The Biggest Shopping Weekend of the Year — Used Wisely
Black Friday and Cyber Monday generate billions in retail sales every year. But not every "deal" during this period is a genuine discount — and savvy shoppers know how to separate the real savings from the noise. This guide breaks down which categories actually see meaningful price drops and how to shop each event strategically.
Black Friday: What It's Actually Good For
Black Friday — the day after Thanksgiving in the US — traditionally focused on in-store doorbusters. Today, most deals are available online as well, and the "event" now often starts a week or more in advance. Here's where to focus your attention:
TVs
Black Friday is consistently one of the best times of year to buy a TV. Retailers aggressively discount large-screen TVs to drive store and site traffic. The caveats: some discounted models are entry-level units made specifically for sale events — always check the exact model number against independent reviews before buying.
Large Appliances
Refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers often see solid Black Friday discounts, particularly at home improvement and appliance retailers. Delivery and installation deals are frequently bundled as well.
Gaming Consoles and Accessories
Bundles (console + games + extra controller) and accessory discounts make Black Friday a strong window for gaming purchases. The consoles themselves rarely see price cuts, but bundled value is often genuine.
Bedding and Towels
Home goods — sheets, comforters, pillows, and bath items — frequently hit their lowest annual prices around Black Friday at major department stores and specialty retailers.
Cyber Monday: What It's Actually Good For
Cyber Monday (the Monday after Thanksgiving) started as an online-only event and remains strongest for digital and tech categories.
Laptops and Computers
Cyber Monday is one of the best times to buy laptops. Retailers like Best Buy, Dell, HP, and Amazon discount a wider range of models on Cyber Monday than Black Friday, with tech being the primary focus.
Software and Subscriptions
Antivirus software, productivity suites, cloud storage subscriptions, streaming services, and VPNs often have their deepest discounts of the year during Cyber Monday week.
Small Electronics and Accessories
Headphones, earbuds, smartwatches, smart home devices, and phone accessories tend to see strong Cyber Monday pricing — especially from brands like Sony, Bose, and Amazon's own device lineup.
Clothing and Footwear
Many apparel brands run their best online discounts on Cyber Monday rather than Black Friday. If you shop primarily online for clothing, this is the better window.
What to Skip on Both Days
Not everything is worth buying during this period, even if it's labeled as a deal:
- Artificially inflated "original" prices: Some retailers raise prices weeks before the sale to make the discount appear larger. Always check price history using a tool like CamelCamelCamel before you buy.
- Lesser-known brands with no reviews: The holidays bring out low-quality products with misleading discounts. Stick to brands with established track records.
- Items you wouldn't have bought otherwise: The best deal is on something you actually need. Don't let a good-looking percentage off talk you into an unnecessary purchase.
- Jewelry: Rarely discounted meaningfully during this period — better discounts often come after Valentine's Day.
- Grocery items: Supermarkets don't meaningfully participate in Black Friday or Cyber Monday.
How to Prepare Before the Sale Starts
- Make a wish list in advance: Decide what you want before the sales start so you're not making impulsive decisions under time pressure.
- Check current prices now: Record or screenshot the current price of items you want. This lets you verify whether the "sale" price is actually lower.
- Sign up for retailer emails in October: Early access and pre-sale notifications often go to email subscribers first.
- Set price alerts: Use CamelCamelCamel or Google Shopping price alerts to get notified when a specific product hits your target price.
- Have your cash-back portal ready: Activate Rakuten or your preferred portal before clicking through to any retailer.
The Bottom Line
Black Friday and Cyber Monday offer real savings — but only if you shop with a plan. Know what you want before the sales start, verify that prices are genuinely discounted, and focus on the categories where each event historically delivers. The shoppers who win during this period are the ones who prepared in advance, not the ones who reacted to every "limited time" banner they saw.