#HowTo – How To Get The Best Deals on Black Friday/Cyber Monday

It is well documented at ShareASale that I have a true affinity that some might call an addiction to shopping.  I literally absolutely love scouring through various websites in search of the best deal for an item.  Because honestly, that daily deal site throws the 40% off sign up there, making you think it’s a great deal, but often you can find it far cheaper somewhere else.  That is one key to shopping generally. 

Big shopping days like Black Friday and Cyber Monday are completely different creatures.  This is because you really have to plan ahead and strategize.  You will also want to make sure you have the right tools to assist you and finally you have to budget accordingly.

This is one of the steps that I feel so many people miss due to the excitement around Black Friday.  Most people arbitrarily go shopping at a Big Box chain or hop online at some point on Cyber Monday and buy things as they interest them.

These methods are ok, but utilizing those types of strategies means you may not be getting the best deal.  I have worked at companies like Target, The Sports Authority, and Clark’s shoes through numerous Black Fridays and they were almost always under stocked for those “Doorbusters.”  So customers showed up for those items and ended up staying to buy items that could have most likely been purchased on any Friday.

This is why I believe online shopping for Black Friday and Cyber Monday is the only way to shop on those days.  There are a few reasons for this:

1. Most online sites give you a decent idea about what might go on sale before it occurs.  For instance, Amazon actually puts descriptions of the items and when they will go on sale hours before the sale occurs.
2. It is much easier to get the products home, especially since websites often do shipping offers around that time so you save a lot of $$$
3. Price comparisons are much easier when you shop online as well.  I often do a quick online search to see average prices for the item to determine which store has the best price and also as a means to ensure the discount is worth the purchase price.

I use a number of websites and apps to also assist me in my shopping strategy.  They are listed below.  Shopkick, The Find, and FatWallet also have their own apps which are really awesome when shopping.

The last but not least aspect to shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday is budgeting.  This is something that I know can be hard to do when there are so many amazing offers but it is important.

It is important to set maximums for the overall spending that might occur and more specifically on each individual item.  For instance, last year I really wanted to upgrade to a wireless printer that was compatible with my iOS devices, but I set my maximum to spend at $100.  Throughout the day on both days, I saw numerous printers that fit every requirement other than the $100 after waiting until the end of the day on Monday I found the perfect printer in my price range.  

Having strict guidelines on the budget is not only good for you fiscally, it also makes finding the right item for the right price that much sweeter.  So before spending a penny, sit down and really consider what you can afford and then plan accordingly.