With the holiday season just around the corner, the biggest shopping event of the year, Black Friday, is likely to bring exciting deals on almost everything. This makes it the best time of the year for all shoppers who want to save money on things that have been on their wishlists this year. However, to make the most of the experience, one should plan ahead and avoid the following common mistakes on Black Friday 2023:

1. Not making a list
   One may not list exactly what they need during the shopping season. However, with many brands offering record-low prices, it is important to have a clear list of necessary products to avoid overspending. So, before the sales begin, one should jot down every product they want to buy on Black Friday. It is also important to look up online and offline retailers offering the product. Such careful planning can help lower the risk of overspending on the big sale day.
2. Not setting a budget
   Even for monthly expenses, a budget is a must. So, going without a budget can be a huge mistake during the shopping season. This is because one is bound to be swamped with deals on the sale day, tempting them to buy everything they see. So, before the Black Friday sale begins, one should assess how much they can spend and also allocate money for different products and retailers on the list. For instance, if one plans on spending $1,000 on this sale, it is important to not spend a dollar over this limit. This can help one make the most of the shopping season without overshooting the budget.
3. Overusing credit cards
   Credit cards are one of the most convenient ways to shop. Moreover, they help one earn rewards, helping one save money on purchases in the long run. However, on sale days that are loaded with temptation, it is best to part from the credit card and use a cash or debit card while shopping. This can help one avoid exceeding the budget. So, whether one shops online or offline, they should withdraw cash as per the budget.
4. Falling for bad deals
   During the Black Friday sales, one will often find deals that seem too good to be true because, at times, they probably are. Often, retailers can sell sub-standard replicas of popular models, offering them at unrealistic discounts. So, one is likely to grab the deal trusting the retailer, only to end up with a cheap dupe. One can tell if they are being trapped into purchasing a poor-quality product by looking up the serial or model numbers and checking if these are legitimate.
5. Falling for limited-time offers
   While Black Friday may often bring record-low prices, at times, the deals are not massive enough and can be observed throughout the year. Often, one may find better offers in the days leading up to Black Friday. Some retailers even announce price drops to clear their inventory following the sale. So, one should do their research and check pre-sale prices to avoid falling for limited-time offers. Sometimes, if one gets a product before the big sale day and then finds a discount on Black Friday, they can check with the retailer if they offer a price adjustment to match the discounted price.
6. Buying expensive add-ons
   Another mistake that one may make is buying unnecessary or expensive add-ons. At times, buying the product and add-ons from the same retailer can be expensive, making the discount not worth it. So, one can find add-ons at a discount elsewhere. Alternatively, certain accessories like covers or bags to hold the product may not be necessary. So, one should ignore such additional expensive products.
7. Buying toys
   Not everything is cheap during the Black Friday sales, and toys are one such product. Toys usually carry massive discounts in the first two weeks of December. So, one should see if they can hold off on purchasing toys on Black Friday.
8. Falling for scams
   Scammers can use Black Friday sales to steal confidential information or commit other types of fraud. So, one may find their inbox filled with coupons and offers seemingly sent by their favorite brands, but at times, they could contain malicious links from unknown senders. So, one should never click on links sent by unknown retailers.
9. Giving in to bait-and-switch tricks
   During the shopping season, one may notice that a retailer announces a flash sale and offers a pricey product at an unrealistically low price. When one reaches the store, they may learn that the product has sold out. Here, the retailer may push one to buy a substitute that can be expensive, not carrying an impressive discount. It is important not to give in to the temptation here. Even if this turns out to be a futile trip to the store, one should leave empty-handed on spotting this trick to avoid spending money on something they did not want originally.
10. Not checking the return policy
    Many retailers cancel or modify the return policy during the sale period, so one has to unwillingly hold on to a product they do not want. To avoid unwanted surprises, one must always check the store’s return policy during Black Friday sales and only then buy a product.