PHOENIX (AZFamily)— Shoppers, get ready! Black Friday is happening early this year, and many retailers are launching early sales this weekend.
“That time between Black Friday and Christmas is shorter this year, so they need to extend the holiday shopping season by offering the sales earlier,” said money-saving mom and budgeting expert Andrea Woroch.
Though the early deals may sound good, they could lead to some budget-busting spending.
“There are going to be free shipping minimums. You’re going to have to spend more to save more, and that can cause you to overspend, so really just be careful when you are approaching these deals and sales,” Woroch cautioned.
To help you budget, be like Santa. Make a list, and check it twice.
Apps like Christmas Gift Tracker or Santa’s Bag may help. Enter everything you buy, and you’ll know when you’ve hit your spending limit.
Use an app called Flipp, which puts weekly circulars and deals into one place so you can easily see what’s on sale. You can also set price tracking alerts with a tool like Karma.
“This will alert you when something goes on sale, and you can actually use it after you buy because if it goes on sale further, then you would know to get that price adjustment,” Woroch suggested.
Sign up for retailers’ newsletters and mobile alerts for extra discounts.
“That will get you up to 25% extra savings,” Woroch said. “You can unsubscribe as soon as you use that coupon code so there’s really no commitment. It’s a great way to get a discount without feeling like you’re being bombarded.”
Cashback tools like Coupon Cabin may also help extend your buying power.
“Let that cash back accumulate in your account, and then send it to PayPal and use it to pay for those last minute gifts you buy in December,” Woroch said.
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