GREENSBORO, N.C. — It used to be Black Friday was the one and only day to find the best sales on Thanksgiving weekend, but no more. Consumer Reports looked at the days and the items to find the best sale schedule.
Friday: TVs
Saturday: Laptops
Sunday: Toys and apparel
Cyber Monday: Appliances and electronics
Along with the sale schedule, Consumer Reports has additional tricks to save money.
#1 Skip the in-store sales and shop online.
"There may be a lot of great deals in stores, but it's a lot easier to comparison shop when you shop online. Plus, in recent years, we've seen retailers really start to offer the same prices in stores as online, so you can shop wherever you're most comfortable," said Samantha Gordon of Consumer Reports.
#2 Let tech be your guide.
Check out price comparison websites like Google Shopping, PriceGrabber, Shopzilla, and Consumer Reports so you can know if something's actually a good deal. Before you even step foot in a store, make sure you've downloaded a
smartphone app that lets you scan barcodes or QR codes to compare prices, get discounts, and score coupons!
Consumer Reports recommends BuyVia, Shopkick, ShopSavvy, and Shopular.
#3 Stay connected!
"Make sure you join stores' loyalty programs and follow your favorite retailers
and brands on social media. This can give you access to exclusive coupon codes,
early deals, and other discounts," said Gordon.
Should you get a store credit card to save more?
No doubt you will be asked if you want to apply for a store credit card so you can save more money on your initial purchase. Experts warn that store credit cards often have a much higher interest rate. Because of that, store credit cards are best used if you are going to pay off your balance every month.