The Christmas shopping season is almost upon us, with stores opening earlier than ever this Black Friday. This kick-off to the Holiday Season isn’t anything new. In fact, Black Friday has been a shopping favorite for years. Stores have consistently offered fantastic deals on everything from computers to clothing, toys to home goods. Bargain hunters often camp out all night before Black Friday to guarantee they can begin crossing off their most desired items, but we are not recommending that.
A Cleveland Mom who just made a Thanksgiving feast, entertained dozens of family members, and had their hands full with a sleepy little one just does not have the time to stand outside all night in late November waiting for a store to open. However, if you’re like us, you still love a good deal and are counting down the days to Black Friday.
Check out our links below for awesome Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. The staff here at Cleveland Moms Rock put together a few tips and tricks to find the best deals and great Black Friday sales.
1. Make a list of what you are looking for. Prioritize the items with the deepest discounts. Try not to buy anything that is not on your list. Remember: the goal of the merchants is to get you in the store and buy, buy, buy.
2. Do your research! Go through the newspaper ads on Wednesday. Make sure you bring the ads with you (especially if you are going to a store that price-matches). Keep your receipts and note return deadlines. These Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals can be shorter than the normal return policy. Also check out the below links to see if it is even worth leaving the house. Several retailers have Web-only sales on Thanksgiving Day. A few even open on Thanksgiving, which is kind of sad, but a deal is a deal.
3. Triple check the fine print. Many retailers use great deals just to get people in the door. Things you want to look for are, in store quantity, return policy and does the model number of the advertised item have all the features you want.
4. Make sure you have childcare set up. Shopping on Black Friday is a full contact sport and not the best place for small children. If you live around Broadview Heights, the Prana Competition Dance Team is hosting a Black Friday babysitting service. Click here to find out more on how to register.
5. Keep and scan all your receipts. There are several reasons you need your receipt besides just returning an unwanted gift. Several manufactures overestimate demand and the price can go even lower. It is inevitable that out of all your purchases, you will need at least one of the receipts. Without the receipt, several merchants only give in store credit, not cash back.
6. Cash VS. Credit Cards. There are a few advantages of using cash, such as, you avoid paying the interest that will accrue if you can’t pay off the balance in full on a credit card, and it can help you stay within your budget to avoid holiday debt. The benefits of using a credit card are that it is sometimes easier to return items. Some credit cards also extend the manufacturer’s warranty and offer additional buyer’s protection. If you are shopping online, make sure that you use a Credit Card and not a Debit Card in case your card number gets stolen. It is much easier to dispute a Credit Card charge than it is to try to get funds back into your checking account. For more tips on protecting your identity, check out our post Protect Your Family From Fraud.
7. Make sure you have the right app on your smartphone. There are several price checker apps that can scan a bar code and search the internet for the best price. Amazon.com has a good one called Price Check.
8. Cyber Monday. All is not lost if you do not make it out on Black Friday, cyber Monday has great deals too.
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