Black Friday is almost here but this year, you won't have to wait until the day after Thanksgiving to cash in on the bargains. An increasing number of stores are opening on Thanksgiving or offering a host of online deals on Thanksgiving (Nov. 26) and Black Friday (Nov. 27). If you're working to get a jump start on the busiest shopping time of the year, here's your guide to the bargains, the hours and shipping deals and more. And if you want some tips for how to survive Black Friday, visit here. What can we expect this year? First, it's important to keep in mind that all Black Friday deals aren't always a bargain. An analysis by Nerd Wallet found 95 percent of the deals offered in Black Friday advertisements are repeats from other times in the year. How to survive Black Friday That's not slowing most people down, however. A recent poll showed 76 percent of Americans said they plan to shop on Thanksgiving or Black Friday and will spend an average of 4.5 hours doing so.
The average shopper will spend about $529 for holiday gifts this year, up from $440 in 2014. Shipping is a big deal this year Free shipping is a big draw for customers and it's cropping up more and more as retailers are hoping more people go online to snap up those Black Friday bargains. Here's a list of those offering free or reduced shipping this year: Apps to help you find the best deals If you want to make your Black Friday even more high-tech, try an app that can help you navigate the offers. Buy Via - This app offers lists of deals, sorting them by location and when they are available and then by product type. You can scan coupons to see if there are similar or better deals nearby and can send you alerts when a price falls. You can download Buy Via at the iTunes App Store here or at the Google Play Store here. Black Friday 2015 Slickdeals - This app includes Black Friday ads, reminders, coupons and scans on ads, as well as notifications on prices.
It also offer offline access and - if you want- you can shop straight from the app. You can go here for download information. Who is open and who is closed? If you're curious about who is open on Thanksgiving, you can use this list as a guide. Local stores sometimes set their own hours so be sure to check. Many stores will open on Thanksgiving. Here are some of the Nov. 26-27 Thanksgiving/Black Friday sale hours. compared the Thanksgiving/Black Friday offerings to identify the best deals. 1. Fitbit Flex Wristband for $59 (save $40) 2. Roku 32" Class Smart HDTV for $125 3. Apple iPad Mini 2 for $199 (save $69) 4. Roku Special Edition Streaming Media Player for $25 1. Xbox One Gears of War Bundle with a $60 Target Gift Card for $299.99 ($50 savings) 2. Guitar Hero Live (PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Wii U) for $59 ($40 savings) 3. Westinghouse 55" 1080p LED HDTV for $249.99 (save $350) 4. Nikon CoolPix L340 20 MP Digital Camera for $99.99 (save $130)
1. Westinghouse 32" LED HDTV for $99.99 (save $100) 2. Samsung 40" HD 1080p LED Smart TV for $319.99 (save $210) + Earn $90 in Kohl's Cash 3. Sony PlayStation 4 Uncharted Bundle or the Microsoft Xbox One The Lego Movie Bundle for $299.99 (save $50 on each) + $75 in Kohl's Cash. You can go here or here to see the deals. 4. Canon EOS Rebel T5 Digital Camera for $399.99 (save $400) (Click on the name to see Thanksgiving/Black Friday ads) Office Depot and OfficeMax Dell $149 laptop, $99 desktop, $49 Bose headphones Wal-Mart toy book, $199 Apple iPad Mini 2 Wal-Mart Black Friday sales 2015: $29 iPod Shuffle, $199 Apple iPad Mini Dell offers Xbox One for $299.99, Alienware 15 laptop for $1,199 Dollar General Thanksgiving Day sale, Rite Aid Black Friday sale Amazon rolling out a deal every 5 minutes starting Friday PetSmart, Sam's, Five Below, Home Depot, GameStop, Michael's, Ulta Target, Amazon, K-Mart toy books Sears, NY & Co., e-Bay, JCPenny, PetSmart, Walgreens
