5 shopping mistakes to avoid this Black Friday

5 shopping mistakes to avoid this Black Friday

Black Friday is the time of the year when you can get amazing deals and discounts, unlike the ones you find all your round. People flock to the stores or sit at their desks armed with their credit cards and wishlists, and some score the deal of a lifetime while others miss out on the things they want. However, you can get the most out of Black Friday by avoiding a few common mistakes.

Common mistakes

“Shop till you drop” can be taken a bit too seriously around the holidays, especially on big sale days. On Black Friday, shoppers go all out to make the most of exciting deals on products they have been eyeing all year round. If you are one of them who wish to buy a lot of things but are pressed for time, here are a few mistakes you can avoid to make your shopping experience better:

Overspending

When met with unbelievable discounts on all the products, it is crucial to stick to a reasonable budget. Spending way too much money on products you don’t need is the biggest mistake to avoid during a Black Friday sale. Excessive expenditure can negatively affect people’s finances and even place unnecessary stress on them. So, it is important to prioritize the products you need, set a budget, and even allocate a fixed amount you can spend on every product. This will help you have a good yet practical shopping experience.

Not making a list

The Black Friday sale is a massive event, so you are likely to see discounts on every product. If you walk into a store on the day without preparing for it, you may get confused and spend more than you had planned. Often, holiday shopping without a list can lead to unnecessary pressure that can easily be avoided with proper planning. So, always make a comprehensive list of products you want to buy during the sale. The list can also indicate the places to find these items and the expected discount on the product. This will help you get done with the shopping a lot faster and get everything you need.

Giving in to the fear of missing out

When you see amazing deals and promotions the entire holiday season, you can feel like you would be missing once-in-a-lifetime kind of offers. However, shopping driven by the fear of missing out can lead you to spend an extravagant amount on a product you probably don’t need. Instead, you can look at cheaper alternatives that get the job done or hold off on that purchase if it’s not something you need.

Shopping alone
Black Friday shopping can get intense, especially in big stores where you can find hordes of people. If you go in alone, you might have to stand in the long checkout line by yourself and move through the crowds. Shopping with a friend can make things easier. You can even run to the nearest aisle while your friend keeps an eye on your cart. You can always use the company to remain organized and deal with the frenzy of a sale.

Falling for scams

Shopping online or using credit cards can expose shoppers to unforeseen problems that might put their funds or personal information at risk of being hacked or misused. If you are shopping online, you must practice caution and buy products from official retailer websites that are safe and reliable. Entering credit card information on an unsecured website can expose people to information theft and fraud. Further, avoid using multiple credit cards so that you can cancel a single one if you detect fraud. It is equally important to monitor your account activity to detect unauthorized transactions.

Don’t get carried away by trying to get the most out of discounts. Being prepared and practicing caution can make the whole shopping trip enjoyable and successful.

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5 mistakes to avoid to improve your Cyber Monday shopping

Cyber Monday is the best time to shop online. Shopping websites are ripe with deals and discounts on everything under the sun. You could shop for electronics, clothing, home appliances, pet products, and more. That being said, shopping online is not always an easy task, and it’s especially not easy on Cyber Monday. So, here are five things that you should avoid doing to enhance your online shopping experience on Cyber Monday. Shopping just because there are deals One of the biggest mistakes you could make on Cyber Monday is simply purchasing things because they are on sale. This will completely wreck your budget. Not to mention, buying something that was not on your priority list could mean that you may have to skip out on something that was actually on your Cyber Monday shopping list. This could be because you’ve spent all your money or missed the deals slot while shopping for something else. It can be very tempting to buy many different things on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. But, it is up to you to ensure that you stay the course and only buy what you’re looking for. Shopping on websites you have never used before Another big no-no when shopping on Cyber Monday is shopping on websites you are unfamiliar with. This can help protect you from scams and fraud and ensure that whatever you’re purchasing is the right product and gets to you on time. Do not fall for any slick new websites you have never used or heard of. Stick to your usual shopping websites or use the actual brand website if you’re shopping for certain electronics or clothing. If you do want to use a new website to shop on Cyber Monday for any reason, you can check out their online reviews and complaints. You also need to ensure that the website is protected. One of the ways to do this is to check the URL. If your website is secure, it will have “HTTPS” in the web link. Shopping without setting a budget When shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it is easy to knowingly and unknowingly overspend. This can lead to you having to cut down on items you did not want to purchase or spend a lot more out of your pocket. Maxing out your credit card now can only mean that you have to pay for it later. If you use your credit card for shopping, you may also have to pay interest on your future payments. This will mean wiping out all of your savings on the Cyber Monday deals. Shop with shipping costs in mind Cyber Monday deals are usually available online. This means that you may have to spend on shopping costs. But, of course, you can find ways to work around these costs. Some brands and shopping websites will offer free shipping if your purchase total exceeds a certain value. In such cases, you can find multiple products and items you want from that particular seller. This will allow you to unlock the free shipping option. This is better than getting a better deal on another website but spending more due to shipping costs. Shopping without online cashback portals, plug-ins, and apps Cyber Monday is all about finding the best deals and discounts online. Many online applications and plug-ins, such as honey, can help you find the best coupons for a particular website. Some of these even apply the coupon code so you don’t miss out on the savings. Many of these applications also offer you cashback or rewards that can be redeemed later when you use them. This means you won’t only be saving money due to the Cyber Monday deal but also making money for using these applications. Some other must-dos for Cyber Monday shopping are paying attention to the deals and discounts, being unprepared for shopping deals, and not sticking to a shopping list.

