I’m an Expert Super-Saver: Here Are My Secrets to Black Friday Shopping

With Black Friday just over a month away, the holiday shopping season is rapidly approaching. As one of the best days for unbeatable deals, knowing how to take full advantage of the savings opportunities is crucial. However, with the frenzy around limited-time offers, it’s easy to get swept up in impulse buys that might not be best for your wallet.

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To help you stay on track, stick to your budget, and make your Black Friday shopping seamless, we spoke to James Moore, savings expert and senior editor at Savings.com . From holiday gifts for friends and family to items on your own wishlist.

Here are this super saver’s six secrets to braving Black Friday and maximizing savings on one of the busiest retail days of the year.

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Use a Price Tracker

Everyone’s looking for the biggest savings on Black Friday, and it’s easy to get caught up in price drops. The key is determining if a product is genuinely a good deal or just an inflated markdown.

“Not all brands do this, but some like to pre-emptively inflate prices so that they can offer more aggressive price ‘cuts’ during the holidays,” Moore said. “Price trackers like CamelCamelCamel are great ways to flag products you’re waiting to pick up and actually see which of them you’re getting the best price on. You can easily save yourself hundreds on big-ticket items by tracking their prices over time.”

When you spot a good deal, hit purchase and enjoy the extra money in your bank account.

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Set Up Sales Alerts

Let’s be honest: If you don’t set an alarm, will you really wake up in time for work? It’s the same for sales. If you’re like most people, sales alerts can be your best friend to avoid feeling overwhelmed by all the deals and help you focus on what you actually need to buy.

“I’ve found over the years that the fire hose approach to Black Friday deals just doesn’t work for me,” Moore said.  I end up buying less–or nothing at all–if I don’t plan ahead. That’s why price trackers work for me — I set up a few favorites or even my entire Christmas shopping list with alerts so that when prices begin to change, I don’t have to guess what I’m buying or go hunt down a whole list of items.”

Take advantage of this hack to avoid the crowds without missing out on a deal.

“Start with one or two items, and set sale alerts at a few competing vendors if you can — Amazon is great with these, along with apps like SlickDeals, Ben’s Bargains or the Savings.com browser extension,” Moore said.

Check the Return Policy

Hitting “buy” is only half the battle on Black Friday. Equally as important is making sure you have a backup plan if prices drop further after you’ve made a purchase. To keep the door option for potential extra discounts, shop with brands that offer price marches or easy returns.

“With holiday sales coming earlier, featuring more products and sticking around longer each year, it’s pretty common to see brands release sales in waves each week throughout the holidays,” Moore said. “Keep an eye out for price drops on items you’ve already purchased, and return them or contact customer service for a holiday price match if possible.”

Shop Last Year’s Models

While grabbing the latest gadgets is tempting, those shiny new models often come with a higher price tag and the occasional first-run kinks. If you don’t mind not having the newest tech, you can save some serious cash while avoiding potential tech issues.

“Black Friday deals usually tout the latest, greatest, and shiniest new gadgets, but picking up models from a year or two back can save hundreds,” Moore said. “This is especially true for bigger items like TVs and computers – technology moves so quickly that today’s new breakthrough will be tomorrow’s old news, but those “older” devices still offer great specs.”

Don’t Jump In Too Early

Half of the stress of Black Friday comes from the pressure to buy everything before the day ends. However, rushing your spending might not be the smartest move.

“A little patience can go a long way,” Moore said. “Early Black Friday deals happen all through the month of November, so don’t spend your whole gift budget upfront. Most companies still hold their best deals for after Thanksgiving, so while an early deal may look good, you’ll usually the true top-shelf savings closer to the holiday season.”

Look for Gift Card Promos

Super savers never leave free money on the table. One of the easiest ways to stretch your budget is by taking advantage of gift card promotions.

“You can start this at any time of year – sometimes, brands will offer additional money for gift card purchases, $15 gift cards for $10, for instance,” Moore said. “Stock up on these when you see a chance –these are an easy way to inflate your budget for your favorite brands.”

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : I’m an Expert Super-Saver: Here Are My Secrets to Black Friday Shopping