Photo: Google Image
Destany Harvey
According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), 200.4 million consumers shopped during Black Friday sales this year, breaking records for the previous years.
A survey from the NRF found that $321.41 was the average amount of money spent on holiday-related items by each consumer. Clothing and accessories were the top gifts purchased at 49 percent of the purchases made.
Do you enjoy a good deal? Black Friday is the time of year for you to get out and shop for those spectacular savings. While many worry about holiday expenses, Black Friday allows families to get the gifts for their loved ones on a budget.
Expect discounts on things such as appliances, apparel, mattresses, toys, and many other items. Price matching is crucial when shopping during Black Friday to make sure you are getting the best deals.
Walmart offered a 15 percent discount for a 40-inch television while Target offered a 25 percent discount for the same product. These deals were offered online, prices varied in-store.
Price matching offers you an opportunity to get the best discount possible.
Online shopping during Black Friday offers you the luxury of shopping at home without the chaotic lines that come with shopping in person during Black Friday.
“H&M had sales up to 60 percent off online. I bought gifts for my family and myself including a new winter coat for $19.99 that was originally $49.99,” said Tamyjah Quilling, a freshman environmental science major from Belleville, Ill.
According to a Forbes article, it is important today to track your spending during Black Friday shopping. Tracking your spending can prevent overspending and help make informed decisions on what to purchase.
U.S. News & World Report offered another Black Friday shopping tip. The article suggested signing up for mobile alerts for your favorite stores that will keep you updated on the sales being offered during Black Friday. This is also a very useful tip when it comes to online shopping. Many retail places such as Bed Bath & Beyond, Old Navy, The Children’s Place, and many other retail places offer this feature.
“Fashion Nova’s mobile alerts notify me anytime there is a sale. I was notified by text that they were having a sale from 50 – 95 percent off of everything. I bought myself jeans at a very affordable price,” said Alicia Kemp, a freshman biology/pre-medicine major from Flint, Mich.
According to the U.S. News & World Report article, there are things that you should avoid buying during Black Friday. Winter apparel should be bought before retailers switch out their stock to spring inventory. Buying at the end of the season will benefit you more than buying during the season. The retailer will lower the price of the apparel to make space for the following season’s clothing.
Roderaus Moore, a former retail worker, agrees with this tip.
“Working retail has taught me how to shop smarter, especially during the holidays and Black Friday. I am a former employee at American Eagle and my job was to mark down all the clothing that wasn’t in season anymore to make
room for the following season’s clothing items,” said Moore, a freshman journalism & media studies major from Indianola, Miss.
Being smart about how you shop and spending your money wisely will make this time of the year stress-free.
