One of the busiest shopping days of the year is right around the corner. Millions of Americans are expected to converge on shopping malls and retailers on the day after Thanksgiving, also known as Black Friday.
And with it, NBC 7 Responds is here with some helpful tips on how to navigate the busy shopping extravaganza.
- First, and most important: Do your research.
Have a general idea of what items you want to buy. Read product reviews. Compare prices for those items beforehand to find the right store to shop at.
According to Miro Copic, a Professor of Marketing at San Diego State University, putting in the extra work could pay off in the long run.
"It doesn't take a lot of effort to save yourself a lot of money," said Copic. "With just a smartphone you can match any product you're looking at and find better deals."
Another way to comparison shop is to sign up for email alerts. The downside is it means more emails in your inbox and the potential for scams, but doing so could be a big money saver.
- Second, make sure you know the terms of the deals. Some stores limit the number of certain items you can purchase at one time. Some retailers also won’t return discounted items.
- Third, don’t forget to get gift receipts. It will make it easier to return, if the recipient doesn’t like the gift.
Lastly, and most important: make a budget and stick to it. You don’t want to take any new debt from the holiday season into the New Year.
