The biggest shopping event of the year is closer than you think, and there are some things you can do right now to get ready for Amazon’s Black Friday. Many Black Friday sales on Amazon will begin much earlier than that (some have already begun!), so start preparing now to make sure you get the best deals in the coming weeks.
Some of the things you should do before the sales begin are pretty obvious, but you may not have considered everything on this list. If you want to be as prepared as possible, take the time to go over these steps for making the most of the upcoming sales. We'll walk you through several simple ways to prepare for Amazon's Black Friday to make it as stress-free as possible.
- Set a budget (Now!)
It's never too late to start saving for Black Friday and the holiday gift-giving season. It's also a good idea to set a total spending limit, and then track your spending during the event. It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of new deals and lose track of how much you're spending, but self-accountability is essential for avoiding a massive overspend.
- Make a List
Black Friday shopping can be impulsive, so a more effective strategy is to identify purchase targets ahead of time and make a list. Determine the absolute maximum amount you can afford to pay — and be prepared to stick to it. Make a list of everyone you want to shop for and every gadget you need. Make room for incidental items such as last-minute gifts or Amazon’s tempting suggestions.
- Check Prices Before Black Friday
Checking prices before Black Friday may feel like a waste of time. You're probably thinking, “why bother looking at prices beforehand?” But the truth is that by checking prices for the items on your list now, you'll have more confidence in the deals you see on Black Friday. Doing your research now also allows you to determine what is a good deal worth purchasing during the event or whether a "sale" price isn't too far off from a product's regular going rate. Assessing the prices will also help you with your budget and savings goals.
Some retailers have pushed early Black Friday deals in recent years, you might be lucky to get these deals ahead of time, avoiding Amazon's crashes. Amazon is offering a sneak peek at some of the best deals here
- Shop the Early Sales Now or Expect Shipping Delays Later.
Since Black Friday sales don't begin on Black Friday if you can lock in a low price now, not only will it help spread out the cost, but it may also help you avoid a significant shipping delay or missing out on a deal entirely later on. It may be worth snagging things you need now for the sake of a few dollars' difference between now and Black Friday. If you don't need something right away, you might be able to wait a little longer.
Price comparisons are essential if you want to ensure you're getting the best Black Friday deals.
- Bookmark Stores & Save Links on Amazon Ahead of Time
If you are going to shop on Amazon, you should use bookmarks. When sales go live, bookmarking a product page ahead of time can often save time and energy searching for your favorite product.
- Plan Delays in Shipping
It's a good idea to factor in shipping delays when planning your shopping deals. Amazon will notify you of ordering deadlines to ensure that your items arrive in time for the holidays. But it's still a good idea to plan for shipping delays, so you're not rushing at the last minute to come up with an alternate plan.
If you're ordering very close to the holiday, you might want to plan on spending extra for expedited shipping if it's in your budget. This increases the chances of your gifts arriving on time.
- Enable Personalized Deal Notifications:
Amazon customers can subscribe to receive deal alert notifications based on their most recent Amazon searches and items viewed. To create deal alerts, they simply need to visit Amazon's Deal Alerts on the app between now and the event. Members will receive push notifications about any available deals once the Black Friday event begins.
- In the Prime Section, Stock up and Save:
From Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday, Prime members save 25% on select everyday essentials from Amazon brands' Stock Up & Save program when they spend $50, helping them in preparing for holiday entertaining.
- Avoid Making Impulse Purchases
When you're saving a lot of money on the shopping holiday, it's easy to think that a few extra items won't make a difference. However, this way of thinking will ruin your Black Friday budget! Avoid any so-called "freebies" that come with a minimum threshold you weren't expecting, such as a free tote with a $75 purchase.
Finally, even if you think you got a good deal on something, don't be hesitant to return it.
