Black Friday is one of the most chaotic days of the year and Cyber Monday can leave internet shoppers frustrated and sometimes, let’s face it, on the brink of tears! However, after all of the trouble you can end up saving quite a bit of money while putting a pretty good dent in your holiday shopping list. Black Friday and Cyber Monday save you a lot of money as is, but there are a few things you can do to maximize those savings and get the best possible deals. With a little know how, this Black Friday and Cyber Monday will be your most successful year of shopping yet. So, make sure your shoes are tied and put on your game face because this year’s biggest shopping day is right around the corner!

1. Don’t Fall For Flashy Ads
A lot of stores will try to draw you in and get you to spend a lot of money using big flashy signs. There’s a science behind this, so don’t feel bad if you’ve fallen for it in the previous years. A lot of stores use this method because it does actually draw people in, but it also distracts. Sometimes, there’s some fine print to those big signs, so don’t be fooled by their efforts. Look on the sign to see if there’s anything else written on it before you jump right in. You should also check its price tag and if possible its original price tag. This will help prevent you from falling for sales that have only reduced an item by mere cents. It’ll also help you learn the conditions of the sale. Sometimes you have to turn in a rebate or other tasks to get it for the correct price. So, make sure you know what’s what before you get a not so pretty surprise at the register.

2. Seek Out Coupons
Just because it’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday doesn’t mean there isn’t coupons to be found! So, you may have to do a little more searching to find them and you may not get a very positive reaction when you hit the checkout counter with them, but you’ll be saving money and that’s all that matters! Before you begin to make a shopping plan for this big event look online at your favorite stores to see if there’s coupons to be had. You should also check the local ads because there’s guaranteed to be quite a few hidden amongst the shiny ads. If you’re planning on shopping online for Cyber Monday then you may have even more coupons to choose from! Remember, the more you find the greater the discount, so put those skills to work.

3. Free Shipping Deals
A lot of stores offer Black Friday deals online, not to mention the wide selection of sales that are offered on Cyber Monday. These let you shop from the comfort of your home so you have plenty of time to research your project to make sure you’re getting a top notch deal. On the other hand, despite the fact you’re saving some money, you’ll also lose some due to shipping cost. This can be totally frustrating when you go to check out. So, instead of feeling burned by your online shopping experience try to find some free shipping deals. A lot of stores will automatically add this to your cart if you spend a specific amount of money. Other stores will offer coupons for shipping, but you may have to be a subscriber to get this deal! So, before you get your hopes up about certain items, make sure the shipping isn’t going to leave you paying even more for your items!

4. Early Bird Deals
If you don’t mind waking up a little early then you may be in store for some major savings. Many stores will open their doors very early in the morning. The customers that choose to shop at such an early hour often get an extra percentage off of their purchase. This incentive may have you waking up at the crack of dawn, so make sure to hit the sack at a decent hour. Some stores will also offer special swag bags for those that visit early. However, these bags run out pretty quickly so the earlier you’re at the store the better! You may even find that some of the items can be used as gifts for others, thus saving you even more money. If you’re doing a lot of online shopping then you’ll love the early bird deals. These will show you what’s going on sale before it’s available so you can make sure you’re online and ready to go before the product is sold out. Some of the best deals are made available in the wee hours of the morning too, so hit your computer as soon as you can to save big!

5. Shoppers
Today, technology can be one of our best friends, so don’t get caught shopping without it! There’s a lot of special apps designed for shopping that really come in handy during this intense shopping period. To begin with, you should grab a few price comparison apps. These will allow you to scan or type in an item to see who has the lowest price, thus allowing you to catch the best deal every time. Many of these apps will even let you know if the item is in stock which can really help you decide if it’s worth traveling the distance to get it. A lot of your favorite stores may have also developed their own apps. These will offer you information on sales, savings, comparisons and even flash sales that may happen while you’re in the store. The best thing is, sometimes you may even get discounts on the items just by showing digital coupons the app provides you! So, don’t forget your phone at home because you won’t get this kind of quick information any other way!

6. Smaller Scale Items
One of the biggest problems with Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping is many people believe they have to shop for the big ticket items. Although, sometimes these may seem like the best deals you might be surprised as to what else is out there for the picking. Often, big ticket items like televisions or computers may seem like a big deal but you can also find those sales throughout the years. Plus, a lot of people feel the urge to buy these larger items just because of the price tag and not because it’s needed in the home. So, unless you absolutely need one of these items you may want to take a look around at some of the other deals that will save you huge. One of the best sections to look at is clothes because you can often get some winter must haves for mere cents! You may also want to check out tools, perfume and toys!

7. Walk
When you’re Black Friday shopping the best thing you can do is walk as much as possible. Parking may take you quite some time to do which is a waste of gas. So, if you’re driving to do your shopping try to pick a spot and stay there as long as you can. This is much easier if you’re heading to a shopping mall, but if not try to choose a space that will allow you to visit several stores within the area. By doing this you’ll be able to get a lot more shopping in. Plus, the time spent walking from one destination to the next is a great time to relax, keep track of finances and check off items you’ve already purchased from your list.

8. Mail in Rebates
There’s a pretty good chance you’re going to find several items you’ve purchased require a mail in rebate. Sure, you already got a pretty good deal on it, but don’t let that rebate go to waste. It will only take a couple of minutes to fill out and usually shipping is already paid for. Many people don’t bother with rebates which is a shame. It may take a few weeks for your refund to come in but when it does it is like Christmas all over again! Don’t settle for paying more than you have to when it just takes a little more effort to get back the money you were promised! Some rebates can even be done online, so if you have questions about them when you purchase the item make sure to ask!

9. Keep the Receipt
Shopping during Black Friday and Cyber Monday is fast paced and sometimes we don’t have our concentration caps on. Don’t worry though! With a receipt in hand you can take back items that don’t fit, aren’t of high quality or even items you’re not sure why you picked them up in the first place! When you’re working your way from store to store make sure to keep all of your receipts together in a safe place so you don’t have to worry about losing them. This way, all of your uh-oh purchases can be remedied before it’s too late. You may also think to grab some gift receipts too so your friends and family can return or exchange items that might not fit or suit their taste. The receipt plays a huge role in holiday shopping, so don’t be caught without yours! You may also get coupons on many of your receipts which will help out immensely too. Some will even come with surveys that will allow you free items or special discounts. So, don’t crumple up anything until you’re absolutely sure you don’t need it anymore.

10. Take Care of Your Needs
One of the most important aspects of Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping is to take care of your own needs! Most important of all, you need to keep yourself hydrated. Make sure you stop to take water breaks every once in a while so you don’t feel sick as the day passes. You should also make a lunch break too, or bring small snack bars with you to combat hunger. Before you head out for shopping make sure you’ve gotten plenty of sleep. It may not seem like a way to save money, but when you’re not at your best you don’t make the grandest of decisions. So, keep up with your needs so you don’t end up buying a lot of things you don’t need nor want! You should also make sure you’re comfortable because often people who stress out their bodies too much tend to get into accidents, feel sick or end up fainting. No one wants this any time of the year let alone the holiday season, so keep safe!

This Black Friday and Cyber Monday are coming up fast, so make sure you’re ready to make some incredible purchases! With these tips you’ll be able to save even more money and may even get a little stressed out as you battle the crowds and slow websites to get the items you need. So, have fun, be safe and remember to keep these simple tips in mind while you’re checking out the latest items!