INDIANAPOLIS — The deals for Black Friday 2021 have already started. And Cherie Lowe, the Queen of Free, shared some essential tips Sunday on 13Sunrise to help you save even more money.
Black Friday shopping promises to look a little different again this year compared to those post-Thanksgiving Friday frenzies before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Preparation will be rewarded with savings if you start planning and shopping now, because many big box and warehouse retailers have actually begun offering some of their Black Friday deals.
Walmart is releasing new deals online each Wednesday of November followed by in-store deals the following Friday. So check their page each week. Cherie prefers to look at the Weekly Ads to scan for deals.
Costco, Sam’s Club, Kohl’s, and Amazon all have deals running right now, as well, so check to see if your shopping list matches any early deal offers.
Check for price match policies
Shopping early this year makes sense because of supply chain issues worldwide. Don't assume deals will get better closer to Christmas.
If you check your store’s price match policy now, you will not be surprised by a late-season price drop and can buy now, then take advantage of a lower price later. Retailers like Target and Costco promise to match the price if it drops lower during the month, giving you back the difference. Sometimes the difference will be credited to your account or it will come back in the form of a store credit. So keep receipts where you can easily find them.
If you see something you really want, go ahead and get it. But be ready to call on the price match policy if the price drops even lower.
Ads are already available
While a few stores drop deals at the last minute, the days of leafing through the Black Friday newspaper ads on Thanksgiving are gone. Stores have their ads directly on their websites or apps now. Aggregator sites like TheBlackFriday.com help you navigate between ads.
Cherie's favorite Walmart deals this week
- Apple AirPods for $89
- $6 Athletic Work’s Men’s Fleece Separates
- Blackstone 22″ Portable Griddle
Promo codes and loyalty programs
Don't just assume you will get the best deal on Black Friday. With a little research, you will find you can net more savings through cashback sites like Rakuten. Store loyalty programs like Target Circle and Kohl’s Rewards will often reduce Black Friday prices even more.
Check for coupon codes, and scan receipts with Fetch Rewards or ibotta and mark dates on your calendar for when Kohl’s cash expires or when Menard's rebates are due because you don’t want to lose your savings opportunities.