I have a rule now: if I was not planning to buy it before Black Friday, the sale price does not make it a good deal. I learned this after buying a bread maker in 2019 that I have used exactly three times.

Make the List Before You Look at Prices

Sit down with a piece of paper the week before Black Friday. Write down what you actually need — not what you want, what you need. Maybe it is a new pair of running shoes because yours have holes. Maybe it is a vacuum because yours died in August. These are real purchases.

Everything else you add after looking at ads? That is the store winning.

Price History Is Your Friend

Before buying anything, check the price history. CamelCamelCamel for Amazon. Keepa browser extension for real-time tracking. You would be shocked how many “60% off” deals were the same price two weeks ago — they just raised the “original” price to make the discount look bigger.

The Categories Worth Shopping

• Actually discounted: TVs, laptops, phones, major appliances, mattresses — these genuinely drop on Black Friday
• Fake discounts: Clothing, furniture, toys, jewelry — these are on sale year-round and Black Friday prices are rarely the best
• Skip entirely: Gift cards, holiday decorations (buy after Christmas at 75% off), anything with a “doorbuster” label that requires lining up at 4 AM