Between interest rate hikes 📈, banks tightening their lending criteria, and the skyrocketing cost of living 🚀, expectations are high for Black Friday and Cyber Monday this year.
We’ve put our Nimble little heads together and come up with 9 tips to help you get the most out of your Thanksgiving shopping weekend.
1. Plan Plan Plan
With money-saving high on the agenda for Aussie shoppers in 2022, don’t underestimate the importance of making a Black Friday / Cyber Monday shopping plan.
Being on top of it and having a strategy will help you get the best deals and discounts on offer.
Some of the things you may want to think about include:
- Important upcoming events and dates. Sure, while Christmas is on everyone’s hitlist, also keep in mind Victoria & Andy’s wedding next April, Mum and Dad’s upcoming 50th Anniversary or that overseas holiday you promised yourself pre-COVID.
- Air fryer dying a slow and painful death? Take inventory of any appliances or household items you expect will need replacing in the foreseeable future. Remember, a bargain is always much more bonafide if it was something you needed to buy in the first place.
2. Set a Budget
It’s always easier to decide what you’re going to spend on when you know how much you can comfortably afford.
These are hard times, so it’s important to think about the things you really need to buy.
Having a budget will help you prioritise and guide your strategy for getting the most bang for your buck, without leaving you strapped.
3. Put it in a List
If ever there was an occasion to make a list, this is it.
Keep track of all your shopping needs and links to where to get each item, all ranked by priority. Include expected price ranges, sale price, and, of course, add a checkbox to satisfy your desire for instant gratification while you wait for your shopping to arrive!
If lists aren’t your thing, here is a free downloadable resource to get you started.
Don’t get carried away or tempted by a seductive discount offer. A list may be the way to not be led astray. Remember – it’s not really a bargain if you didn’t need it in the first place.
4. Know Your Recommended Retail Price…
… but also check price tracking tools like CamelCamelCamel, SlickDeals, or refer to Google Shopping for current prices at different outlets.
A lot of times the Recommended Retail Price isn’t the most reliable source of truth. This is because often the product may have only been listed at that amount for a small window of time, so it’s not reflective of the real retail price!
5. Set Up Accounts So You Can Use Wish Lists and Favourites
If you’re anything like us here at Nimble, you’ve got apps, accounts and logins for all your go-to retailers.
Our logic behind this is that we’ll be notified of deals and offers ahead of anyone who doesn’t have an account. It may also be worth following retailers on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest and any other social media for early Black Friday or Cyber Monday tip-offs or giveaways, as well as previews and offers.
Back in the day, Black Friday bargain hunters would do reconnaissance and camp out at the shops even a few nights before the event. Why not apply that line of thinking to current times and prepare to pounce by adding your items to wishlists and favourites?
That way as soon as the sales come live, you’ve got your finger on the trigger (mouse or screen, in this case).
6. Have Your Payment and Shipping Details Saved in your Profile
Or, at the very least, have them on hand.
Some deals are sooooo good they sell out faster than a rabbit in a story. Make sure you have the best chance of getting what you want by setting up online store accounts ahead of Black Friday.
This way you can check out super quickly and avoid the devastating notification that the product is no longer available 😕 because you’ve been fiddling around with your credit card number.
7. Keep Your Eyes Peeled For Sales And Bookmark The Sites
If you happen to be browsing through and spot an ad for something that appeals to you, click through and bookmark that site, so that you don’t waste time googling retailers at the last minute.
8. Use Click And Collect To Save On Shipping
Although a lot of retailers offer free shipping, don’t do a Dahmer on the budget you’ve saved up, by paying delivery charges.
Select Click and collect and put it in the pick-up route.
9. Keep Tabs On Receipts and Warranties
Whether you bought it for yourself or for a friend, make sure you keep those gift receipts!
Especially if you’re prone to getting carried away with bargain blindness, suffer from whatever-my-sister-bought envy or if you’ve got lettuce for hands. Put them all in a folder on your desktop or label them in your email. You won’t regret it.
That’s about it, guys! Hopefully, with these tips, you’ll maximise your moolah and your minutes and be thanks-giving the Nimble team for the year to come.
If this all sounds like an opportunity you can’t afford to miss but you’re still a little short on cash, a smart little Nimble Loan could have you snapping up deals in no time. With options between $300 and $25,000, and our AnyTime revolving line of credit, Nimble’s got you covered.
Please note this content is provided as general information only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situations or needs. For advice tailored to your financial situation, it is advised that you seek guidance from an accountant or financial advisor. The above post refers to application software (“App, Apps”) that is not affiliated or associated with Nimble. We do not have any control or responsibility over the content of the Apps. Use of the Apps may be subject to further terms and conditions imposed by the App provider, the owner of the mobile operating system and/or other related parties. The above links belong to a variety of websites and not Nimble, so clicking on, and using them, will take you away from Nimble’s website meaning we’ve got no control or responsibility over the content. Nimble does not endorse and is not affiliated or associated in any way whatsoever to the businesses named in this blog post. The information contained in this article is correct at the date of publication.
