Most of us wait for the Black Friday sale to get our hands on everything that we have planned to buy during the year. Whether it’s a new smartphone, TV, dishwasher, or laptop, this is the best time to score the best deals. But with so many deals and offers, things get tricky at times. Here are some expert tips to help you sail through the Black Friday furor.

Plan your shopping

While Black Friday is a great time to shop, no one wants to put a dent in their wallet. It is easy to get caught up in the excitement and purchase things that you don’t need. To avoid overspending, you need to plan your purchase. This means knowing exactly what you want to shop and allocating a fixed amount of money to it.

Research the offers early on

Almost every retailer and brand start advertising their Black Friday offers at least a few months in advance. To get to know these, prioritize your purchase and subscribe to the newsletters of your favorite brands. You don’t have to go on every retailer’s page. Using websites and applications such as Google Shopping, Shopkick, and Shopzilla will help you compare prices and know the discounts early on.

Use social media

Not just websites but retailers use social media platforms to promote sales, deals, and offers. Retailers also often reward people who follow and share information. Subscribe to their pages for quick alerts for incentives and promotions. The plus is that texts, social media posts, and tweets are a great way to share the offers with your friends as well.

Check store policies

Retailers don’t advertise all the offers on social media. For instance, they may have some specific deals like price-match and return policies that get you better discounts. So, it’s a good idea to keep yourself updated on this finer print on their websites. Also, get to know the return and exchange policies to avoid paying a restocking fee.

Buy only quality products

Just like you would at any other time of the year, make sure that you only buy good quality products during the Black Friday sale. You will not just get quality products that will last longer, but bigger brands also have procedures in place to deal with returned goods.

Shop efficiently

Black Friday offers bring thousands of people out to shop at the same stores as you. This means a lot of jostling that sometimes ends up in stressful situations. To avoid this, shortlist the stores you intend to shop at and visit them ahead of time. This will help you get to know where your products are displayed and will save you time searching for them on the day of the sale.

Get friends to shop with you

If you have a big shopping list, you can’t be in all the places at once. But that doesn’t mean that you need to miss out on your favorite brands and deals. Make a group of friends and family and split up. This way, all of you can visit different stores and shop without wasting time.

Sleep well before the sale day

Shopping when exhausted is no fun. To avoid tiring out too early, make sure to sleep early to wake up on time to get to the stores. This means planning your Thanksgiving meal so that you can go to bed early and start shopping early.

Explore online shopping

Retailers often offer the same deals and promotions online that they usually do in stores. This saves you the trouble of traveling to the store and jostling with the crowds. Online shoppers may also get free home deliveries, curbside pickups, and even freebies.

Know your credit card offers

Credit card companies often roll out special offers to coincide with Black Friday sales. These include special promotions and cashback offers. Speak to your company representative or subscribe to their mailing list to make your deals even sweeter.

With these tips, you should be well on your way to making the most of your Black Friday shopping without overspending or regretting purchases.