Black Friday 2024: Essential Guide to Early Holiday Shopping

Black Friday 2024: Essential Guide to Early Holiday Shopping

With Black Friday 2024 about a month away, here’s everything you need to know to snag the best early deals.

We know Halloween is still a few days away, yet some stores have already started their early Black Friday sales and holiday deals. While the holidays seem to be moving closer together each year, there’s a benefit to this trend: early savings.

That’s right—Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the weekend of savings in between are only about four weeks away. However, many deals and discounts are already on the horizon, with some even available now. We’ve been tracking the best deals across major tech categories since October Prime Day, including tablets, laptops, phones, smart home tech, earbuds, and mobile accessories. We’ll continue this coverage weekly through the end of the holiday shopping season.

Here’s everything you need to know before diving into early Black Friday deals and other seasonal savings so far.

When is Black Friday?

In the US, Black Friday falls on November 29, 2024, the day after Thanksgiving, which is celebrated on Thursday, November 28.

When is Cyber Monday?

Cyber Monday in the US is on December 2, 2024, just a few days after Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

What is Cyber Week?

In recent years, the term “Cyber Week” has emerged to describe the period of savings that typically occurs in late November and/or early December, right after Thanksgiving. During Cyber Week, both online and in-store retailers offer significant discounts across almost every product category. In 2024, Cyber Week starts on Black Friday (the day following Thanksgiving in the US) and extends through Cyber Monday of the following week. This year, Cyber Week will begin on November 28 and run through December 2, though many sales are expected to start earlier and continue beyond Cyber Monday.

What is the Cyber 5?

The “Cyber 5” is another popular term for Cyber Week, specifically referring to the five days of savings that begin with Black Friday on November 29 and end with Cyber Monday on December 2. This Friday-to-Monday stretch occurs right after Thanksgiving each year and marks the traditional start of the holiday shopping season.

When Will Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals Be Live?

In 2024, Black Friday falls on November 29, and Cyber Monday follows on December 2. The days between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday are known as “Cyber Week,” a period when major holiday sales and discounts are typically at their peak. As usual, we will provide extensive coverage of the best deals available across various retailers during this shopping event.

While most deals are expected to be live between November 29 and December 2, remember that retailers often launch sales earlier each year. You can anticipate several opportunities for savings throughout November, leading up to Black Friday, and continuing into December before the winter holidays.

How Long Will These Holiday Deals Be Available?

Black Friday savings are set to start early in November and conclude by Cyber Monday on December 2. However, remember that Cyber Week isn’t the only opportunity for savings. Even if some deals end, others are likely to extend for a few days after Black Friday weekend. Additionally, expect more sales and savings events to occur throughout December as well.

What is the Difference Between Black Friday and Cyber Monday?

The difference is largely semantic. Black Friday is a decades-old shopping event traditionally linked to in-store savings and discounts following the Thanksgiving holiday in the US. In contrast, Cyber Monday emerged as a result of the online shopping boom, primarily driven by retailers like Amazon shifting to online sales.

Cyber Monday is focused on online-only seasonal savings, particularly for tech products like laptops, tablets, and phones. However, in 2024, both terms have become synonymous with early holiday savings. Black Friday now also includes a significant online presence, making the two events quite similar.

What Are the Best Products to Shop for During Black Friday?

Black Friday marks the traditional start of the holiday shopping season and is one of the busiest times of the year for both in-person and online retailers. You’ll find savings across virtually every product category.

Some of the best products to shop for during Black Friday include tech items like streaming services, gift cards, video games and consoles, TVs, laptops, tablets, headphones and speakers, and robot vacuums. Additionally, you can expect discounts in broader categories such as luggage, clothing, beauty, kitchen and household items, toys, and more. There will also be opportunities to save on products that rarely go on sale, including flagship Apple devices.

How to Make the Most of Black Friday

To maximize your savings during Black Friday and other holiday sales, it’s important to shop with a clear plan for what you want and need. As a commerce and advice editor, here are a few helpful tips I recommend:

  • Make a List: Create separate lists of “want” and “need” items. Need items are those you plan to gift, replace, or have been looking to buy on sale. Want items are those you might consider purchasing if the price is right.
  • Research in Advance: Investigate products you’re interested in before Black Friday. This includes reading reviews and checking specifications. Being informed helps you avoid shopping anxiety and increases your chances of scoring a deal before items sell out. Once the sales go live, you’ll be ready to make your purchase.
  • Don’t Rely on Price Matching: Avoid planning to purchase items at other retailers with the hope of price matching during Black Friday. Most retailers don’t honor price matching for Black Friday sales. If you spot a good deal, seize it while you can. Your pre-sale research will help you make swift, confident buying decisions.
  • Set a Budget: While Black Friday is perfect for catching deals, it’s easy to overspend on unnecessary items just because they’re discounted. Set a spending limit to avoid impulse buying. Remember, many products go on sale multiple times throughout the year, so there’s no need to stretch your budget unnecessarily.

These strategies will help you navigate Black Friday effectively, ensuring you make informed purchases while staying within your financial boundaries.

While much of holiday shopping has shifted online, Black Friday sales are still offered in many physical stores, including popular retailers like Target, Walmart, Best Buy, and others. However, some deals may only be available online, and vice versa. If you’re shopping for popular tech products, you might find a better selection of models, colors, or sizes online if you shop early. If items are selling out quickly online, visiting a store in person might be advantageous. Whether you shop in person or online depends on personal preference, but as a tech editor with experience covering Black Friday and Cyber Monday, I find it more convenient to shop online as soon as possible on Black Friday, assuming you’ve done your research and planned your purchases.

When is the Next Amazon Prime Day?

Amazon’s October Prime Big Deal Days event concluded on October 9, 2024. If Amazon follows its traditional sales schedule, the next Prime Day is expected to occur in July, likely after Independence Day. However, Amazon doesn’t limit deals and discounts to Prime Day alone.

We anticipate the return of the Big Spring Sale, likely in March. Additionally, Amazon offers savings during smaller holidays such as Valentine’s Day, Presidents’ Day, and Labor Day, among others. Naturally, Amazon will also participate in Black Friday and Cyber Monday savings events.

When is the Best Time of the Year to Save the Most?

Typically, the best deals of the year are found during the holiday shopping season, especially before the December holidays. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Cyber Week are renowned for offering significant savings on top tech, particularly on last year’s or older device models. This is because many new tech products are released from spring through late summer, making fall and winter ideal times for price reductions.

However, the holiday season isn’t the only opportunity to save. With the rise of online shopping, retailers can offer discounts at any time and often do so through members-only events like Prime Day. Events such as Prime Day, Prime Big Deal Days, and exclusive sales from retailers like Walmart provide excellent opportunities to score unique products or offers. For Amazon, this often includes flagship tech products like Echo devices and Fire tablets, which aren’t widely available at other major retailers.

While the holiday season may still offer the best chance to save on a wide variety of products, you can find deals at any time if you know how to monitor products, compare prices, and use useful shopping tools and trusted resources. Keep an eye on prices and leverage these tactics to maximize your savings throughout the year.

Read also:

How to Stay Safe While Shopping Online on Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Sophia is passionate about Digital Marketing, E-commerce, and travel. I also like photography and writing interesting articles.