Black Friday 2024: Your Ultimate Guide to Scoring the Best Deals
What is Black Friday?
Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, has evolved into one of the biggest shopping events of the year. Whether you’re looking to save money on holiday gifts, upgrade your tech, or simply snag some fantastic deals for yourself, Black Friday is the perfect time to do it. Here’s everything you need to know to make the most out of Black Friday 2024.
Tis the season…to be shopping, fa la la la. Tis the season to spend money…fa la…wait…why pay full price if you don’t have to!?
The holiday season is here and Black Friday and Cyber Monday entice us to open our wallets.
I know I don’t want to pay full price. And I don’t want you to pay full price either.
I am going to spill the beans on my tips and tricks to help you find deals to save money and how to get money back when you are shopping for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and beyond.
And stay to the end as I share the best holiday deals I found.
As with many different companies, websites, and/or apps, they may change their program or terms at any time.
At the time of this publication, all the information was to the best of my knowledge.
You will want to go directly to the company’s website for the most accurate, up-to-date information.
This post may contain paid referral and/or affiliate links.
If you choose to sign up or purchase through my links there is no additional cost to you.
I only include affiliate links for products and services I believe in and would recommend to my friends.
Please see my full disclosure for further information.
Why Shop on Black Friday?
Black Friday offers significant discounts across a wide range of products, from electronics and appliances to clothing and toys. Retailers slash prices to attract shoppers, making it an ideal time to make big purchases or stock up on essentials.
Tips for Black Friday Shopping
- Plan Ahead: Research the deals that are expected to be offered. Many retailers release their Black Friday ads weeks in advance, so you can plan your shopping strategy.
- Set a Budget: It’s easy to get carried away with all the great deals. Set a budget to avoid overspending.
- Make a List: Write down the items you want to buy and prioritize them. This helps you stay focused and ensures you don’t miss out on the best deals.
- Compare Prices: Use price comparison tools and apps to ensure you’re getting the best possible deal. Sometimes, the “doorbuster” deal might not be as great as it seems.
- Use Cashback and Coupons: Websites like Rakuten and Honey offer cashback on purchases, and many stores have additional coupons that can be applied on top of Black Friday discounts.
- Shop Online: Avoid the crowds and shop from the comfort of your home. Many online retailers offer the same or even better deals than in-store.
Plan Ahead
Let’s expand on planning ahead.
The more you plan ahead and prepared you are, the less stress you will feel and the more money you can save.
Grab my Christmas Budget Planner to stay organized and on top of your Christmas Budget.
Best Categories for Black Friday Deals
- Electronics: Look for significant discounts on TVs, laptops, smartphones, and gaming consoles. Major brands often offer their best prices of the year.
- Home Appliances: From kitchen gadgets to major appliances like refrigerators and washing machines, Black Friday is a great time to upgrade your home.
- Fashion: Clothing, shoes, and accessories are heavily discounted. It’s an excellent opportunity to refresh your wardrobe without breaking the bank.
- Toys: Perfect for holiday shopping, toys see substantial markdowns, making it easy to check off your gift list for the kids.
- Beauty and Personal Care: Skincare, makeup, and grooming products often have special Black Friday sales. Stock up on your favorite brands.
- Subscriptions and Services: Many companies offer deals on subscriptions for streaming services, online courses, and more.
Top Retailers to Watch
- Amazon: Known for its massive Black Friday sales, Amazon offers deals across all categories. Keep an eye out for lightning deals and daily specials.
- Walmart: With extensive discounts both online and in-store, Walmart is a top destination for Black Friday shoppers.
- Best Buy: Ideal for electronics, Best Buy offers significant discounts on TVs, laptops, and more.
- Target: Target’s Black Friday deals span electronics, home goods, clothing, and toys.
- Macy’s: For fashion, home goods, and beauty, Macy’s offers substantial Black Friday discounts.
When to Shop
While Black Friday this year will be on November 29, 2024, many retailers start their sales early, with some deals available throughout November. Cyber Monday, on December 2, 2024, also offers excellent online deals, especially for tech products.
How to Get Cash Back from Black Friday Shopping
Ibotta
Ibotta is what I believe to be the most popular cash back app.
It is a free app that gives you cash back in the form of rebates from shopping trips from groceries, apparel, travel, and online shopping.
Using the cash back rebate function is the most popular way this app is used. You simply find the store you shopped at, look through the available offers, and add them to your list. After you complete going through all the offers you can then redeem them by scanning your receipt.
Another way is to visit the app and choose which retailer you are shopping with and visit the retailer’s site through the Ibotta app and earn up to 10% cash back.
Ibotta also has a browser extension you can install and get cash back when you shop online from your computer.
Your account gets credited within 24 hours. Once you hit $20 you can cash out to PayPal, Venmo, or your choice of many gift cards.
Check out my full post about Ibotta or sign up for it today and get saving.
Rakuten
Rakuten, formally Ebates, is a site you don’t want to shop without.
Once you sign up for an account, you simply search for the store name you want to shop at and click on the link to visit the store. Rakuten will activate cashback if the store you are shopping is a partnered store and just shop like you normally would.
Rakuten sends out payments every three months as long as your balance is over $5.00. If not your balance will carry over until you have over $5.00 and payout on the next 3-month cycle.
Typically you can get $10 for signing up and making your first qualified purchase but right now you can get a $40 welcome bonus after your first qualifying purchase.$40 for shopping!!!
Pro tip: Tell your friends and they will get $40 and you can make another $40 for each referral that makes a qualifying purchase.
Dosh
Dosh is another cash back app that is a little different then the other two I mentioned.
With Dosh you download the app and link your cards. You then shop like you normally would and Dosh scans your purchases against their partnered stores and deposits the cash into your wallet.
Once you have accumulated $25 you can then transfer the money to your bank, PayPal or Venmo account.
It is one of those things you can set up and forget and make money just for normal shopping.
You can sign up in the Dosh app and start getting automatic cash back with qualified purchases.
Groupon
Groupon is a discount site that has local deals such as restaurants, salons, attractions, entertainment, retail, and much more. It also has products that you can order for a discount such as personalized signs, blankets, clothing, kitchen gadgets, photo books, electronics and accessories, bedding, magazine subscriptions and so much more.
Businesses use Groupon to attract new customers that they might not have heard of them otherwise. The customer wins with great savings and the business wins as they have new business coming in the door.
Pro-tip: Sign up for Groupon first and then use Rakuten to shop. Get a great savings and cash back.
I just bought this for my husband while I was writing this post as I couldn’t pass up the deal they have.
Black Friday is a fantastic opportunity to save money on big-ticket items and holiday gifts. With a little planning and smart shopping, you can maximize your savings and enjoy the thrill of scoring great deals. Happy shopping!
Now, onto the Holiday Deals!!
These are some of the deals I have scouted out for you. If you are looking for something particular leave me a comment or send me an email and I will dig and see what I can find.
I will update this page as I find deals throughout the season. So be sure to bookmark this page and come back, follow me on Facebook, or sign up on my email list (bonus: get access to my freebie library and other subscriber goodies).
The Frugal Work at Home Mom Shop
If you didn’t know, I have my own shop. I only have a few items available right now (with so many more ideas coming your way soon) but I do have holiday budget planners including a Christmas Budget Planner. Grab your copy now to make the holidays less stressful and budget friendly. Use coupon code BlackFriday to save 25% off your purchase.
COMING SOON…I will post deals as I can.
