Black Friday is quite possibly the largest shopping event of the year. With the hundreds of outstanding deals and incredible bargains offered by retailers of all sizes, consumers get the chance to save potentially hundreds of dollars on their holiday shopping lists. Of course, as with all shopping excursions, consumers also have the chance to spend far more than they were originally planning to. This week, our local bank at the Lake of the Ozarks is here to help you keep your Black Friday spending on track with these helpful hints.
Financially Savvy Black Friday Shopping Tips
1. Plan Your Shopping List Ahead Of Time
Impulse shopping is the quickest way to spend more money than you were originally intending to. You can protect yourself from impulse shopping by sitting down and writing out a list of the items you want to purchase before you even begin looking at the sale options. Use this list to keep yourself on track when it's time to shop.
2. Do Your Black Friday Shopping With Cash
Shopping with cash is one of the most effective ways to guarantee you won't spend more than you originally budgeted. Once you're out of cash, you will be forced to quit spending. If you charge everything to a credit card, you may be dangerously tempted to buy that flashy new flat screen - and could end up paying even more for it if you are unable to pay off your credit card bill when the time comes. Shopping with cash may be your smartest option.
Most people plan to bring a friend or two with them when they go Black Friday Shopping, but it's important to be strategic about who you bring. If your shopping buddy is a big-spender, it may be hard for you to keep your own spending in check. Find a friend who will help you resist the urge to spend money on items you don't need.
4. Check For Online Deals Before You Buy
Before hitting the stores on Friday morning, visit the websites for all the stores you're planning to visit. Many retailers offer the same deals online that they do in-store - and by the time you factor in the cost of gas and the amount of time you'll spend standing in line, the online deals might be the better option.
5. Follow-Through With Your Rebates
Many Black Friday deals offer mail-in rebates; you have to pay full price in the store, but they will send you money back after you mail in the rebate. Unfortunately, many consumers forget to send in the rebates afterwards, which means they ended up paying full-price for the Black Friday "deal" they were so excited about. Don't leave money on the table!
Happy Thanksgiving From First Bank!
On behalf of everyone at the best bank in Osage Beach, we hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday weekend and a successful Black Friday shopping spree. If you ever find yourself in need of financial services at the Lake of the Ozarks, we hope you'll keep us in mind. First Bank of the Lake would be honored to help you in any way we can!
First Bank of the Lake - Striving For Excellence
Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
Located at the entrance to the Osage Beach Premium Outlets!
4558 Osage Beach Parkway
Suite 100
Suite 100
Osage Beach, MO 65065
(573) 348-2265
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