Don’t Dread Black Friday

Black Friday is just one week away!

If Thanksgiving is the day your diet goes out the window, Black Friday can be the time when your budget goes the same way.

While it’s one of the best times of the year to pick up a bargain or two, getting prepared, doing research, making a list, and checking it twice, can save you a lot of post Black Friday regrets and a shrinking bank balance.

Here are five tips to help you make it through the day with your best buys in hand and your budget still in pristine shape-

Plan Today

Use this Friday to do all your planning.

What is it you want to buy?

Write down everything that you feel you need.

Make a note of things you’ll be buying as gifts.

Research

Use this weekend to take your notes from Friday and research prices.

What is actually a good buy?

Sometimes we get fooled by a Black Friday sale thinking it’s a bargain when actually it’s just a regular price.

Set Yourself a Limit

If you don’t have a budget in mind, there’s a good chance you’re going to overspend.

What can you afford this year?

Is it $100, $200.

Write it down, keep it in front of you as you go online or in your wallet if you shop in stores. Every time you open that wallet to pull out a credit card or write a check, that amount is going to be staring back at you.

Another idea is to get a prepaid credit/debit card and load it with your budget amount.

Shop In One Place

If you’re shopping on line and there’s a deal like free shipping for orders over $50 or $100, see if you can buy all your purchases there. It’s not always possible but it’s better to spend your money on actual items than postage costs.

Reward Yourself

Budgeting is just like dieting, sometimes you have to reward yourself for a job well done.

If you stick with your budget, follow your plan, how will you reward yourself?

Some bubble bath for a nice long soak in the tub?

A scone or something delicious from the homemade bakery down the road?