The holiday season is coming up fast, and so are the biggest shopping days — and most unbeatable sales — of the year. It’s fair to say Black Friday 2024 has already begun, with major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Target, Wayfair and more starting to drop deals early, and coining the term “Black November” to describe the frenzied shopping season that’s stretched from a few days to over a month. We expect the 2024 holiday shopping season to be bigger than ever before, which may seem a little overwhelming when it comes to narrowing down the best Black Friday deals available.
As you plan your holiday shopping, we can help you devise a smart strategy to maximize savings. Here’s how to really stretch your dollars this Black Friday, which officially kicks off on Friday, Nov. 29, and includes sales through Cyber Monday on Dec. 2.
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Do your research: Julie Ramhold, consumer analyst with DealNews.com, advises shoppers to make a list of items that they’re interested in buying, then note their current prices. That way, you’ll be able to spot a great Black Friday deal as soon as you see it. Adds Kristin McGrath, shopping expert with RetailMeNot: “The most important thing is to know exactly what you want. What specs you want in a TV or laptop and which headphones you want.” According to Kristen Gall, retail and shopping expert for Rakuten, “Consumers shouldn’t assume that just because a product is discounted that it’s the best price out there. I recommend checking for the product on one to two other retailers to compare the regular price with a potential ‘sale’ price to ensure you’re actually getting the best deal.”
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Check out holiday price guarantees: Have a few favorite retailers? “Check to see if they’re offering any kind of price match or guarantee for Black Friday,” Ramhold says. The idea is that you’ll know whether you can request that your preferred retailer match a competitor’s price during a Black Friday event, or if you’ll have to shop the competitor instead. “And if there’s a price guarantee in place, it’s good to know that if you buy something early on and it later drops in price, you’ll be able to receive a price adjustment for the difference,” Ramhold adds.
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Try to get cash back: “In addition to doing a price comparison, you can ensure you are getting the absolute best price by stacking deals to maximize savings,” Gall says. “Cash-back services like Rakuten allow you to earn cash back on top of sale prices. For extra savings, plan to apply promo codes or digital coupons, and use a rewards credit card to extra earn points or cash back.”
Nordstrom
Yes, you read that right — there’s a pair of Zella leggings (beloved by thousands upon thousands of Nordstrom shoppers) for just $21 right now, a savings of 65%. These soft, stretchy bottoms are moisture-wicking and have a high waistband that won’t slip down no matter how much you move around. Bonus: they have a hidden pocket to hold your phone, credit card or ID.
“I’ve had these for almost a year now and I cannot say enough good things,” shared one Nordstrom fan. “They’re never too hot, they truly do wick sweat away and never ride down. They’re better than my Lululemon Wunder Under leggings.”
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
