We all know it's coming. It's been lurking around corners for weeks now. It's been on your mind-- tempting and taunting you to spend, spend, spend! Well, beware, because that time is nearly here. You know what's I'm talking about---Black Friday!
Every year I used to go storming out the door with my coffee, wallet and credit cards in hand, whether I had the money (or the brains) to do so or not. I would fight for the parking spots and squeeze and inch through aisles just to load up my arms with as much as I could, as there was not a shopping cart left in sight. And oh my aching back! Not this year, folks!
Part of the pull of Black Friday are "the deals." A lot of it, I have discovered, are marketing ploys. But many of the deals can also be found online from the comfort of your own home. Perhaps you don't have to run into Target or JC Penney. Search for those "must-haves" online, unless, of course, you crave the madness!
I will also admit, there IS something slightly magical (or maniacal) about being out on Black Friday and shopping till you drop. Don't ask me what it is. Maybe I just felt proud that I could actually endure the insanity, kind of like a survival complex or something. But this year, I am going to overcome that temptation. I will not step over my financial bounds this Christmas. I'm sure many of you may have more financial freedom than we do right now, being that we are still on the job hunt and are holding tight to every penny. But please stop to consider what your personal goals and limitations are when shopping for the holidays. Make it a gift to yourself NOT to dive head first into debt!
If you are planning on heading out to the looming sales on November 27, then plan ahead. I posted a photo link to a "Black Friday" forum site on the right margin and above that discusses the best deals out there, and perhaps even some insider tips or advice on aspects to beware of. Why not take some time to plan out your shopping excursions and set a specific amount of CASH that you will bring with you?
Next, if you are planning on shopping online that day, be sure to use coupon codes to the max! I love
Retail Me Not, a super site that will show you online promotional codes to just about any store you wish to shop at. Then you simply enter that posted code during online checkout.
Another tip would be to shop THROUGH sites that allow you to actually MAKE money while you shop! Yes, you read that right! There are two great sites that I like to use for this purpose, and you usually get cash back, just for signing up! Here's the scoop:
- Ebates: When you sign up, you will get an automatic $5 sent to you via check, as cash back. When you're ready to shop, you simply enter the name of the store you'd like to shop at through their site, and they will supply you with the top online coupon/promotional codes for that store as well as give you more cash back (a set percentage per store) just for purchasing! I just signed up about 1 month ago and have made $7.01. That's not bad for my minimal shopping budget! I can find the sales, deals and get money back! I love it! Give it a whirl!
- Shop At Home: Get 150,000+ free online coupon codes, printable grocery coupons, restaurant coupons and more at ShopAtHome.com! When you click the link above, like Ebates, you'll get an automatic $5 sign-up bonus. And then you type in the names of places you want to shop and codes, promotions and cash back amounts will automatically be applied.
Even with these two online shopping savers, I still compare between the two of them. For instance, there may be a promotion one week at ShopAtHome.com for 4% cash back at Kohl's. But Ebates.com may have a deal of the week where they are hosting a 6% cash back at Kohl's. This is just an example, so do your homework to see where and how you can maximize your savings, especially on big purchases!
Happy, careful shopping everyone. Feel FREE to comment below on ways you plan to save and hold your budget line for the holidays!
