With Black Friday coming up and millions of consumers waiting to shop, here are some tips to help you get the most (and spend the least) in your Black Friday experience.
1. There’s no need to splurge. Black Friday can bring out the shopaholic in everyone with the great deals and prices. Coupons and low prices may tempt you into buying things you don’t need. Why not get that $10 toaster? It’s only $10. But ask yourself if you actually need it. If you don’t need it, don’t buy it.
2. Check your credit card before you go out. It’s easy to go out of control with your credit card, so know what your limit is and how much money you want to spend. If necessary, impose your own credit limit. Even though you can spend $1500, you may only want to spend $650. Pay attention to how much you are buying and stop when you’ve reached that amount.
3. Keep all your receipts and know the retailer’s return and exchange policies before you start purchasing. Return policies vary from store to store. Be sure to know yours, so you don’t end up having to pay that extra shipping fee or having to keep something you don’t want.
4. Research good deals ahead of time. Not all deals are as good as they sound, so make sure that you are actually paying what you want. Bring coupons and ads with you, but don’t fall for all deals you see.
Black Friday may be a financial struggle for some people, but if you’re smart, you can start the holiday season debt-free!
