It’s almost here—Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the shopping days that make you feel like you’re winning big… until you check your bank account. We’ve all been there, caught up in the thrill of slashed prices and limited-time offers, only to end up with way more than we actually needed (and a lot less money left over).
But this year, why not turn the tables? By making a few smart moves, you can snag the deals you want without the dreaded spending hangover. Here’s your game plan to make Black Friday and Cyber Monday work for you—not the other way around.
Prioritize Your Big-Ticket and Necessity Purchases
When it comes to the holidays, I think we all have a similar reaction. We want to spoil the people we love. We’ve been eyeing that big-ticket item that our giftee has been talking about all year. Now, the time is here, and they haven’t bought it for themselves yet.
Trust me, I get it. But now is not the time to abandon your long-term financial goals.
You need to continue to focus on the essential purchases over wants.
To do this, you should make a clear list of priority items and avoid the last-minute additions you swore you needed to get, but when you visit the giftee in a few months, it’s buried in a corner behind a host of clutter.
As you wrap up your list, keep the focus on what truly matters to the person you’re buying for rather than feeling pressured by every sale or discount.
With a clear plan in place, you’ll avoid overspending while still giving thoughtful, meaningful gifts.
Leverage Technology to Combat Impulse Buys
I’ll say this repeatedly, but one of the many ways to unlock guilt-free spending in personal finance is through technology.
I won’t go into great detail, but things like price tracking, alerts, and comparison tools can help you mitigate spending money and stay on track for the holidays.
Furthermore, with the advancement of technology comes the advancement of budgeting software directly on your phone.
Whether you want to curate a traditional budget or develop an advanced budget that goes month-to-month, builds in emergency funds, and accounts for all your fixed costs, like BetterBudgets, you have endless resources at your fingertips.
With the sheer amount of resources available over the same wifi connection allowing you to read this blog, there really shouldn’t be any reason to stray from the course.
Identify Common Retail Traps That Trigger Overspending
A key to staying on track with your conscious spending plan is the ability to identify traps from retailers.
Over the years, they have become more sophisticated in their approaches.
It used to be things like bundle deals, where, for a limited time, they discounted 2 items to get you to buy both right there. Or the upsell by adding a timer to your cart, whether it’s to give the illusion that the item is selling fast or display another item with the title “limited time deal.”
But they have gotten more deceptive. A new common approach is to “slash” the price of their entire inventory and say everything is for sell. That sounds great; what’s the problem with that?
Well, the slashed prices are higher than yesterday’s, and the “discount” is just yesterday’s price.
These things are designed as psychological strategies to establish false FOMO and scarcity.
Stick to Your Payment Plan to Avoid January Debt
None of this matters if you don’t stick to the plan!
Do not risk your other monthly expenses and savings goals for a gift. Do not butterfly-effect your retirement savings because you can’t bear to “disappoint” for Christmas.
Please avoid the buy now, pay later scams. If you are going to use credit cards, either don’t or limit their usage and rely mainly on your debit card.
Try to buy early if the circumstances allow it. And always, always, always check your budget. If you think you have your sights set, check your budget, then right before you hit buy, check your budget. After you buy, check your budget, and when it’s wrapped, guess what you should do?
Remember that you may not be on the same path as everyone else, and what really matters is staying within your net income.
With a solid, conscious spending plan in place, you’re ready to make Black Friday and Cyber Monday work for you, not against you. This year, keep your long-term goals like saving money and keeping debt low, front and center—let every purchase reflect your plan to stay in control and spend consciously.
By focusing on what truly matters and avoiding the retail traps, you’ll enjoy the thrill of the season without the financial hangover. A conscious spending plan is your best tool for making the most of the sales, keeping that savings account growing, and starting the new year financially strong.
