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Smart Spending Tips for Black Friday Shopping

Smart Spending Tips for Black Friday Shopping

Jenius Bank Team
Updated 10/30/2025
• Originally Published 11/8/2023
LifestyleMoney Management
Woman shopping on her laptop.
Smart Black Friday spending may help you stay on track with the rest of your finances. Holiday sales seem to start earlier and earlier each year, but many people still wait until Black Friday to do the bulk of their gift shopping—perhaps because they believe they will get the best prices that day.It’s easy to be swayed by the Black Friday ads and the potential for great deals on that day, both in person and online. But it’s also important to stay vigilant with your spending. Black Friday ads are meant to create a sense of urgency with your purchases. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement.Let’s take a look at some tips for managing your spending, and your mindset, as you approach Black Friday so that you may also stay on track with your finances for the other months of the year.

Key Takeaways

  • Black Friday is one of the largest sales events of the year, and retailers often try to lure shoppers with advertised deals.
  • Creating a gift list and Black Friday budget before Black Friday could help you stay focused and prevent impulse purchases
  • Comparing prices beyond Black Friday using price tracking tools and checking historical trends may help you get the best value of the year

Why Is It Called Black Friday?

Before we dive into a spending chat, here’s a little Black Friday trivia. In business, when a company is profitable, they’re operating “in the black”. For many years, it was said that the term “Black Friday” came from retailers’ accounts going into the black due to increased customer spending on the day after Thanksgiving. Retailers have a lot of motivation to get you to spend. It could be an opportunity for you, and it may be fun to shop in the frenzy. But don’t lose your head (or your wallet).

Black Friday vs Cyber Monday

While Black Friday has been the most popular shopping holiday for decades, Cyber Monday has grown significantly over the years. The main difference between the two days is how people shop. Black Friday tends to draw more people to stores’ physical locations (and those sales generally extend to online as well), while Cyber Monday sales events tend to be online only. Chances are, you’re accustomed to shopping on both days and purchase in-person and online. These holiday spending tips are meant to help in any shopping scenario!

Preparing for Black Friday Shopping

Before heading out to the stores or going online, it’s important to plan what you’re willing to spend. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you approach your shopping.
  • Create a list: Think about who’s on your gift list and what types of gifts you may want to purchase. Once you have a list, sticking to it could help you avoid impulse purchases or spending beyond your comfort level.
  • Budget ahead: Take the time to create a holiday budget to help you stay on track when shopping. Having a plan in place may allow you to be more intentional about your spending and avoid big surprises (and panic) when the bills arrive.
  • Set money aside: The more you save throughout the year for your holiday shopping, the less you may need to rely on credit cards to cover your purchases. Consider placing money in a dedicated savings account for holiday purchases only.
  • Watch for ads: Keep an eye out for Black Friday deals early on to help you decide which stores are worth visiting. Many stores now offer deals days or even weeks before Black Friday. Scoping out the deals ahead of time could help to stretch your budget.
  • Be mindful of return policies: Usually holiday purchases have longer return periods, or at least timeframes that extend beyond the holiday season. But be sure to double check before you select an expensive gift in case you have second thoughts.

Post-Black Friday Money Management Tips

Once Black Friday is over, continue with the smart money practices you’ve established.
  • Tracking: Keep your receipts, both physical and digital. Not only does it help you track your spending, but it also could make returns easier.
  • Planning: If you used a credit card or buy-now-pay-later to make purchases, take note of when payments are due and what is owed. Making those payments in full by the due date helps to avoid interest charges or late fees. Consider setting up automatic payments to help you avoid missing due dates.
  • Consolidating: If you end up spending more than planned and have multiple credit card payments to manage, you may want to consolidate your debt. This could help you lock in a lower rate and reduce the number of payments to track.

Is Black Friday Really Cheaper?

Retailers are known to offer great deals on in-demand products on Black Friday, but that doesn’t mean the shopping holiday offers the lowest prices of the year. It largely depends on the retailer and the items you’re looking for. Believe it or not, roughly 98% of the prices you see on Black Friday are the same or higher than they are at other points throughout the year.1 You may find it better to compare prices throughout the year on items you’re considering purchasing. Price comparison tools, including browser extensions, could help you track prices and see historic peaks and lows to help you time your purchases just right.That said, if you need to replace an item like a TV or computer that typically is part of the best deals (electronics are Black Friday faves), replacing those items on Black Friday or Cyber Monday may be a good choice.

Final Thoughts

Black Friday is one of the most popular shopping days of the year and is often seen as the beginning of the holiday shopping season. Making a plan may help you take advantage of Black Friday deals while keeping your spending on track.