their discounted products. Craft kits, science kits, toys, and baking supplies are at the top of my list, but their pre-lit Christmas trees are priced to move as well.
Local Stores
Small Business Saturday is one of my favorite days, but there are also plenty of small businesses that open on Black Friday. Check out the local retailers. You may find more unique gifts offered at great deals, however their advertising is overshadowed by their big box counterparts.