Black Friday / Cyber Monday isn’t just for fancy items. Here’s how to lower expenses on things you’d buy anyway for chronic illness.

In this thread, hacks! In the next thread, deals!

1) Throughout the year: whenever you’re TEMPTED to buy (for yourself or others), make yourself wait til Black Friday. If you can.
Didn't do that this year? Do it next year! I actually put the item in my Google cal to check on Black Friday. 

2) See if your "regular" purchases go on sale for Black Friday. If yes, can you stock up? Think about EVERYTHING you buy, especially mundane things like supplements, toothbrush heads, cleaning products, face goop, socks. 

3) If there are any subscriptions for software or services you wanted to get, now's the time! I negotiate a new Adobe contract each year (plan to do today/tmrw) which makes it at least half-off. 

4) If there's something in your life that's wearing out and needs to be replaced soon (mattress, vacuum, shoes, undies, tires), check for deals!

5) If there are little splurges (like stocking stuffers!), now's the time to stock up—nicer face cream, nail polish, better shampoo, etc. 

6) But stay away from LOOKING for "deals" in general...you'll be tempted to buy things you didn't need before. And...

7) Watch out for artificial inflation + fake deals. One of the main reasons I keep a list ahead, is because SOME retailers just artificially inflate the price of things for Black Friday so they can offer a "deal". Like I've been looking at a $700 mattress. All of a sudden, it's $1200, but "$500 off." This is from a company I'd otherwise consider quite scrupulous. I've seen Macy's do it on some of the winter coats I was looking for. This is part of why you don't want to "look for deals" day-of. You want to have an idea ahead of what things normally cost. 

8) Check if you have gift cards that are going to expire! If you do, now is the time to spend them—the money will go further. 

9) Finally, once you've found a deal you want, quickly price check to make sure someone else isn't offering it even cheaper (but stick with companies you want to support and trust). 

10) If you don't mind the tracking, layer on cashback from Capital One Shopping or Rakuten and rewards credit cards. 

11) This may be too much PITA factor but...I call places that say "for first time customers only" and ask if they'll make an exception. Worst case, they won't. So far, it's always worked! It seems like the CS agents are often trained to say, "since you've been a loyal customer for so long, we're happy to do that." Note: it's absolutely no use with Spectrum. They are an impenetrable fortress of expensive. 

For me it's not about a mad dash of consumerism for glitz and glamour! It's just a way to save money for the rest of the year.