4 tips to save more and survive this Black Friday

It's Black Friday! With inflation higher this year than in years past, the world is gearing up to possibly break spending records in 2023. According to Adobe Analytics information shared by USA Today, 2022 Black Friday raked in $9.12 billion in online sales alone, making it the highest spending year to date.

Adobe Analytics also projects this year to outpace the last two years with more than 4% growth.

If you're one to make big purchases online or in stores this year, consider these tips to save even more this shopping day and season.

Have a plan

If you haven't already done so, set your budget and decide which items are most important as well as which ones are likely to go quickly.

If you're shopping in-store, map out your route to minimize wasted travel time. Then, after that, make a backup plan. There may be a few times when the deal you want won't be available. Don't worry, though, as retailers often mark down online items comparatively online for Cyber Monday.

If you have other friends who are also planning to shop in-store, split up the group. You can shop electronics while they shop toy deals. You could also visit entirely different stores on opposite sides of town just in case you miss your big ticket item.

Price check

Don't automatically believe that every discount you see is the best deal.

Price trackers such as Honey, CamelCamelCamel, Keepa and SlickDeals are great ways to keep an eye on the price changes over time. This could help you determine if your Black Friday deal is actually a deal or not.

You can also price match at several big retailers. According to RetailMeNot, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, Dick's Sporting Goods, Home Depot, Kohl's, Lowes and more. Each store has different competitors they're willing to match, but it doesn't hurt to try!

Shop virtually

Many retailers offer the same deals online that they do in-store. You can do your Black Friday shopping from the comfort of your own couch while wrapped in a blanket and sipping hot cocoa. You can even choose the store pick-up option if you want to get out of the house and people watch for a little bit. Just make sure that you only make purchases from trustworthy sites.

Shop after the holidays

When Christmas is over and the tree comes down, stores start discounting their leftover merchandise. You could get a few things before the holiday, but if you truly want to save money, wait until everyone else has what they wanted.

According to a Reader's Digest article, you can expect lots of deals from stores like Bed Bath and Beyond, Target, Walmart, Wayfair and even Amazon.

You can also save on next year's Christmas decor and wrapping supplies after the holiday, as most of it usually is marked down significantly.

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