Black Friday Sales: Key Things To Consider Before You Indulge In A Last Minute Shopping Spree

Black Friday, which traditionally marks the start of the Christmas shopping season, is a time for great deals and offers worldwide. Though the festival originated in the US, during the last few decades, retailers across the world have caught on to the trend of Black Friday sales – especially online. 

Some online retailers may limit the Black Friday deals to the weekend. However, knowing the shopping frenzy that catches on during the festive season, many retailers in India now offer discounts and deals throughout the month, some of which will culminate on December 2 (Cyber Monday), as well. 

As tempting as the Black Friday deals might seem, last-minute minute shopping can often lead to overspending or regretful purchases. Here’s how you can navigate this frenzy like a seasoned buyer. 

Always Have A Budget: It’s best to plan a budget before you dive into online deals. You can start by setting a limit and allocate a budget for discretionary spending – apart from any mandatory purchases you might need to make. 

Add All To Cart, Buy Only Some: Even for last-minute purchases, it is good to have a shopping list. Say you want to buy beauty products at massive discounts on Nykaa’s Pink (Black Friday) Sale. Without having a list of what all you may want to buy, you may end up gathering more than what you might actually want or can use. The strategy? Add items to the cart and carefully examine and delete the ones you know are impulse buys rather than things you actually need. This way you can narrow down your list down to ‘discretionary essentials’ while making the best of sales. 

Know The Tricks Of Retailers: Retailers are masters at creating urgency during sales. Limited time offers, countdown clocks, and ‘only a few left in stock’ messages tap into shoppers’ fear of missing out (FOMO). Upon careful examination, you will find that not all discounts are as good as they seem. Retailers may even raise prices before the event to make discounts appear larger. 

Tools like price trackers and comparison websites can help you verify whether you are truly getting a good deal during the sale. 

Time It: Black Friday deals are not confined to the day itself anymore. Online stores, such as Amazon, Nykaa, and Flipkart start their discounts a week before Black Friday (sometimes as early as the start of November) – extending them in Cyber Monday. Spreading out your shopping over the period will help you avoid frenzy shopping and evaluate deals more carefully. 

Keep an eye on flash sales which typically come when the deals are ending. If you time it, you can purchase that item you have been keeping an eye on at the lowest rate or at a good discount. 

Pause Before You Buy: If you spot a deal that wasn’t on your list, consider giving yourself 24 hours to decide before making the purchase. A cooling-off period, even during online shopping, will help you avoid emotional purchases and ensure that you only buy what you need.