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What to buy and what to skip on Black Friday

Posted at 3:28 PM, Nov 07, 2019
and last updated 2019-12-09 18:51:45-05

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After you’ve stuffed yourself full of turkey this week, it’s time to turn your attention toward another set of holidays: Black Friday and Cyber Monday, aka the holidays where prices are slashed on all kinds of consumer items.

If you want to make the most of one of the biggest shopping events of the year, it’s important to plan ahead. While you can probably find just about anything on sale on Black Friday, some deals are better than others.

Here are the products that are typically a total steal on the retail holiday, and those you are better off purchasing at another time. Happy savings!

Buy: Instant Pots

If you haven’t gotten in on theInstant Pot craze yet, it’s time to see what all the fuss is about. In 2018, there weretons of great deals on the multi-cookers during Black Friday, and you should expect the same this year.

This 6-quart Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 is ranked No. 1 in our product reviews and is already 20% off on Amazon, selling for just $79.99.

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Buy: Air Fryers

Another kitchen gadget that has gained in popularity in recent years is the air fryer. Fry up all your favorite foods without the added fat and calories that come with traditional frying.

Already, the Secura Air Fryer 4.2 Qt is on sale on Amazon for $61.99, marked down and with coupon applied from an original price of $84.99. Snag one now before this discount disappears!

Amazon

Buy: TVs

Black Friday is traditionally a great time to snag big-ticket electronics, and this year is no different. Now is the time to finally upgrade to that 4K set you’ve been eyeing. Check out this Samsung 43-inch QLED 4K TV, which is marked down on Amazon from an original price of $799.99 to just $497.99. The 75-inch version of ranked No. 2 in our 4K TV reviews.

Amazon

Buy: Toys

Historically, Black Friday is an ideal time for Santa to get a jump on his Christmas shopping because prices on the year’s hottest toys are typically slashed.

This year, look out for deals on everything from lego sets to this GPS drone for older kids. This uber-popular Harry Potter Lego set is usually $69.99and is currently marked down to $55.99.

Amazon

Buy: Vacuums

Vacuums tend to be marked down around this time of year, which can mean all the difference on some of the pricier brands like Dyson and Roomba. Vacuums may not be the sexiest of holiday gifts, but splurging for a bells-and-whistles model that your loved one would never buy for him or herself is truly a gift that keeps on giving.

This Dyson V8 Animal cordless stick vacuum is already marked down 50% to $249. With a 40-minute run time and powerful suction, this is a great stick vacuum to keep handy for high-trafficked areas that need frequent cleaning.

Amazon

Our top-rated stick vacuum — the Shark DuoClean Ultralight — is currently marked down 30% on Amazon to $259.99.

Amazon

Skip: Holiday Decor

After Thanksgiving, Christmas will be here before you know it, so it’s tempting to stock up on everything to make your home merry and bright. However, although you may get some decent discounts on Black Friday, if you can hold off, you can do even better closer to Dec. 25. Of course, after the holiday passes is the prime time to plan ahead and get your decor for next year.

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Skip: Bedding

If your sheets and comforter could use a  refresh, try to hold off until the new year. That’s because come January, many retailers have a “Winter White” sale on sheets and bedding.

Adobe

Skip: Mattresses

Mattresses are another bedroom item that’s best to pick up at another time of year. While you might see some discounts on Black Friday, you can typically see even bigger savings around Memorial Day and Labor Day.

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Skip: Fitness Equipment

Want to get started on your New Year’s resolution to get in shape early? Be realistic. Between all the holiday parties and Christmas cookies in your near future, is now the time to drop a lot of cash on an elliptical machine or electric bike? Retailers know that fitness will be top of mind in January, so they’ll be slicing their prices accordingly.

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What’s on your shopping list?

This story originally appeared on Don't Waste Your Money. Checkout Don't Waste Your Money for product reviews and other great ideas to save and make money.