Your Guide to Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals

The best Black Friday and Cyber Monday shoppers do most of their work in advance. Make a list of what you actually want to buy, note the regular price at a couple of retailers, and set price alerts if the store supports them. This makes it much easier to tell a genuine discount from an inflated "was" price.

It also helps to create accounts and save payment details ahead of time at any retailer you plan to buy from — checkout speed matters when a popular item's stock is limited.

Black Friday deals tend to focus on electronics and big-ticket items, while Cyber Monday often brings stronger discounts on clothing, home goods, and online-only retailers. If an item you want doesn't go on sale on Friday, it's often worth waiting to check again on Monday.

Keep an eye on return policies too — some retailers shorten or restrict returns on holiday sale items, so it's worth reading the fine print before you buy.