CVS, Ashley Furniture, Costco, Big Lots, Cabela's, Zales Ace Hardware's Craftsman deals, hhgregg, Pier One Belk will open at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Nov. 26 Select Contemporary & Designer Brands Select Charter Club Cashmere Sweaters Select Calvin Klein & Tommy Hillfiger Packable Down Coats & Jackets Select Club Room Cashmere Sweaters Select Outerwear for Baby, Toddlers & Kids Select Dresses for Girls 2-16 & Baby Select Carter's Playwear for Baby, Toddlers, & Kids Select Women's Shoes & Boots Select Men's Boots from Unlisted & Alfani Select Handbags from Kipling, Rampage, Style & Co. & more Select Handbags from Nine West & Anne Klein All Le Vian® Jewelry Reg. $12-29.50 Online only. Select Holiday & Whimsy Sweaters Dyson DC39 Ball Multifloor Tag Springfield III 5-Pc. Luggage Set Women's or Men's 6-Pc. Fragrance Sampler
Reg. $30 Only at Macy's. Lancôme 3-Pc. Definicilis Mascara Set MAC Nutcracker Sweet Red Retro Matte Kit Any Size 800-Thread Count 4-Pc. All Memory Foam Pillows & Toppers All Charter Club Damask 500-Thread Count Pima Cotton Sheets Sets, Comforters & More All Samsonite Luggage & Business Cases KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixers + EXTRA 20% OFF attachments from Lenox, Spode & Winterberry Beautyrest Recharge Athens Twin, Full or Queen Firm or Plush Pillowtop 2-Pc. Mattress Set BLACK FRIDAY DEALSReady for Macy’s Black Friday doorbusters? Save big this year with amazing savings on clothing, shoes and accessories for her and him, and must-have beauty and jewelry items. Looking for hot deals on home essentials? We've got spectacular sales on everything you need—electrics, cookware, decor and more. Find gifts for everyone on your list this Black Friday.With huge sales and steep savings at nearly every retailer, Black Friday — the day after Thanksgiving — has long been touted as one of the best times of the year for buying just about anything.
But it’s not all discounts and deals on the 2016 post-Turkey Day shopping bonanza. Use this guide to determine what you should purchase and what you should skip on Nov. 25 to ensure you’re getting only the best bargains. Traditionally, major retail stores such as Best Buy, Target and Wal-Mart discount Apple products each year on Black Friday, and previous-generation models usually see the most dramatic deals. These offers may include price cuts, free gift cards with purchase or a combination of both. This year, look for deals on MacBooks, iMacs, iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches and Apple TVs. Last year, for instance, Target devoted almost an entire page of the bull’s-eye retailer’s 2015 Black Friday ad to Apple. Shoppers scored a free Target gift card when they bought any iPad Mini, iPad Air or Apple Watch. There was also a 20% discount on all iPods. Toys are one of the seasonal purchase staples, but you might want to think twice before picking them up on Black Friday.
Historically, it’s best to wait until closer to Christmas to purchase dolls, action figures and the like. You may run the risk that certain items will sell out, but you may also be able to find bigger savings on what’s left. Last year, in the final days before Christmas, toys were on sale at Kmart, Wal-Mart and Big Lots, to name a few. Shoppers bought one toy and got a second toy at 50% off on Monster High dolls and accessories, Fisher-Price preschool toys and Block Tech playsets, as well as activity and science sets. » MORE: Full list of 2016 Black Friday store hours Black Friday is for gamers just as much as it is for shoppers. This year, look for savings on video games and video game systems from retailers such as Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart and GameStop. You’ll find particularly great offers on gaming bundles. Traditionally, these include the game console plus a combination of games and accessories. Last year, video game retailer GameStop took $50 off both the Xbox One 500GB Gears of War Ultimate Bundle and the PlayStation 4 500GB Uncharted Collection Bundle.
