Black Friday is arguably one of the biggest sale times of year for retailers (maybe besides Amazon Prime Day). It's perfectly timed, right before or in the middle of the gift-giving holidays like Christmas and Hanukkah, because if parents are going to buy gifts they might as well be on sale. And almost all retailers participate, including the biggies like Target and Walmart. That being said, Black Friday isn't the time to just go crazy.
Being strategic is important to not spending more money than intended, even with deals. The best way to do that is by making lists of gifts that definitely are making it under tree, setting a budget, and really making sure the deals out there are the best. To make things easier, we compiled a list of 11 items to definitely prioritize during Black Friday, and four that can wait.
SNAG: Toys
CafeMom is a site for parents, so we need to affirm that toys are absolutely the items to buy during Black Friday sales. For one, you need to buy them anyway for Christmas or Hanukkah, so why wait until they go back to their original retail price? Get the big things, like Barbie sets like this one which is on sale for $60 instead of $100.
SNAG: Skin Care
Skin care is something we need all year, with cult favorite products like serums and moisturizers that can be pricier and hardly ever see a drop in price — except for Black Friday. If you're going to buy a product over and over again, you might as well get it when it's on sale. One we have in mind is the famous Sunday Riley Good Genes.
SNAG: Good Jeans
While it's true clothing sales happen throughout the year, if you're looking for a good sale on staple items, like jeans, Black Friday is a great time to snag them, whether it's for yourself or a gift for someone else. These Wedgie Icon Ripped High Waist Ankle Slim Jeans for example are usually $100 but are now on sale at Nordstrom for $58.
SNAG: Subscription Boxes
Subscriptions are becoming more popular, with boxes for every possible interest — there are food subscriptions like HelloFresh, makeup and lifestyle subscriptions, and even toy subscriptions. Locking in a lower per month price is like killing two birds with one stone, for a few months. Winc wine subscription service, for example, has a four-bottle deal for $25.
SNAG: Appliances
Things for cooking, like Instant Pots like the Ninja Foodi 4-in-1 Indoor Grill with 4-quart air fryer and coffee or expresso machines always seem to be at the top of the Black Friday deal lists, and it's for good reason. They add to quality of life and make great gifts because they're items that people can actually use. Black Friday is usually the time we see the deepest discounts on these items.
SNAG: Vacuums
Just like kitchen tools are good Black Friday deals to snag, so are home goods, especially if they're useful like vacuums. Having either a cordless vacuum or a robot vacuum, like the Shark AI Wi-Fi Connected Robot Vacuum with LIDAR Navigation, will save a lot of time and stress, especially if it's on sale.
SNAG: High-End Décor
Home decor items and goods for the home are usually a good deal for Black Friday. We have them on our wish lists or ready in our carts because we actually want them. For example, pillows. And not just any pillows, a really good pillow like this Casper one from Target which is on sale for 15% off.
SNAG: Hair Care Tools
Like skin care products, hair care items almost count as necessities if we use them almost every day when we get ready. Or, they could be considered a "want" but will help us make the best of our hair. That's why we think it's good to buy the hair care tools that will ultimately make us look and feel better in the long run.
SNAG: Laptops
Laptops are usually expensive, but with more kids doing distance learning, or just being in a 21st century modern classroom, having a good computer for each of them will come in handy. Plus, kids and teens love gaming, and a lot of the computers on sale for Black Friday are good for both school and fun, like this one from Geo.
SNAG: KitchenAid Stand Mixer
$430
from
KitchenAid
Technically a stand mixer counts as a kitchen tool, but given the popularity of this singular item, it's in a whole league of its own, and we think it's a good idea to get one during Black Friday sales because it seems to be the one time of year the cost is substantially marked down. One of these puppies can go for hundreds of dollars, but during the sale can be as low as $250.
SNAG: Quality Shoes
Black Friday is a good time to buy shoes because people will need new shoes eventually, whether they're sandals for a vacation, sneakers for gym class, or boots to get the family through a snowy winter season. Most shoe retailers have markdowns for the season, making it the perfect time to pick up a new pair of shoes.
SKIP: Mattresses & Furniture
If you need furniture ASAP, then the best and only time in our opinion to get new furniture is during big sale times, including Black Friday. But if you can wait, we suggest waiting until after the holidays when prices might go down on their own, or for bigger furniture sale weekends, like Memorial Day or Labor Day.
SKIP: Fitness Equipment
Having a home gym or fitness equipment at home is a luxury, especially when gyms may not be able to open. But the gyms are starting to become the place to be, once again. We're already seeing this trend with Peloton sales slowing. Avoid a huge purchase like this during the holidays unless you can confidently say the recipient wants nothing else for the season.
SKIP: Home Office Supplies
Speaking of trends that are falling to the wayside, we don't think it's ideal to prioritize big work-from-home purchases during Black Friday. If working from home forever is the plan, then go for it, but as more offices are opening up, it might be better to spend on other things this season. Back-to-school time is when the biggest sales come around for these items, so hold off if you can.
SKIP: Fine Jewelry
This one kinda surprised us, but we read that jewelry may not be the best thing to try to get a Black Friday deal for. If you need it for proposing or someone really wants that piece of jewelry as a gift, then sure, go for it. But if the recipient can wait, there may be better deals leading up to everyone's favorite love holiday: Valentine's Day.
*Psst: if you choose to purchase an item from this post, CafeMom.com may receive a small cut. Each item and price is up to date at the time of publication; however, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.
