Make Your List Before Black Friday (So the Sales Work for You)

Black Friday falls on November 27 this year, with Cyber Monday right behind it on November 30. The deals are real, but they only save you money if you were going to buy those things anyway. A deal on something nobody on your list wants is just spending. The best way to win Black Friday is to finish your list before it starts.

Step 1: List everyone you're buying for

Write down every person, including the small gifts: teachers, hosts, coworkers and neighbors. A complete list keeps you from buying "one more thing" for someone you already covered while forgetting someone else.

Step 2: Add gift ideas for each person

Aim for two or three ideas per person, with any details you'll need at checkout: sizes, colors, the model they mentioned, or a link to their wishlist. Having a backup idea matters on Black Friday, when the first choice may sell out.

Step 3: Set a budget for each person

Decide what you'll spend on each person before you see any prices. When a deal pops up, the only question is whether it fits the budget, not whether it's a good price in general. Not sure where to start? Here's a simple way to split one total across everyone.

Step 4: Check normal prices now

Look up what the items on your list cost today. A "40% off" tag means little if the price went up the week before. Price tracking tools and wishlist apps can alert you when an item really drops. If you know the normal price, you'll recognize a real deal in seconds.

Step 5: Shop the list and mark things off

When the sales start, shop from your list first. Each time you buy something, mark it purchased and record what you paid, so you know exactly how much budget is left for everyone else. Keep your receipts together too, since holiday orders can come with different return windows.

One rule for impulse finds

You'll still run into deals you didn't plan for. That's fine, with one rule: it has to be for a specific person, and it has to fit their remaining budget. If it doesn't pass both tests, leave it in the cart.