Shopping Tips for Black Friday & Cyber Monday

One of the things I love about shopping is finding great deals on items I actually need. On Black Friday and Cyber Monday there will be many bargains to be had, but if you aren’t prepared and don’t know what to look for, you can end up regretting how much money and spent and what you purchased.

Here are a few easy shopping strategies to help you get the most for your money without any regrets.

Shop Around
Before making a purchase, it is always best to check different stores to see if you are actually getting the lowest price. Check various online retailers and if you have time, visit your local store to see if they are selling the item cheaper. I can’t tell you how many times I have just bought an item that was advertised as being the ‘lowest price ever,’ only to find out that I could have bought it somewhere else cheaper. One of the sites I have visited for the past two years is http://bfads.net. They always have the latest deals — and you can sign up for their RSS Feed and/or email list so you can be the first to know when they post sales info and ad scans.

Check the Return Policy
This is one of the most important things to check before you buy anything online or at a store. I have had a couple bad experiences in the last year with returns, and have learned to read over the store’s return policy before making a purchase. When reading the return policy, you first want to make sure the product you are buying is returnable. I have read a few return policies that do not allow for return of certain items. One of the most important things to check is the return days – this will tell you how many days you have to return the product. Also, be sure to read the process for making a return. This should tell you if they charge a restocking fee and what the shipping charges will be to return the item. If the merchant requires that you print out and use their label for returns, find out how much they are going to charge you for return shipping.

Finding Deals at the Mall
If you are planning to go to the mall, be sure to visit the mall website. I have found that some malls post coupons and information on sales and special events going on at the mall. If you have a favorite store at the mall, be sure that you visit their website and have signed up for their email list.

How to Save Money at the Outlet Mall
The outlets are also a fabulous place to find bargains on Black Friday (or anytime). I have listed two of the most popular outlets centers located across the U.S. and have included some tips to help you save even more money at each center.

Chelsea Premium Outlets: Be sure to join their VIP Shopper Club (it’s Free), you can gain access exclusive online coupons that you can print out and take with you. You can also print out a voucher for a Free Coupon Book to help you save even more money. To find a Chelsea Premium Outlet Center near you, go to PremiumOutlets.com/Sales and scroll to the bottom of the page to select a center in your area.

Prime Outlets Join their shopper reward program called 1CLUB. As a member, you can receive special offers and exclusive promotions and coupons. For all the details on the sale and to find a center near you, go to PrimeOutlets.com/Holiday

For more tips on saving money and time at the outlets, you can read How to Save Money at the Outlet Mall

See Also How to Protect Yourself When Ordering Online for more tips on what to check before you make a purchase.

Happy Shopping!

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