If you have managed to miss any of the
"Black Friday" marketing efforts aimed at getting people in stores early and often on Friday, count yourself lucky! That is not to say that their are not some good deals to be had but at what cost - dealing with crowds, sitting in traffic, searching for parking? All so that RETAILERS can get THEIR accounts "in the black" before the end of the year. What about YOUR accounts? Who is waging massive marketing campaigns on behalf of YOUR bottom line? If you ARE planning to shop on Friday, these tips will help keep your account "in the black"...
1. Buy what you mean to buy - Don't be taken in by the "special deals" on items that you are not planning to buy anyway. Know what you are looking for before you leave home and buy it when you get to the store. If it turns out that you get a sale price, GREAT! If not, you haven't lost anything.
2. Leave your credit cards at home - It is VERY tempting to buy more than you normally would when "sale prices" and the spirit of the holiday season is all around you. With a credit card in your hand, you will be much more likely to be unintentional about your spending on that day. Buy only what you can afford to buy THAT DAY and you won't have to dread the bill that is coming later on.
3. Skip the extras- Remember that salespeople are trained and paid to talk you into extras that cost money. Don't open store accounts for an extra % discount and don't pre-pay for extended warranties that you probably won't use. If you are concerned about the performance of a product you are buying, wait to make the purchase until after you have done some research. The money you will save on the cost of an extended warranty will more than cover any sale price you might receive.
4. Compare prices- If you know the items you are buying, use the internet to compare prices before you leave. This will give you some idea about what it should cost. It will also help you to know whether the advertised prices for your local stores are really giving you a good deal. It may also help you to pay close attention to
ads and sales circulars in Thursday newspapers. Many retailers are extending sale prices through the entire Thanksgiving weekend. If that is true for items on your list, you can wait until later to shop.
5. Eat before you go- Aside from having to wait in line at restaurants and drive-thru lanes, it is much more cost-effective to eat leftovers from Thursday than it is to pay to eat "on the go".
No matter what your Friday plans, be safe and be thankful!
