Shop like a pro this Black Friday: How to spend your money wisely and get a great deal

Black Friday is a day when many deals flood inboxes, but it's challenging to discern which purchases are truly worthwhile and which will only temporarily drop in price. As a home writer and product tester, I have developed my own approach to determine which sales to take advantage of and which to avoid. Here are my three top tips for shopping wisely this Black Friday.

Firstly, don't wait until the sale day. Although it's called the Black Friday sales, you don't have to wait until after Thanksgiving to find a bargain. Retailers don't hold back on discounted products and continue to maximize sales throughout November. There are often products on sale before the holidays, which we've been covering at Tom's Guide.

Currently, I found a 60% price cut on Chefman's Indoor Pizza Oven, discounted to $199 at Amazon. Another effective deal is Breville Barista Express, currently priced at $200 at Amazon. If you don't stay ahead of the game, popular products and colorways may be sold out by Black Friday. Moreover, why wait until after Thanksgiving to acquire a product that could impress guests at your home?

Secondly, conduct thorough research before making a purchase. Before hitting 'checkout,' investigate if the discount is genuine or if the price was artificially inflated prior to the sale. Utilize free tools like CamelCamelCamel to monitor Amazon price histories. I used this price checker on one of my beloved KitchenAid stand mixers - the Artisan 5-quart tilt-head.

It currently lists at $349 at Amazon, down from $499. Is the 30% discount as good as it seems? The price checker confirms it is the lowest price in the past year, surpassing its $400 average and undercutting Walmart's current $399 price. If I didn't already own a KitchenAid stand mixer, I would purchase it immediately. You can also check Google Shopping for the best price.

Right now, it shows the same stand mixer for $349 at Williams Sonama. However, it won't provide the extensive historical data that CamelCamelCamel offers, as it only displays prices from the past 30 days.

Lastly, don't purchase a product if it won't be useful to you. While Black Friday is an excellent opportunity to invest in appliances and decor items that are usually out of your budget, it's not about buying novelty gadgets. I'm a dedicated home baker and interior enthusiast, so I look for investments during this sale season. This approach allows me to upgrade my home and kitchen without paying full price.

I treat sales as a targeted event rather than an impulsive shopping spree. I maintain a running wish list of appliances and homeware throughout the year and enforce a "cool-down" period before purchasing. This gives me a reality check on whether a niche gadget I desperately wanted last month is still essential today. For example, I consider Ninja's Premium Knives a kitchen essential for meal prep, but I will reconsider whether I truly need another comfortable throw for my sofa.

Perhaps Ugg's Duffield Throw, reduced to $83 at Amazon, will make its way to Santa's sleigh if I'm good. The Foodi NeverDull Premium Knife System, 12 piece, originally priced at $299, is now available for $219. This 12-piece knife set features a built-in sharpener, including an 8-inch chef knife, a 5-inch santoku knife, a 5-inch utility knife, a 3.5-inch paring knife, and 6 steak knives with a 4.5-inch blade. A pair of shears completes the set.