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Black Friday is fast approaching. This can be a great time to buy particular items at a great price. But don’t be fooled… research products and prices.  Make sure you’re actually getting a good deal and the product is worth it. This is especially important on big ticket items such as televisions, computers, etc. Just because an item is advertised in a store flyer, doesn’t mean it’s a great deal. Do your homework before Friday — read reviews, and compare prices on websites such as Pricegrabber.com. You can also view most flyers before Thursday by visiting www.BlackFriday.info.

Below are some of my personal picks for this year:

GPS
$59 Tom Tom One 125 GPS (reg. $98) at Walmart
$119.99 Garmin Nuvi 255W 4.3″ Widescreen GPS at RadioShack. Compared to $129.99 on pricegrabber.com

Computers
$298 HP 15.6 Notebook w/Intel Processor, 3GB Memory, 250GB Hard Drive at Walmart

Tools
$19.99 (After Rebate) Black Decker 18 Volt Cordless DrillDriver Kit at Big G Ace Hardware. Compared to $59.99 at pricegrabber.com
FREE (After Rebate) 30 Piece Ratcheting Screwdriver Set at Big G Ace Hardware
FREE (After Rebate) Stanley Staple Gun at Big G Ace Hardware
FREE (After Rebate) 16′ x 3/4″ Tape Measure at Menards
FREE (After Rebate) 6-In-1 Screwdriver at Menards

Toys and Games
$9.99 Select Wii Games at Kmart
$98 Nintendo DS Lite at Walmart. Compared to $129 at pricegrabber.com
$169.99 Nintendo DSi Bundle w/5 Pre-Installed Games at Kmart
$88 Power Wheels Ride On at Walmart

TVs/DVDs
$78 Magnavox Bluray Player (reg. $128) at Walmart
$379.99 Sony Bravia L Series 32″ Class 720p LCD HDTV at Kmart. Compared to $664 on pricegrabber.com

Misc.
$579 Kenmore Washer/Dryer combo at Sears. Compared to $1094 on pricegrabber.com
$3 Infant and Toddler Pajamas; Girls and Boys Sleepwear at Walmart
$9.99 Large Pet Bed at Big G Ace Hardware
FREE (After Register Rewards) Infusium 23 Hair Care at Walgreens (and use $2 coupon from 11.21 SmartSource insert for PROFIT!)
FREE (After Register Rewards) Johnson’s Softwash at Walgreens
FREE (After Register Rewards) Right Guard Sport Deodorant at Walgreens

More ways to save:

Know the store policies: Many stores will “price match” or match their competitor’s lowest advertised prices. Call ahead and ask a manager if they are participating in price matching on Black Friday. You may be able to get most of your items at one store. Just make sure you take your flyers along.

Take advantage of Price Guarantees: There may be the possibility of prices of items dropping even after Black Friday. Some stores offer price guarantees, meaning if the price drops even more, or if a competitor advertises the item for less than you paid, you may be entitled to get back the extra money you paid for the item. Set up an email alert to be notified when an item is offered at a lower price at DealAlerter.com.

About the author: Renee Thomsen

Renee traded in her Louis Vuitton for a coupon binder after the birth of her son in 2007. Looking to save a few bucks on diapers, she found herself fully immersed in the wild world of couponing. Around that time, Renee discovered Dave Ramsey, a personal finance guru, and thus began her quest to find financial peace. Along with her husband, Renee is working towards becoming debt-free, one money-saving coupon at a time.