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Not long ago, your post-Turkey Day mission was clear: Line up early to hit all your favorite stores on Black Friday, to scoop up major savings on everything from clothes to electronics to toys for the little ones in your life.
Then came Cyber Monday, and with it the debate: Buy on Black Friday, or wait?
While you can certainly find great discounts both days, the deals vary. The best time to shop depends on what you’re buying, says Krista Fabregas, a retail and eCommerce analyst at FitSmallBusiness.com.
Below is a rundown of the best days to score a deal on various items, broken down by category:
Apparel
Want clothes? Get on comfortable shoes and get ready to pound the pavement.
According to shopping website BestBlackFriday, you can save as much as 60% at popular retailers like Kohls.
“Brick-and-mortar stores need to clear up floor space for new spring collections that will be arriving starting mid-January,” says Fabregas. “Shoppers can score even more clearance savings on any seasonal apparel that’s left after the holiday rush, but the selection is pretty picked-over at that point.”
Verdict: Black Friday
Travel Packages
Want to go on a breath-taking cruise to Alaska? Eat your way through Italy? The best savings will happen long after your Thanksgiving feast settles.
“[Cyber Monday] is when travel sites like Expedia and Travelocity target online and mobile app shoppers with great deals,” Fabregas explains. “Travel sites know the cyber crowd is definitely online on Monday and they want their attention.”
Take Expedia, for example. In addition to its Black Friday travel deals, the company is offering a Cyber Monday app-only coupon, which gives customers double the points when they book on Expedia’s app. Bon voyage!
Verdict: Cyber Monday
Toys
Retailers know that there’s never a bad time to spoil the little ones in your life. According to Fabregas, shoppers can take up to 60% off toys on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. That being said, there are some differences on the types of toys you should buy on each day.
While all toys seem to be fair game on Black Friday, Fabregas says tech toys and items on big e-commerce sites like Amazon will offer the best savings come Monday.
Verdict: Draw
Kitchen Appliances
When it comes to the kitchen, retailers generally stick with the Black Friday tradition.
“In general, in-store Black Friday savings are better for small kitchen appliances, household appliances, and even tools,” Fabregas says.
And take note: while they’re not typical gifts, many retailers also look to entice Black Friday shoppers with discounts on larger appliances that are expensive to ship, like dishwashers or refrigerators.
Verdict: Black Friday
Online Subscriptions
When you’re making your gift list, don’t overlook audio books and other online memberships.
“Sellers that monetize memberships want to attract the day’s huge online shopping crowd with deals that keep buyers coming back for more year-round,” Fabregas says.
Last year, for example, Amazon offered three months of Amazon Music Unlimited for $0.99 (original cost is $9.99 per month) and a two-year subscription to Kindle Unlimited for $143.86 (original cost is $239.76).
Verdict: Cyber Monday
Tech
Looking for the latest gadgets? It’s pretty much a free for all.
Across Black Friday and Cyber Monday, you’ll almost certainly find steep discounts on everything from smart home appliances, to televisions, to speakers.
Shoppers can save as much as $500 on television screens, $100 on select computers, and 50% off select speakers, according to Deal News.
When the deals are offered, however, varies depending on the brand and model.
The solution? Download a browser extension like Honey and CamelCamelCamel, which will automatically track discount codes and prices on your favorite retailers. As soon as you see a price drop, you can simply click and reap the additional savings.
Verdict: Draw
