In case you didn’t know, I am an avid Black Friday shopper. Over the years I have utilized every way to save on that day from shopping online to camping out in the snow at Target. It is a fun and time-honored tradition for me. Just because I love a bargain doesn’t mean I overspend and put us in debt for this deal-mania, though. Instead, I have set rules in place that I follow every season. Now I want to share how to actually save money on Black Friday with you as well as hook you up with some free moolah to shop with!

Start Now

Don’t think that you are forced to spend Thanksgiving Day planning for a successful Black Friday haul. Many major stores “leak” their ads early on purpose. Take advantage of this. My favorite database for this is Brad’s Black Friday. He and his team have been doing this for years. They know how to verify leaked ads and can spot a fake from a mile away. If you are relying on Black Friday deals to stay on budget this year then start planning now.

Do Your Research

When you see a deal for an item on your Christmas list make sure that you know it is a good deal. Companies pay people a lot of money to get you to part with your hard-earned cash. Check out what items are going for in stores now and compare to the deals in the leaked ads. If you’re only saving a few dollars off of the regular price is it really worth the fight through the chaos?

[bctt tweet=”Find out how to actually save money on Black Friday and enter to win some shopping cash! #blackfriday” username=”diyadulation”]

Make a List and Stick to It

This is the number one best thing you can do to save on Black Friday. Make a list of the exact items you want to pick up. While you are shopping, do not deviate from that list. The chaos of Black Friday encourages you to buy now! This is made even worse with many deals being available online. Shopping online prevents you from seeing any of your money leaving. It also keeps you from seeing the items you purchase accumulate.

Brave the Store

I know that this turns a lot of people off of Black Friday. When you think about the points made above it makes sense that you will save the most money in store. However, in addition to those points, here are a few more reasons to visit the stores on Black Friday:

It forces you to prioritize. Many stores open at the same time and you have to decide which store has more of the items you are looking for.
A lot of deals on big items such as game consoles and televisions are only available in the store (although I recommend skipping these items in most cases… read more about that here).
You get tired. When you are on your feet for hours hauling items and waiting in line you will lose stamina. Being tired will send you home with more money in your pocket than shopping on the couch will.

Now are you ready to win some free cash?! Enter below and don’t forget to share with your friends!

[bctt tweet=”Want to win some free cash to shop with this Black Friday? Enter today! #giveaway” username=”diyadulation”]

WELCOME TO THE FALL BLACK FRIDAY GIVEAWAY!

Do you have a long holiday shopping list and need extra cash? Well, I’ve got good news for you. 24 bloggers have come together for the Fall Black Friday Giveaway! We don’t want you to stress over holiday shopping, so we’re giving away $335 in Paypal CASH! So what are you waiting for? Enter using the giveaway form below! This giveaway has ended. Thanks to everyone for entering!

Meet the Hostesses

Erlene • My Pinterventures Chelc • Inside The Fox Den Christene • Keys to Inspiration

Kim • Made In A Day Megan • C’mon Get Crafty Sherry • Olives-n-Okra

Leslie • Lambert’s Lately Emily • Our House Now A Home Amanda • The Kolb Corner

Brooke • Re-fabbed Shirley • Intelligent Domestications Brittany • Balanced Frugality

Lorelai • Life with Lorelai Emily • Two Purple Couches Alli • An Alli Event

Marie • DIY Adulation Dee • Meatloaf and Melodrama Holly • Pink Fortitude

Cindy • Little Miss Celebration Sara • Twelve on Main Vineta • The Handyman’s Daughter

Marilyn • Marilyn’s Treats Andrea • Waldorf Salad & Cottage Fries Paula • Holly Jolly Holidays

ONE WINNER WILL WIN $335 PAYPAL CASH!

Giveaway ends November 16 11:59pm PST, open to US and Canadian residents, ages 18+. Winner is subject to eligibility verification and will be announced within 72 hours of giveaway close. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: The winner has 48 hours to respond or an alternate winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way administered, sponsored, associated, or endorsed by Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, or Facebook., or Facebook.

This year you can tell that Amazon is trying to make up for the huge disappointment that last year’s Prime Day brought consumers. You may not have checked out the deals this year because last year’s deals were reminiscent of a warehouse garage sale. If you haven’t you are missing out because they are stepping up their game and bringing you deals on items that are not only useful but actually great deals. To help you out in your search, this post will be updated throughout the day to help you find the best deals of Amazon Prime Day in the categories that matter to you. In addition, catch my tips for using online deals to make your life easier below.

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission. Read the full disclosure here.

Easy tips for using online deals to make your life easier and find the best deals of Amazon Prime Day 2016 in the categories that matter to you!

[bctt tweet=”Easy tips for using online deals to make your life easier + best Prime Day Deals!” username=”diyadulation”]

Tips

Saving money only works if you have a plan. Don’t go spending your hard earned money until you choose a focus and set goals. If you don’t do that first, you will be wasting money. Here are some ideas to help you get focused:

Prepare for the Holidays – These deals are a great chance to get an early jump on your holiday shopping. This is my favorite way to utilize these kinds of sales. Check out the gift planner on our VIP Page before you start so you can keep track of all of your purchases. (Not subscribed yet? Sign up here for access to your VIP library of free resources.)

Get Organized – This year there are tons of options to help you save on getting organized. If you’ve been Organizing Your Life from A to Z, this is a great way to do so on a budget!

Prepare for Vacation – Get your family vacation ready with deals on items like air mattresses and technology. You can even find deals on items to put in your Road Trip Survival Bag for Kids (or get some of those splurge items that make life on the road easier).

Professional Development – These sales are great to build up your tools, resources, and even your skills. You can upgrade your camera and invest in a lighting kit. Purchase development tools such as a foreign language software or professional books.

Again, the best way to save the maximum amount of money is to have a clear and concise focus that you do not deviate from. These are just a few ideas for narrowing your purchase scope. Use them as starting points to find the perfect buying focus for your current needs.