Managing your budget on Black Friday

With everything from games consoles to barbeque grills tempting you from the shelves – and rock-bottom prices available online too – it’s all too easy to overspend on Black Friday. By following these budget planning tips you can manage your budget better and be able to make the most of the sales without going too far.

Your Black Friday budget planning checklist

Make the most of the biggest shopping day of the year with our checklist. Make sure you:

Make a plan

Write a shopping list. If you’re buying Christmas presents for your loved ones, come up with a gift idea – or at least a dollar limit – for each person. It’ll help you stay away from impulse buys. Think of a back-up for each gift you have in mind, just in case you can’t find the one you really want.

Know your limits

The more time you spend in store, the more you could be tempted by deals for products you might not need. Reduce the chances of this happening by setting a time limit for your shopping. You made a shopping list for a reason – so stick to it!

Bring only the money you need

You’ll find it easy to stick to your budget if you only bring as much money as you’re prepared to spend. If you want to limit your spending to $200, just bring it in cash, or better still, load it to a Prepaid Debit Card.

How to save money on Black Friday

Here are some other ways how to save money on Black Friday:

• Use your Shopper’s Card – digital coupons are just like paper coupons, only easier. They’re loaded directly onto your Shopper’s Card, and redeem automatically at the counter when you’re paying, saving you money.
• Check the returns policy – double-check how long you have to return an item. It will make it a lot easier to return or exchange it if you need to, and then you won’t be stuck with an unwanted item.
• Shop with a friend or partner – while it can be fun to shop with someone close to you, it’s also very useful – as you can work together to find the must-have items on your list and not risk being tempted by impulse buys.
• Leave the kids at home – it’s likely to be extremely busy wherever you’re shopping on Black Friday, so it might be a good idea to leave the kids at home. That way they won’t be able to ask you for extra items as you’re going round the store.
• Stock up for the year – Black Friday isn’t just about buying the latest and greatest gadgets for Christmas. Take advantage of discounts on everyday essentials and you could spread savings across the year.

Get Black Friday right and you’ll be able to stay within your budget while making the most of the deals on offer – setting yourself and your family up for Christmas and the year ahead.