Shopping

If you only read a few

1. Wait until after Black Friday to buy used appliances or electronics from people who upgraded during the sales.

   People sell last year's models for a fraction of the cost after buying new ones.

   • Used appliances may be old or broken (e.g., dryers that don't heat).
   • Never buy a used dishwasher.

   4 people, independently

2. Do not buy items just because there is a sale event; purchase only when you actually need the item.

   Buying something you don't need for 'cheap' isn't frugality and doesn't save money if you wouldn't have bought it otherwise.

   7 people, independently

3. Compare prices at other retailers before buying from Amazon, as it is not always the cheapest option.

   • Walmart big-ticket electronics may have lower quality or specific serial numbers.
   • Target, Best Buy, and Costco may use different model numbers.

   12 people, independently

   • Check costs across different options before buying to locate the most favorable price.8

4. Distrust Black Friday and Prime Day promotions, since sellers frequently raise prices just before the event to exaggerate the apparent discount.

   Merchants hike costs and then present them as reduced to drive sales during these periods, often recovering their original revenue through markups.

   4 people, independently

5. Be skeptical of Black Friday electronics deals, as manufacturers may design specific inferior variants for these sales.

   Manufacturers sometimes use gimmicks like including older HDMI ports or omitting audio out ports in Black Friday models.

   4 people, independently

   • Check the model number of expensive purchases before buying on Black Friday to verify they aren't inferior versions made just for the sale.4