Black Friday can be the best or worst shopping day of the year. You might land an unbelievable deal on the exact sweater that completesd your winter wardrobe. Or, you might end up with with five “bargains” you aren’t likely to wear enough to justify their cost.
Planning separates these two outcomes. Now maybe you shop for the thrill of it, and that could mean you have no interest in planning. I get it. But spontaneity can be expensive, so it pays to try a different approach.
Here’s my offering to help: a free, interactive Black Friday fashion deal planner that walks you through what to do before, during, and after the sales. You can build a wish list, track regular prices, automatically calculate what 20% looks like and how that affects your cost per wear. Try it out. You might enjoy the financial benefits, even if it does require some planning.
- Our free interactive Black Friday planner helps you set a spending budget, build a wish list, track purchases, and manage returns.
- The planner automatically calculates a target purchase price at 20% off retail and compares cost per wear at regular and sale prices.
- Maximize savings by checking price histories, stacking coupons and cashback rewards, and prioritizing clothes you’ll wear often.
Try the fashion deal planner
You can work in the interactive deal planner below — it updates as you add information. Your progress is saved on this device, so you can leave and come back later. Your information will disappear if you switch devices or browsers or clear cookies.
The planner should be straightforward to use, but I included instructions and context below.
Black Friday Game Plan
Shop smarter, spend less, and skip the buyer’s remorse.
Black Friday is November 27. Start now.
Enter each item’s regular price. The “Buy at” price is 20% off. If the sale price is at or below it, it’s a go. Estimate how many times you’ll wear the piece over the next year, and cost per wear is calculated at both the regular and sale price. Check “Bought” when you buy, then add the last day you can return it.
- A sale isn’t a deal unless you needed it anyway.
- Spend on timeless pieces and trend with accessories.
- When in doubt, skip it. Nobody ever regretted waiting.
Planner features
- A before, during, and after checklist with a progress bar
- A wish list that calculates a “Buy at” price, 20% off the regular price
- A cost-per-wear estimate at both the regular price and the sale price
- Space to note the retailer and the last day you can return each purchase
- A print button
How to use the planner
You can complete the planner on your phone and update it as you shop, or print it out if you prefer paper.
1. Set your budget and your savings
Start with the number that matters most: your spending limit. Type it into the plan, then decide where the money is coming from. Savings, a gift fund, or selling things you no longer use are excellent options. Charging to your credit card is less than ideal.
If you need help, see my guide to funding your Black Friday budget with your jewelry box or 10 ways to raise cash fast.
Then set up the savings that stack on top of sale prices. Join the loyalty programs for your top two or three stores, sign up for a cashback portal, and check which of your cards pays the highest cashback percentage.
The planner does not account for cashback savings, because you usually don’t realize those rebates until well after the purchase is made. My recommendation is to budget as if you’re earning no cashback, then use the cash you receive later to pay down credit card debt or add to your emergency fund.
2. Know what you need
Before anything goes on a wish list, take stock of what you already own. Audit your closet, remind yourself of your color palette, and then document your most-needed pieces. A gap in your wardrobe is a good reason to shop. A big discount isn’t.
3. Build your wish list
To get the most value from the planner, fill in the wish list before Black Friday. You can document these:
- Item: what it is, plus size and color
- Retailer: a store name or a link, so you aren’t hunting for it on the big day
- Regular price: what it costs when it isn’t on sale
- Wears next year: your honest guess at how many times you’ll wear it
The planner then calculates two things.
- Your “Buy at” price. This is 20% off the regular price. It’s a guideline, more than a hard-and-fast rule. Generally, you should be comfortable buying the item at regular price — because you will wear it — so any Black Friday savings are more like a bonus.
- Your cost per wear. This is the price divided by the estimated number of times you’ll wear the piece, shown at the regular price and at the sale price. The number of wears is always a guess, but it’s the thought process that counts here. You might change your mind about buying a garment once you start evaluating its wear-ability.
Here’s an example. Say you’re eyeing a $120 blazer that can do double-duty for work and play. You think you could wear it 20 times over the next year. Your “Buy at” price is $96. Cost per wear is $6 at the regular price and $4.80 at the sale price.
Now compare it with a trendy $60 top you expect to wear twice over the holidays. That’s $30 per wear at the regular price and $24 at the sale price. The blazer is the better buy, even though it costs more up front. That’s why I like cost per wear. It shows you which pieces will work hardest in your closet. Use it to compare the purchases that are competing for your hard-earned dollar.
Step 4: Shop with a plan
On Black Friday, keep it simple:
- Stick to your list.
- Check the price history before you trust a deal.
- Stack your savings in this order: sale price, coupon code, loyalty points, cashback portal, card rewards.
- Read return policies. Look out for items marked as “final sale.”
Step 5: Protect your purchases
When you buy something, check “Bought” on your wish list and note the last day you can return it. Save your receipts and order confirmations, try everything on right away, and send back what doesn’t work. Log what you spent against your budget, and keep in mind that returns can cancel cashback and rewards.
More Black Friday shopping tricks
- Check your favorite retailers’ return policy scorecard, which uses our custom grading rubric.
- Learn how to stack cash back like a pro.
- Make sure you’re doing all you can to save money this holiday season.
- Learn about shopping markups and how you can fight back.
Frequently asked questions
Does the planner save my information?
Yes, on your own device and browser. It isn’t sent to me.
Does the planner sync between my phone and my computer?
No. It saves on the device you’re using, so stick with one while you fill it in.
Can I use the planner for sales other than Black Friday?
Yes. The wish list and cost-per-wear math work for any sale.
How do I clear the planner and start over?
Use the “Start over” button at the bottom of the plan.
The Budget Fashionista takeaways
Black Friday goes best when you have a plan. Fill in your wish list, set your target prices, and let the numbers tell you what’s worth it.