Black Friday has become one of the most anticipated shopping days of the year and is more of a sport nowadays. Here are some tips for making the most of your Black Friday excursions!

1.     Make a list

Being organized is key to scoring big this Black Friday. Make a list of big-ticket items you’re searching for and the store selling the item. Use this list as a map to guide you throughout the night/early morning.

2.     Check online ads & paper ads

Everyone knows the Black Friday newspaper ads are the best, but since our culture has moved more into technology, many forget there are also great online Black Friday advertisements! Check store websites for deals while you browse through the Thanksgiving paper! 

3.     Coupons

Black Friday sales are great, but coupons make them even better. If you’re a regular coupon fanatic, save up the coupons that don’t expire before Black Friday and use them to save even more. 

4.     Be familiar with price-matching & return policies

Many stores offer price-matching services. For example, you find a newspaper ad for a $500 62” TV at one store, but you find another ad for a $400 62” TV. If you research store price-matching, you could walk away with the lower price regardless of the store.

Becoming familiar with return policies is a big deal. Looking at these prior to buying will save a lot of time and hassle. Sometimes, in the heart of Black Friday, you’ll make a purchase that doesn’t seem logical or necessary. You may want to return it, but it turns out the store you purchased it doesn’t allow returns. Finding this information out first will help determine what you buy. Add notes to your list about what stores allow returns and which ones don’t make things easier.

5.     Earn extra rewards

Black Friday is all about saving money and getting great deals. Many financial institutions have reward programs to help you do just that. For example, using a Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union debit or credit card as a signature-based transaction will earn uChoose Reward points that can be redeemed for cash, gift cards, and more!

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Black Friday is an interesting day, but there are many deals and adventures to be had for the determined! Happy shopping and happy saving! Enjoy!