With Black Friday right around the corner, now is the perfect time to start getting ready for the PERFECT shopping day. Now I KNOW what you’re thinking… “It’s the middle of the school semester and I ain’t got time to shop!”, trust me, I get it. However, these TOP SECRET strategies will make your shopping experience not only efficient but also affordable. School is stressful and you deserve a break and what better way to treat yourself than some therapeutic shopping. Make the most of your Black Friday with these simple steps:
Start researching NOW
There is a lot you can do to prep for Black Friday before the day itself arrives. Make sure to research online beforehand to know exactly what you want to buy. Browse through different stores’ websites and compare the prices between competing brands. The end goal is to always get the best price possible! Also, don’t forget to know what is new and recent – you don’t want to buy last year’s model when the new one is available.
Make a list and stick to your budget
The last thing we need as poor university students is to overspend. Stick to the budget! Simple enough right? Think again! When Black Friday rolls around, it’s easy to go nuts and cop everything that has a sale tag on it. Don’t do that! While doing your research, make notes of the appealing deals you want to check out on the big day. Don’t get me wrong, buy what you want, but first and foremost, buy what you need.
Follow brands on social media
The most useful yet toxic way of networking in the 21st century. But don’t worry, in this case, it is 100% useful! One of the best ways to find about last-minute deals or special announcements is to follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Most brands will promote deals all year-round, however, they’ll ramp up their social media presence closer to Black Friday. Most retailers promote deals year-round, but they’ll certainly ramp up their social posting around big events like Black Friday. Pro-tip: If you want to skip flipping through circulars, search the #BlackFriday hashtag and scroll through your feed.
Don’t be LAZY, go EARLY
No one likes waking up early in the morning… but sometimes sacrifices need to be made to get that last pair of red Jimmy Choo’s. Set an alarm and get to the mall early to not only snatch a good parking spot but also to check out the selection of items before they disappear! The earlier you get to the mall, the sooner you can get out!
Make a schedule
Time to pull out the handy note pad and pencil and start making a schedule of things to do on Black Friday! Decide which stores you want to go to first and designate how long you would like to spend there! Remember to be smart and efficient with your time!
Remember not EVERYTHING is really a deal
Not everything on Black Friday is really a deal! Often times retailers do not offer their lowest prices until it gets closer to Boxing Day. Therefore, always try to check the original price of the products compared to the discounted price to see if it’s truly a good deal. Not everything is always the lowest price you could get it for so don’t fall for the hype of the shopping season!
LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, be a nice customer 🙂
This is one of the simplest yet most important tips! Black Friday is a crazy time, and everyone is in a rush to get their shopping done. Stores are going to be hectic and employees are going to be stressed. Make sure to stay patient and be as kind as possible, it always pays off in the end! We could all use a little more kindness in the world! 😊
If you’ve read up to this point, congratulations! You are officially a shopping pro, it’s time to grab those bags and start shopping. But before you leave, just remember, whatever you might be going through right now, it’s nothing a little shopping can’t fix!
Sincerely,
A not-so-secret shopaholic