Can you afford it? That is the FIRST question you should be asking when evaluating Black Friday Deals.
A deal is only a deal if you can afford it… Keep on repeating that to yourself as all the Black Friday deals start popping up on your feed, and you pass all those enticing ads.
Especially if you are going to do some shopping, you need to make sure you can resist the urge for all those Black Friday deals. Not everything is a good deal, and not everything can you afford.
Here are some tips to help you curb your Black Friday spending and not blow your budget. Of course, you don’t want to be a gift to the credit card companies this Black Friday weekend.
1. Make a List
Make a list of what you need and stick to the list. For example, spending $16.97 on Rubbermaid Storage Containers is great if you need storage containers. Still, if you never use storage containers, then it’s just $17 in the garbage even though it’s technically a good deal.
2. Stick to a Budget
Decide how much you want to spend and don’t spend more! The same advice that always applies is even more applicable for Black Friday. Make a budget and stick to it! There is great pride to be had in not going over your spending limit.
3. Budget for Splurges
Allot some money for splurging. How much will you spend on impulse shopping and on fun things you see and don’t really need? It’s okay to splurge if you have the cash to back it up.
4. Don’t Rely on Rebates
Don’t count on rebates. Rebates can bring your purchase price down by a lot but don’t buy something unless you can afford to cover the entire amount. Rebates have a nasty habit of being lost, forgotten, rejected, or taking an endless amount of time to arrive. So if you can’t afford to pay for the whole thing- don’t buy it.
5. Use Cashback
Use all the cashback sites and apps that you can. Sign up for store loyalty programs. Use them to get some money back or some coupons for purchases you may need later. When you make big purchases, you can get a nice chunk of money from cashback sites. Check out a list of all the cashback sites and apps here.
6. Resist the Pressure
DON’T FEEL PRESSURED. With all the advertising and marketing dollars spent over the next few days, it’s hard not to get caught up in the pressure of needing to buy stuff.
It can get to the point where you feel as if you “missed out” by not getting any “good deals” and being left out of all the action, BUT there is nothing to gain by shopping for the sake of shopping.
Don’t wake up tomorrow feeling like you spent all your money on things you don’t need and won’t use. Many of these items will probably go on sale again at one point, and if you are frugal and stick to your budget, you can pay full price for these items at a later point.
 
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A Dime Saved
Hi! I am a millennial mom with a passion for personal finance. I have always been “into” personal finance but got inspired to start my blog after a period of extended unemployment. That experience really changed the way I viewed my relationship with money and the importance of accessible personal finance education.