Best buys for your Black Friday shopping

Black Friday (celebrated yearly, the day after Thanksgiving) is known for its amazing deals on anything from bathrobes to exercise equipment. On average, Americans spend $148.5 billion between Black Friday and Cyber Monday every year. While the average spend is $450 per person, Black Friday can cause even the best budgeter to get carried away by a great deal.

Some people may believe that Black Friday festivities are all about buying toys for children and treating yourself to unnecessary luxuries, but making Black Friday purchases can be an incredibly savvy way to buy necessities and practical purchases that better fit into your budget.

We’re breaking down some of our favorite practical purchases for a couple of different types of shoppers below.

Best buys for the new homeowner

Homeownership often means more space for guests, a new frontier for decorating exactly how you’d like, and a newfound responsibility for keeping your beautiful abode in tip-top shape.

Black Friday often brings doorbuster deals on expensive purchases such as vacuums and steam cleaners that normally cost upwards of $300. If you have room in your budget, try and tackle these purchases during Black Friday weekend so you can make you new place homey, without breaking the bank.

• Vacuum
• Steam cleaner
• Spare bedroom bedding
• Area rugs
• Bath linens

Practical Black Friday purchases for the bargain shopper

I don’t know about you, but I personally don’t get excited to spend my hard-earned paycheck on socks. If you’re someone who likes to spend minimally on Black Friday, why not stock up on some necessities that need replacing? Here are a few ideas.

• Socks
• Undergarments
• Pajamas
• Winter jacket
• Boots

Apartment purchases for folks fresh out of college

Graduating college can be the most exciting time of your life…it can also be the most expensive. From down payments on apartments to paying off student debt, staying within budget while funding your new life can be tricky. Maximizing Black Friday offers to buy kitchen essentials is a great way to slowly step foot into adulting at a more affordable price.

• Pots and pans
• Tupperware
• Cast iron skillet
• Cell phone
• Laptop

Thoughtful purchases for the family food prepper

There are so many gadgets that make cooking for a crew faster and easier than ever before! Not only will these kitchen appliances make meal prep easier, it could also save you from spending extra cash on going out to eat.

Another money-smart move is to buy gift cards to grocery stores you shop at regularly. Many national grocery stores offer gift card deals; for example, if you buy $100 in gift cards, you get a $25 gift card free. Most families will be able to use up these gift cards in just one month, and it is like getting 25% off your grocery purchase.

• Grocery store gift cards
• Instant pot
• Crockpot
• Kitchen mixer
• Blenders or food processors

Before you hit the stores on Friday morning at 4:00 a.m., sit down and create a list of the things you need to buy so that you can stay within your budget, and leave feeling like you conquered your shopping session.

Want more holiday shopping tips? Check out these articles!

• How to budget for big expenses
• How much are Americans spending this holiday season?
• Protect yourself from fraud during the holidays
• 5 tips for safe online shopping this holiday season

Claire Hegstrom is an advocate of the credit union movement through and through. Passionate about financial education, she approaches money conversations from a candid and inclusive space focused on growth and awareness. As our credit union founding father, Ed Filene, once said, “Progress is the constant replacing of the best there is with something still better.” Claire hopes reading Money Mentor will help transform your life from the best to even better.