Black Friday marks the beginning of the holiday shopping craze. And as one of the biggest shopping events of the year, it’s no surprise that many Americans eagerly anticipate its arrival. According to a report from Zippia, nearly 200 million Americans participated in Black Friday shopping in 2022. And while retailers all around the country gear up for the big day, the competition is on to find the best Black Friday deals before they run out.

A Brief History of Black Friday

Black Friday is one of the most anticipated shopping days of the year, but it wasn’t always this way. In fact, the term “Black Friday” was originally used in the 1960s to describe the crazy crowds and traffic jams that occurred before the yearly Philadelphia Army-Navy football game.

Then later in the ’80s, retailers started using the term to describe the shopping frenzy that occurred the day after Thanksgiving. No one knows exactly where the term originates, but it’s believed that retailers referred to the day as “Black Friday” because the gigantic increase in profits helped move their balance sheets “into the black” for the year.

Today, Black Friday is one of the busiest and most profitable days of the year. And you can find deals on everything from electronics to decor to make your dream living space a reality.

7 Ways To Shop Black Friday Deals Like a Pro

Black Friday is right around the corner, and so are tons of unbeatable savings. From bedding to cookware, you can find everything you need to furnish and decorate your home on the cheap. To learn how to take advantage of the best Black Friday deals, here are seven easy steps.

Think ahead.

A lot of shady retailers mark up prices before the big day so that customers think they’re scoring a great deal when in actuality, they’re just buying a product at its original price. To avoid getting hoodwinked, write down the products you plan to shop for ahead of time, including their regular prices. This can help you identify the true deals.

Start deal hunting early.

Black Friday typically starts the day after Thanksgiving, but many retailers offer deals leading up to the big day, too. So be sure to keep an eye out for pre-Black Friday sales and early bird specials that start on Thanksgiving day or even sooner. By doing so, you can snag all the popular products before they run out.

Sign up for newsletters.

Signing up for email newsletters is like joining an exclusive, members-only club where you can find information about upcoming sales and exclusive promo codes. So if you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to email newsletters from your favorite retailers so that you’re notified when the savings start.

Turn on text alerts.

When you opt-in for text alerts, you can receive real-time updates on deals and savings. This really comes in handy during Black Friday flash sales that only last a few hours. So if you want to stay in the loop, turn on your text notifications so you never miss a beat for the best Black Friday deals.

Use social media.

Before the big day, a lot of retailers post sneak peeks into their Black Friday offerings to excite customers. If you have a favorite retailer, consider following them on social media for the inside scoop on their Black Friday deals. You can even try searching for hashtags like #BlackFridayDeals to discover a wider range of bargains.

Price compare.

Just because a product is on sale, doesn’t mean it’s the lowest price. If you want the best bang for your buck, always, always, always compare prices across retailers. Take advantage of price-tracking apps like Honey, Slickdeals, or camelcamelcamel that can help you find the best price for the product you want.

Be flexible.

Tons of retailers across the country participate in Black Friday sales, so instead of getting stuck on a specific brand or model, consider exploring others that may be just as good. Not only might you snag a better deal than you expected, but you also have the chance to discover amazing companies and brands you may have never considered before.