The 10 Biggest Black Friday Mistakes You Can Make

There's a reason so many shoppers look forward to Black Friday -- it's perhaps the most anticipated sales event of the year. But if you're going to shop on Black Friday, do it right by avoiding these mistakes.

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Not everything that's offered up on Black Friday will be on sale or constitute a good deal. Before you hit the stores, research the items you're most interested in and track their prices so you can compare that day. You may find that some deals aren't as impressive as they seem to be.

Those amazing deals on TVs and other gadgets you see on Black Friday? Often, they're not the items you think they are. Some retailers have lower-quality versions of common electronics produced specifically for Black Friday. Because these versions have cheaper components, they can be sold at a much lower price. Before you buy a TV that normally retails for $799 at an astounding $399, check the model number to make sure it's really the item you think it is.

Some of the best deals you'll find on Black Friday are doorbuster events. But even if you're willing to line up early, don't assume you'll get what you're coming for. Sometimes, retailers will release only a handful of doorbusters to lure in customers, so have a backup plan in case the things you want are sold out.

It's easy to assume that all the Black Friday deals to be had are only available in stores, but not so. There are plenty of great deals available online. And this year more so than ever, it could really work to your benefit to stick to the internet and avoid the crowds.

Black Friday can drive you into debt if you're not careful. Before the big day, set a spending budget based on what you can afford. It's OK to dip into your savings to do some extra shopping that day, but if you're going to do that, come up with a withdrawal amount you feel comfortable taking.

Our credit card expert uses this card, and it could earn you $1,148 (seriously)
As long as you pay them off each month, credit cards are a no-brainer for savvy Americans. They protect against fraud far better than debit cards, help raise your credit score, and can put hundreds (or thousands!) of dollars in rewards back in your pocket each year.

But with so many cards out there, you need to choose wisely. This top-rated card offers the ability to pay 0% interest on purchases until late 2021, has some of the most generous cash back rewards we’ve ever seen (up to 5%!), and somehow still sports a $0 annual fee.

That’s why our expert – who has reviewed hundreds of cards – signed up for this one personally. Click here to get free access to our expert’s top pick.

In the course of your Black Friday shopping, you may be offered the option to apply for a store credit card as you're checking out. Don't do it. Store credit cards have notoriously high interest rates, and their usage is limited to the specific shops that issue them. Plus, store credit cards are somewhat easy to qualify for, which means they have the potential to lead to excessive spending.

You can't walk into a store on Black Friday without being slapped with a sale sign in your face. But don't buy items you don't need or want just because they're discounted. If you purchase a blender for $40 that normally retails for $100 but you don't actually use a blender ever, then guess what? You didn't just save $60; you lost $40.

It's common for both doorbusters and even moderately discounted goods to sell out on Black Friday. If that happens to you, don't settle for another purchase to justify your trip to the store. If the items you came for are out of stock, move on.

If you don't have access to childcare, then you may have no choice but to drag your kids along on your Black Friday outing. But if they're old enough to stay home alone, or you have a spouse, friend, or family member who can watch them, then you're better off leaving them home. Having your kids in tow could mean buying extra things just to appease them, and that could really wreak havoc on your budget.

It's natural to get excited about Black Friday, but don't forget that there are also bargains to be had once Cyber Monday arrives. Don't blow your entire holiday shopping budget on Black Friday, because if you do, you could miss out on some good deals a few days later.

Our credit card expert uses this card, and it could earn you $1,148 (seriously)
As long as you pay them off each month, credit cards are a no-brainer for savvy Americans. They protect against fraud far better than debit cards, help raise your credit score, and can put hundreds (or thousands!) of dollars in rewards back in your pocket each year.

But with so many cards out there, you need to choose wisely. This top-rated card offers the ability to pay 0% interest on purchases until late 2021, has some of the most generous cash back rewards we’ve ever seen (up to 5%!), and somehow still sports a $0 annual fee.

That’s why our expert – who has reviewed hundreds of cards – signed up for this one personally. Click here to get free access to our expert’s top pick.

Navigating Black Friday can be tricky, especially if you're new to the game. If you're going to shop that day, be sure to avoid these mistakes. Otherwise, you'll risk closing out the holiday season with a pile of debt and a host of items you truly have no use for.