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You could save hundreds — or possibly thousands — in interest by improving your credit score. Check it for free today Life is expensive. Skip saving and go straight to earning cash when you buy gas, dinner, gifts and more. Get the free app Is your family protected financially? These are 5 simple mistakes Canadian parents make when it comes to life insurance Black Friday explained Black Friday is the largest shopping event in the United States, but has only been in Canada since the 1990s. Walmart was one of the first retailers to bring Black Friday sales to the country. Admittedly, it was a bit of a bust at the start. Not many Canadians were familiar with the concept, and the deals were mediocre at best. However, over the decades, Black Friday has grown. A 2022 Retail Council of Canada survey found that six in 10 shoppers will be looking for more deals than they did in 2021.
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How to find the best Black Friday deals Black Friday requires a bit of planning if you’re looking to maximize your deals. Most retailers will make their flyers available online a week or two in advance, so you can start planning.
The easiest way to find deals is to use flyer comparison apps such as Reebee and Flipp. Not only will you be able to access the current flyer of all available merchants, but you can also search for individual items. These apps even allow you to buy directly from some retailers so you can take advantage of any deals you find right away. Note that retailers won’t typically price match Black Friday deals.
Best products to buy on Black Friday If you’re wondering what are the best things to buy during Black Friday, it’s best to think of the categories that typically have the best savings such as:
Travel (flights, hotels, and vacation packages) Electronics (laptops, cellphones, and TVs) Video games Small appliances (blenders, coffee makers, and mixers) Home goods and gadgets (towels, smart thermostats, and smart speakers) Fitness equipment and trackers Online can be just as good as in-person What’s great about Black Friday is that you no longer need to line up overnight to secure the best deals. Almost every retailer now offers the same sales online, so you can shop at your convenience. That said, some merchants offer “door crasher” deals, which are arguably the best deals to be had. Others also offer timed pricing, where sales are released by the hour. If there’s an item you really want, you can set an alarm to make sure you don’t miss the deal.
It’s worth mentioning that there will be different deals for pre-Black Friday, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday/Week. The idea is that retailers want you to constantly look at what’s available in hopes you’ll shop more.
Use your cards for points and deals Even though Black Friday already offers some of the best deals of the year, you can actually stack your savings with a cash-back or travel rewards credit card.
When making purchases, using a cash-back credit card could earn you an additional one to five per cent in cash back, depending on what card you have and where you’re shopping. Alternatively, if you have a travel rewards card, the points you earn by charging your purchases can help you offset any future travel expenses.
Many credit cards come with generous welcome bonuses, so you can really ramp up your rewards if you plan your application and spending accordingly.
For those shopping online, be sure you use a cash-back website such as Rakuten. When you create an account, you get $5 right away. When you’re ready to shop, click their partner retailers, and you’ll be redirected to their official website. Then, any eligible purchases you make will earn you additional cash back. How much cash back you’ll get will depend on the retailer, but it can be up to 30 per cent during promotions. Some recent cash-back offers through Rakuten include five per cent at The Bay, four per cent at Joe Fresh, two per cent at Old Navy, 4.5 per cent at The Lego Store, and two per cent at Apple.
Some other Canadian cash-back/points websites and apps include Swagbucks, Great Canadian Rebates, Aeroplan, Drop, TopCashback and Checkout 51.
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A guide to the best Canadian high-interest savings accounts in 2022 How to recession-proof your finances right now What are advisors doing (or not doing) with their own portfolios in a bear market? Have a plan in place There’s no denying that there are deals to be had during Black Friday, but it’s easy to get caught up in the sales. Generally speaking, you only want to purchase things that you were planning to do anyway. It doesn’t make sense to buy something if you don’t need it just because it’s on sale. In addition, make sure you have the available funds to make the purchase. Using your credit cards or buy now, pay later plans can be helpful, but if you miss a payment or don’t pay the full balance, you’ll be paying some high interest fees.
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About the Author
Barry Choi MoneyWise.ca Contributor
Barry Choi is a Toronto-based personal finance and travel expert who makes frequent media appearances. When he’s not educating people on how to be smarter with money, he’s earning and burning miles and points for luxury travel.
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