For many years, we would go out later in the morning, after all the good items were gone. And honestly, it sucked. This was before all the Internet shopping options we have today.

If you really want to shop Black Friday the old school way, here are some tips:

1. Check Out the Ads:

Your local Thanksgiving Day newspaper will be stuffed like your Thanksgiving turkey with ads, coupons, and circulars. This will be your number one source to local Black Friday savings. It will also help you organize your day to maximize savings, since many stores offer special discounts that are time specific. Example: Receive an extra 10 percent off if you shop before 11 a.m. Most ads are online early as well.

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2. Do Your Research Before Friday:

If you are hoping to scoop up a deal on Friday on a big-ticket item, go ahead and get your research out of the way as soon as possible. A bad product is a bad deal no matter how cheap it costs.

3. Compare Prices:

Utilize price-comparison Internet shopping sites such as PriceGrabber.com to assist you in comparing product prices.

4. Look for Early Bird Shopper Discounts:

Early bird deals do not seem to exist anymore. The playing field has been leveled and shoppers can usually score what they want.

5. Black Friday freebies

This year, several stores are offering pretty great freebies for standing in line at 5 am. For example, Lowe’s is offering a big bucket of products and Target is offering free gift bags to the first 100 shoppers.

So will I be in line that early? No. My crazy Black Friday days are long past me!

6. Bring the Ads:

Many stores offer a “lowest-price” guarantee; however you may be required to produce a copy of the exact product being advertised for less. Most local retailers will not meet Internet prices even when the product is advertised on the same company’s website, but it cannot hurt to try.

7. Know the Store Policies:

Knowing the store policies on returns can help you determine where to buy. A previous trend of extending “return days” during the holidays is being seen less this year. Many retailers are including restocking fees and shorter return deadlines. Almost all of the major retail chains have clamped down on requiring receipts for returns and exchanges, and many keep a database of individuals who tend to abuse return policies.

8. Using a Credit Card Instead of a Debit Card Can Pay Off

Many credit card companies entice consumers with free benefits, which include extended free warranties, return protection and sale price protection.

Warranty Coverage — Your credit card company may offer to double or triple a manufacturer’s warranty for free on a product you purchase — a good option instead of purchasing a service contract that costs money and has a shorter duration period.
Return Protection — A credit card company may guarantee a refund on a product up to 90 days where as the store may not. This is becoming particularly more important as retailers stiffen the allotted return days.
Sale Price Protection — Some of the credit card companies will offer this protection and refund you the difference if a product you buy is marked down further than the price you paid within a certain time frame (usually 60 days).

Whether You Shop Online or In Store, Here Are The Best Deals To Look For:

TOYS:

The hottest toys tend to sell out in Oct. and Nov. Black Friday sales. Amazon, Target, and Walmart tend to have the best deals.

Be aware that more toy sales can pop up, especially right before Christmas.

See the deals!

GIFT CARDS:

I have noticed that stores like Target, Amazon, Meijer, and other national retailers will especially offer free points for buying gift cards. Or free with purchase gift card offers.

I recommend checking this page for deals from Amazon.

LINENS AND BEDDING:

According to Deal News, you should wait until January for the big sales:

If you’re in the market for linens of any kind, hold out for white sales in January, when you’ll find towels, sheets, pillows, comforters, and other bedding on sale. In addition to better savings at that time, updating your bedding is a great way to start the year off fresh!

FURNITURE:

If you need new furniture before the holiday company, right before Thanksgiving might not be the best time to buy furniture. Besides less inventory and delivery dates being pushed back, try to shop earlier in the year, like over the summer.

That’s in part because these types of purchases tend to favor in-store rather than online shopping, so customers can pick products that are comfortable for them. And that kind of shopping favors holiday weekends — without the family obligations that typically come with Thanksgiving. Fortunately, you have lots of opportunities to shop; you’ll typically see the best prices during Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day weekends.

POWER TOOLS AND HARDWARE

If you are thinking of getting Dad a new tool kit, some stores like Lowe’s or Home Depot do offer free with-purchase deals. But it might be better to wait until June.

Instead, pick up tools and hardware around Father’s Day in June, when we’ll probably see a ton of deep discounts. Can’t wait that long? Don’t worry — we’ll likely see sales early in 2024. Look for power tool deals in January, as well as over Presidents’ Day weekend, and in March as retailers try to draw in people planning summer home improvement projects.

I find that the home improvement store Menards, a Midwest staple, has the best deals on tools, home improvement, and more.

BEAUTY PRODUCTS:

Bath and Body Works has amazing freebies and sales before and on Black Friday weekend.

Sephora and Ulta offer tons of free purchase deals too. Sign up for their clubs and emails before the holiday.

JEWELRY:

Jewelry stores tend to have limited stock during the holidays. So if you are looking for something specific, it might pay off to shop earlier.

Whether you’re looking to pick up an engagement ring or are just shopping online for a holiday gift, you shouldn’t count on finding the best deals on jewelry during the Black Friday season. Jewelers tend to be busy during the holiday season, so in addition to modest discounts, you may have to contend with limited stock.

FITNESS EQUIPMENT:

This won’t come as any big surprise but January is a better time to buy that new treadmill or other fitness equipment.

That makes January the best time of the year to find sales on exercise equipment and accessories, as well as sign up for the gym. But don’t wait too long to put your New Year’s resolutions into practice, because sales are likely to dry up by February.

TVs and ELECTRONICS:

TVs tend to be the top seller in the Black Friday ads, even though how many TVs does one need? And it might not be the right time to buy a TV, depending on the brand:

Black Friday is one of the best times to buy TVs and other electronics, but you need to be careful about what you add to your cart. Retailers may push great prices on low-end, off-brand screens that seem like a real bargain, but they may not last through next Black Friday. And then you’ll be right back to shopping for a new set. Even at the lowest prices, an off-brand TV may not be worth it — particularly if you think you’re picking up the latest tech.

HOLIDAY DECOR:

Over the past 20 years, I have bought holiday decor, typically on clearance after the holiday. But recently, Target has been offering some really cute holiday items and I have gotten a few things. Costco is also a great source of cute and trendy holiday decor.