Black Friday is an annual shopping carnival that is both eagerly anticipated and extremely chaotic. With a large number of offers and discounts, it is easy for people to get caught up in the frenzy and make impulsive decisions that they will regret in the end. To help you avoid regrets during this shopping spree, here are four basic rules.

Plan ahead

Before Black Friday, the most important thing is to be fully prepared. First, look at your wardrobe, kitchen, study, etc., and make a list of items that really need to be added or updated. After clarifying your needs, search for corresponding products and discount information based on these needs. Avoid being led by overwhelming advertisements and blindly buying products that seem cheap but are actually useless. Remember, shopping is to improve the quality of life, not to create new troubles.

Compare prices

During Black Friday, the price difference between different merchants for the same product may be quite large. Therefore, it is an indispensable step to use tools such as price comparison websites and browser plug-ins to conduct a comprehensive comparison of the products you like. At the same time, you should also pay attention to the historical prices of the products to ensure that the current price is indeed the real "lowest price". It’s also important to pay attention to the merchant’s return and exchange policy so that you can return or exchange the purchased goods smoothly in case the goods you purchased do not meet your expectations.

Set a budget

Setting a reasonable budget before shopping and strictly adhering to this bottom line is the key to avoiding impulse buying. Allocate your budget to each category of goods you need to buy, and once the expenditure in a certain category reaches or exceeds the budget, stop buying decisively. Using tools such as mobile apps or spreadsheets to record your spending and keep track of your shopping progress and remaining budget at any time can help you stay rational and avoid falling into an endless cycle of "buy, buy, buy".

Take action as soon as possible

Black Friday sales are usually limited in quantity and time-sensitive. Arriving early or shopping online as soon as the sales start can greatly increase your chances of grabbing the best deals. If shopping in-store, arrive before the store opens. If shopping online, make sure you have a stable Internet connection and create an account on your favorite retail website in advance.

Black Friday shopping spree is great, but it is more important to spend rationally. While enjoying the fun of shopping, avoid the regrets caused by impulse buying. Remember, the best deals are the ones you won’t regret the next day.