Shopping is one of my favorite happy things. Saving money is my forté. Black Friday has been one of my favorite parts of the year since I was 16. I prep. Hard. So I feel like I should share my tips.

This year is a lot different than any other year, though. Deals have been going on for weeks now, and it's not about going out at midnight [or even on Thanksgiving] to snag the best deals. It's been a weird adjustment for me... but there are still some things that I am doing no matter what.. and you should too!

Sign up for Rakuten [if you're new, you get an automatic $40 cash back right now]. Put it on your phone and as an extension on Chrome. Attach your credit card for certain stores, as well. Each time you're about to purchase something, make sure you activate Rakuten so that you get anywhere from 2-15% cash back. Last Black Friday weekend, I got an extra $163 back from Rakuten, ON TOP of the sale prices! This is some of the best of what's offered as I write this:
Activate all of your Bank Amerideals [or cash back deals through your bank/credit card]. Even if you don't think you'll shop at a store... just activate everything that's nearby. You never know.
Check your email for coupons. It doesn't happen often, but you don't want to miss out on them later!
Make a list of things you need. Whether it be things you "need" for yourself, gifts for people, or things you use throughout the year that you can stock up on.. making a list makes it easier to search for the best deals. I normally Google what it is and compare prices, plus cash back on Rakuten.
Start wishlists or "likes" on all of your favorite clothing stores. I've been working on this for a month now... regularly checking places like ASOS, Lulus, Forever 21, and even Amazon... and just saving items I like. This weekend, I'll go through my "likes" and add to cart if they're on sale. I'll hold if they're not.. because chances are, they will be later.
Make a list of good deals. Look, we're all going to buy something we didn't plan to buy.. it is what it is. I make sure that I go through all of the ads and coupons, and gift guides by solid websites, and save a list organized by store.

I'll update this page with things/places that I'm definitely shopping later.. until then, happy prepping! [and if you have any more tips, PLEASE SHARE! I want to know everything!]

Elizabethany

About Elizabethany