Don’t make these 12 mistakes shopping on Black Friday. In today’s blog post, I share common mistakes people make when shopping on Black Friday, so that you can avoid making them too. When you know better, you can do better.
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Don’t Make These 12 Mistakes Shopping On Black Friday
Black Friday is just a week away, and I know many people are excited for the great bargains that are to be had. But before you get carried away spending all your hard-earned money, please don’t make these 12 mistakes shopping on Black Friday.
1. DON’T forget to write a Black Friday shopping list
Before you start spending money online or hitting the high street, write yourself a shopping list of things that you actually need to purchase this Black Friday.
Taking some time to plan the things you want to purchase this Black Friday will help you avoid impulse spending and buying things you don’t actually need simply because the prices are discounted.
2. DON’T forget to create your Black Friday budget
Yes, I’m always talking about budgets on my platforms. This is because I know how important they are when it comes to staying on top of your finances and avoiding overspending.
If it’s not in the budget, and you haven’t financially prepared for Black Friday, then Black Friday is just Friday for you.
If you’re new to budgeting, and don’t know where to start, grab a copy of my zero-based budget template.This will help you to create a conscious spending plan for your money, so that come Black Friday 2022, you’ll be financially prepared for the occasion.
3. DON’T go Black Friday shopping with the kids
Shopping with the kids can be stressful enough at the best of times, so Black Friday with the kids is a big no-no.
Not only is it quite dangerous shopping on Black Friday with the kids because of how savage other shoppers can be, but also the temptation to buy more than necessary is heightened when you shop with kids. Children often don’t understand that you have a shopping list in which you’re trying to stick to. They want what they want, when they want it, so the pressure for you to buy it for them is increased if you take them shopping with you, so it’s best to leave them at home.
4. DON’T make a purchase just because it’s a good deal
Always remember that it’s only a good deal, if you need to buy it. When you make a purchase you’re not saving money you are literally spending money.
Stick to your list and don’t be swayed by the offer you’ve been convinced that you can’t afford to miss out on.
5. DON’T make impulse purchases
Impulse purchases are a big budget buster. Resist the urge to buy items that you hadn’t planned to buy while shopping on Black Friday. All those little expenses or little savings that you think you’re making, quickly add up over the course of a few purchases.
In the words of Benjamin Franklin, “Beware –little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship”.
6. DON’T assume that it’s a good deal, just because that’s what the store has told you
I remember last year when it was Black Friday, a friend of mine posted to their Instagram stories a great example which illustrated this point. He gave an example of a kettle that they were going to buy on Black Friday. The price of the kettle before Black Friday was cheaper than the price of the kettle on Black Friday.
If that person had not done their research before Black Friday, they would have been none the wiser and would have assumed they were getting a good deal, without realising that they had in fact been charged more.
Don’t just assume that it is a good deal that you’re getting at the store or online, because a lot of the time it’s just fluffy marketing.
7. DON’T forget about delivery charges
Factor delivery charges into the cost of the items you’re buying when shopping online. This is because not all companies offer free delivery. A lot of online retailers have a minimum spend for you to qualify for free delivery, so don’t make the mistake of buying extra items just to qualify for the free delivery.
If you are buying from multiple websites, you can quickly see how the delivery charges can quickly add up.
8. DON’T take your credit card with you to the stores
If you know that you are one of those people that will overspend on Black Friday if you shop using your credit card, leave it at home.
Take the power out of your own hands and do not deceive yourself into thinking that you will be able to have enough self-restraint to avoid overspending on Black Friday.
Remove as much friction as possible by leaving your credit card at HOME.
9. DON’T forget to use price comparison websites
The best way to ensure that you’re getting your item at the best price from your retailer is to use price comparison websites. There are amazing websites such as pricerunner.com and idealo.co.uk which give you thousands of the best deals from your favourite retailers online.
10. DON’T open a store credit card
We’ve all been there before. You get to the till ready to pay for your items, and a store clerk tells you that if you sign up today for our store card today you can get 20% off your purchase. It’s a trap that you don’t want to fall into. What often happens is you tell yourself that you’re going to pay it off in full by the end of the month, the end of the month comes and that doesn’t happen and the cycle of debt begins..
11. DON’T be tricked into buying lower quality products
When something sounds too good to be true, 9 out of 10 times that is often the case – it is too good to be true.
On days like Black Friday and even Boxing Day, which is more commonly celebrated in the UK, retailers bring out the low quality and low value items that they’ve struggled to shift all year.
How many times have you gone to the store on Black Friday or Boxing Day to buy an item that you’ve been waiting for Black Friday to come around to buy, only to find that it isn’t in the sale, it is still full price?
It’s happened to me more times than I care to remember. Don’t be distracted by special offers, do your due diligence.
12. DON’T pay full price for add-ons
This is a common mistake that people make when shopping for things like electronics on Black Friday. They end up paying full price for addons like batteries, cables and chargers.
The reality is, you don’t need to buy all the add-ons from the same place in which you purchased the main item. To maximize your savings, strategise as to where you can get each one of those addons on sale at a cheaper price so that you really get the biggest discount overal.
Having gone through this list of 12 mistakes that you shouldn’t make this Black Friday, I would like to know, have you made any of these mistakes before?
When you know better, you can do better. As Black Friday swiftly approaches you’re now equipped to ensure you get the most out of the day and the most bang for your bucks.
More Like This:
If you enjoyed this post, ’Don’t Make These 12 Mistakes Shopping On Black Friday’, then you will also enjoy my other blog posts on similar topics. Check them out below:
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2 – How To Stick To Budget – 12 Simple Ways
