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5 purchases to avoid on Black Friday


Americans will collectively spend billions of dollars on Black Friday but not everything is a good deal. These are the five worst purchases consumers can make on Black Friday this year.

#5: Winter clothing

Sure, it’s nice to look festive this time of year. But by waiting until at least January — when it’s really cold anyway — stores are more likely to offer better deals as they start making room for spring fashion in February.

#4: Fitness

This category is really anything related to fitness: gym memberships, home treadmills, even dumbbells. If you hold off, the fitness industry will reward patience with spectacular deals just in time for those New Year resolutions.

#3: Gift cards

They might be one of the most popular stocking stuffers, especially with supply chain issues, but Black Friday is not the day to buy them. It’s better to wait at least for Cyber Monday or even later into December.  That’s when offers like $100 gift cards for $80 or buy one get one deals appear.

#2: Jewelry

Markdowns might appear on Black Friday, but experts say they’re really not that good. A third of jewelry sales happen in November and December, but for a real deal, wait for Valentine’s Day promotions.

#1: Doorbuster electronics

Don’t be fooled by that cheaper TV that almost seems too good to be true. It probably is. Experts say many are off brand and might not hold up just months later. Plus, who wants to fight over the last TV a superstore has when it’s possible to find better TV deals online on Cyber Monday anyway?

SIMONE DEL ROSARIO: AMERICANS WILL COLLECTIVELY SPEND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON BLACK FRIDAY BUT NOT EVERYTHING IS A GOOD DEAL. THESE ARE THE FIVE WORST PURCHASES YOU CAN MAKE ON BLACK FRIDAY THIS YEAR. IT’S TODAY’S FIVE FOR FRIDAY.

COMING IN AT NUMBER 5: WE HAVE WINTER CLOTHING. SURE, IT’S NICE TO LOOK FESTIVE THIS TIME OF YEAR, BUT IF YOU WAIT UNTIL AT LEAST JANUARY – WHEN IT’S REALLY COLD – STORES ARE MORE LIKELY TO OFFER YOU BETTER DEALS AS THEY START MAKING ROOM FOR SPRING FASHION IN FEBRUARY.

AT NUMBER 4: REALLY ANYTHING RELATED TO FITNESS.  I’M TALKING ABOUT GYM MEMBERSHIPS, HOME TREADMILLS, EVEN DUMBBELLS. IF YOU HOLD OFF, THE FITNESS INDUSTRY WILL REWARD YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE WITH SPECTACULAR DEALS JUST IN TIME FOR THOSE NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS.

NUMBER 3 ON MY LIST: GIFT CARDS. THEY MIGHT BE ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR STOCKING STUFFERS, ESPECIALLY WITH SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, BUT BLACK FRIDAY IS NOT YOUR DAY. YOU’RE BETTER OFF WAITING AT LEAST FOR CYBER MONDAY OR EVEN LATER INTO DECEMBER.  THAT’S WHEN YOU CAN FIND OFFERS LIKE $100 GIFT CARDS FOR $80.

COMING IN AT NUMBER 2 IS JEWELRY. YOU MIGHT SEE MARKDOWNS TODAY BUT EXPERTS SAY THEY’RE REALLY NOT THAT GOOD. A THIRD OF JEWELRY SALES HAPPEN IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, BUT IF YOU WANT A DEAL, WAIT FOR VALENTINE’S DAY PROMOTIONS.

TAKING THE NUMBER ONE SPOT: DOORBUSTER ELECTRONICS. DON’T BE FOOLED BY THAT CHEAPER TV THAT ALMOST SEEMS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE. IT PROBABLY IS. EXPERTS SAY MANY ARE OFF BRAND AND MIGHT NOT HOLD UP. PLUS WHO WANTS TO DO THIS WHEN YOU CAN GET BETTER TV DEALS ONLINE ON CYBER MONDAY ANYWAY?

THAT’S YOUR FIVE FOR FRIDAY ON THIS BLACK FRIDAY I’M SIMONE DEL ROSARIO FROM NEW YORK FOR JUST BUSINESS. SEE YOU CYBER MONDAY!