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5 top online stores for early bird Black Friday deals

Most individuals create a massive wish list of items they want to pick during sales, and one of the most anticipated and much-awaited is the Black Friday sale. Traditionally on this day, retailers across the country lower the prices on a range of products. Now, however, rather than anticipating the day of the sale, you will be glad to know that these online shops have a ton of early bird offers already up for grabs.JCPenneyWe recommend heading to JC Penney's website for early deals on home products. There's an ongoing Labor Day Home Sale where home furnishings are available for up to 50% off on select products. The website also offers an additional 30% off with a coupon on the sale list. Also, customers can get free delivery when they shop for more than $75. To make it more interesting, they also offer an additional 20% off on select fashion wear, home, and lifestyle products when you use the code "COOLNOFF." Customers can also look at the Back To School sale section, where they can find discounts on a range of products for kids. You can find a range of attractive offers on electronics on JC Penney's website.WayfairFor deals on furniture for your home or garden, we recommend visiting Wayfair's online store. The brand is running a Sale-A-Thon campaign for its 20th anniversary, where customers can get discounts up to 45% on outdoor furniture. You can also find accessories for your bathroom that are up to 50% off. Moreover, Wayfair has also reduced prices by up to 50% on bedding essentials and seating for the living room. To enhance the look of your home space, check their wall art deals listed at up to 60% off. And also, find up to 50% off on lighting products under the Lighting Clearance section. Apart from furniture, Wayfair is also an ideal spot to buy faux plants tailored for various budgets.NewEggWhether it's laptops, desktops, or other electronics for gaming, NewEgg is an online store you must visit. On their website, you can find powerful gaming PCs at unbelievable prices under the Intel Gamer Days section. Some of these deals come in bundles, including game titles and other gifts with each purchase. The website also features top Wifi 6 Systems for as low as $249.99 and high-performance desktop RAM chips for as low as $55. Apart from these gadgets, the website also features deals on electronics like televisions, software, toys, drones, and smart home technology.B&HB&H is a popular hub for content creators to find the best deals. The website offers technology such as drones, professional camera equipment, creator laptops, lighting, and professional audio equipment. We recommend looking at their Specials category for storage gadgets like SSDs for as low as $208.99. You can also find deals on stabilizers where you can save up to $160 on purchases. That's not all, B&H is also a hub for those interested in smartphones, tablets, and their respective accessories. You can buy a Sony smartphone for as low as $798. Furthermore, B&H has a Used Department section where you can purchase pre-owned quality equipment at lesser prices.Macy'sMost people enjoy following the latest fashion trends or wearing something new every month. Macy's is a popular hub where you can find the latest outfits for men, women, and children. You will also be able to buy these items at discounted rates. Currently, the website features a limited-time deal where you can get 15% off selected beauty products and 25% off the chosen clothing line. There's an additional 10% to 15% off select regular-priced, sale, and clearance stock when you use the code "ULTIMATE." The exclusions and T&C’s of these offers are available on the Macy's website.

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