Whether you\u2019re planning to hit the streets at midnight or shop at home in your pajamas, the Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday weekend offers some of the sweetest deals of the year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As surges in online shopping<\/a> increasingly combine the weekend into one glorious shopping event, you\u2019ll want to be ready ahead of time, scoping out the deals you want to grab \u2014 and saving up enough to do it all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As you get started on your Black Friday shopping list, remember to include things you might need for your own home. Maybe the speakers on your TV have been acting up. Or maybe you\u2019ve had your eye on a new blender. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Friday is the perfect time to save money on those upgrades as well as knocking out your holiday gift list, which is all the more reason to start planning and saving today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most companies offer some kind of special incentive during this shopping-palooza weekend, and it isn\u2019t always limited to money. Yes, deep discounts are the rule, but you can also find extended warranties, higher levels of customer support, better financing terms (like 0% interest), rewards points bonuses, pricing bundles, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you\u2019re making your list, make a note of any items for which those kinds of things might matter, so you remember to compare apples to apples when it comes time to shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This seasonal shopping event is a fantastic time to save money, especially if you don\u2019t care about specific models or brands \u2014 or if you don\u2019t care where you buy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Is there a certain gaming console on your list? Sign up for Black Friday deal notifications across several different stores. Or, if you need a new HDTV and you don\u2019t care what brand it is, compare your options across different brands and<\/em> different stores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The more open you can afford to be, the more you can take advantage of everything this shopping weekend has to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you\u2019re doing your Black Friday research, remember to check whether the deals you want will be available online \u2014 on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or both. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most major retailers offer their deals almost universally online, allowing you to shop from the comfort of your own home and miss the 5:00 AM doorbuster crowd. Instead of spending money on gas and standing around in long lines, your ideal shopping list might be as easy as a few midnight clicks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you do head out to those brick-and-mortar shops, be ready to hit \u201cBuy\u201d on your phone for anything you can buy online that might sell out early, or for any deals that are only available in the online space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you\u2019re planning for one major purchase or your entire holiday shopping list, these simple tips will help you get the most out of the weekend for maximum savings!<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you\u2019re creating your list, start by brainstorming everything you can think of that you\u2019d like to explore. Then, separate those items into two categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n That will help you later when it\u2019s time to create your budget. You\u2019ll be able to start with the items you really need, then add in items from your \u201cwant\u201d list until you hit the maximum you\u2019re willing to spend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The more time you\u2019re willing to spend up front, the more time and money you\u2019ll save over that crucial shopping weekend:<\/p>\n\n\n\n As wonderful as Black Friday sales are, they\u2019re designed to make you want to buy \u2026 and buy .. and buy. Don\u2019t fall into that trap. Instead, decide ahead of time how much you\u2019d like to spend overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the best things about making your list first is that you can see everything together, helping you balance what you need to do against what you want to do. When you add a budget to that list, you\u2019ll be far less likely to get caught up in the excitement and take it too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Holiday shopping is a fun, exciting time. Instead of spending too much in the moment and regretting it later, a list combined with a budget will make sure you enjoy the fun of that holiday shopping spree from Black Friday through the entire holiday season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Creating a holiday shopping budget doesn\u2019t mean you have to save up every dime before Black Friday, but the less holiday shopping you have to put on credit cards, the more money you\u2019ll save on interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Credit cards are so easy to use that we often don\u2019t think about how they work \u2014 or how much more we end up paying for things when we\u2019re hit with high interest rates over a long period of time. By saving up ahead, even for part of that spending, our hard-earned money can go a lot farther.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you put together your Black Friday budget, think about how much you can save up between now and then and how much you\u2019re willing to put on credit cards. The right balance is different for everyone. The important thing is to make those choices intentionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Want to make it easier to figure out how much you can save up \u2014 and earn achievements for making it happen? Set up a Savings Goal in Simplifi!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Click here to learn more about Simplifi Savings Goals!<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy the Black Friday weekend is still one of the best times to save<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Save on prices, financing, upgrades, and more<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Shop across stores, models, and brands<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Grab the best of the best<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to stretch your Black Friday savings to the max<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Create your ideal list<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Start shopping ahead of time<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Decide on your budget<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Save money the easy way with a savings goal<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n