You’ve likely seen the blowout post-Christmas clearance sales every year on Dec. 26 as you made your way to the store to return that gift that missed the mark. The absolute best time to buy Christmas decorations, wrapping paper, tinsel and other seasonal trimmings is right after Christmas (for obvious reasons). But if you need these items before the holiday, don’t buy them on Black Friday. Sure, you’ll see plenty of deals on artificial trees and rolls of wrapping paper, especially at home and craft stores, but retailers are more eager to slash prices the closer it gets to Christmas. Electronics deals are a Black Friday staple, and for many consumers, that means shopping for a new TV, tablet or smartphone. In 2015, Target offered an impressive $249.99 deal on a 55-inch Westinghouse LED TV. Over at Staples, tablets were all the rage. Shoppers could save up to 25% on select iPad models. Staples also dropped the price of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Lite 7-inch down to $79.99 (regularly $139.99).
No matter where you choose to spend your Black Friday (or your Thanksgiving), you’re almost guaranteed to find TV and tablet doorbusters. Another electronics deal to keep an eye out for: smartphones. Verizon offered $100 off the retail price of select Android smartphones last year. If you’ve got your eye on something with a heftier price tag, you might want to by paying with the right credit card. Some credit cards will pay you the difference if you find a lower price later, extend the product warranty, or protect against loss or damage. NerdWallet has compiled a list of our best credit cards for holiday shopping so you maximize your benefits this season. » MORE: Black Friday 2016 ad leaks You’ve got the entertainment center covered, but you should hesitate before stocking up on supplies to refresh the look of your bedroom this Black Friday. The lowest prices on bedding and linens have been known to appear in January during what are called “white sales,” so hold off until then if you can.
January 2016 white sales took place at Macy’s, Pottery Barn, Nordstrom and more. If you’re in need of some affordable stocking stuffers, look no further than the video game, CD, DVD and Blu-ray department at most major retailers this Black Friday. You’ll find films and gaming titles deeply discounted from their original prices. In 2015, for example, Best Buy offered select Blu-ray titles for $9.99 each and up to 70 CD titles for $6.99 each. Wal-Mart had certain video games for $25 each and a selection of special-buy DVD titles for just $1.96 apiece. You won’t see too many grills or patio furniture sets plastered on the front pages of Black Friday ads this year. That’s because, not surprisingly, outdoor products and patio furniture are deeply discounted immediately after summer ends. If you didn’t pick up these products at the close of this summer, wait until Labor Day sales roll around next year. Can’t wait until then? Another viable option is the Spring Black Friday Sale that home improvement store Lowe’s usually holds each year.
Black Friday is well-known for its offers of huge savings on washers, dryers, refrigerators and kitchen appliances. Look for similar deep discounts again this year. Last year at Sears, the Kenmore 4.3-cubic-foot washer and 7.3-cubic-foot dryer were on sale for $799.98 for the pair. That’s a 57% discount. Best Buy took $1,500 off the price of a Samsung 28.2-cubic-foot 4-Door French Door Smart Refrigerator, bringing it down to $2,099.99. If you’re in the market for smaller appliances such as coffee makers, mixers, blenders or vacuum cleaners, expect deals this year from department stores such as Kohl’s, J.C. Penney and Macy’s. Don't pay interest on your holiday credit card balance. Find the best 0% card for you. 44% of shoppers carry credit card debt after the holidaysIf you need to carry a balance make sure to put it on a low interest card Fall and winter clothing generally isn’t the best value on Black Friday. Jeans, for instance, see better sales in October, and retailers frequently offer big clearance sales on jackets when winter gives way to spring.
Of course, if you need something to keep you warm before then, you’ll be able to find some bargains this Black Friday. Year after year, Macy’s and J.C. Penney have offered doorbuster deals on women’s boots. In the past, select pairs have been just $19.99 each. Whether it’s hotel rooms, ski lift tickets or airfare, you can expect big deals on travel this Black Friday and Cyber Monday (Nov. 28). Check for deals from online travel sites like Expedia and major airlines alike. Note: In the past, most of these promotions were available for a very limited time. If you want to avoid some of the hassle related to Black Friday shopping, resist deals that require a mail-in rebate. Unless you’re disciplined enough to fill out the form and wait to receive the rebate, you could end up paying more than you intended. And even if you do follow through with rebate, you’ll have to shell out a higher price at the register before getting some of your money back. Always read the fine print;