Black Friday used to be dubbed the unofficial start to the holiday shopping season, but deals began way before the Thanksgiving turkey popped into the oven.

With discounts that are too good to pass up, it’s easy to excitedly add just about everything in your cart — but, it’s important to take the time to truly understand what’s worth your money and what isn’t.

According to a recent Bain & Company report, U.S. retail sales between Black Friday and Cyber Monday are “forecast to rise 5% year over year to $75 billion ‘for the first time ever.” This comes as no surprise, as online shopping offers ample convenience, shopping options and research opportunities compared to in-person shopping.

RELATED: Black Friday 2024 predictions and trends, according to shopping experts

Our Post Wanted team is comprised of professional product testers, deal-hunters and brand pros. That’s why we’re so committed to helping you find the best deals on Black Friday and beyond. So, we’re telling you *exactly* what to buy (and what to avoid!) so you’re best prepared to conquer all the savings hitting the internet.

“Over the past several years, we’ve seen significant changes in the holiday sales periods; rather than being confined to just two days, retailers now start sales earlier and extend them longer,” Ally Anderson, director of strategy and insights at LTK with more than 10 years of experience in digital marketing strategy, shared with The Post. “This shift aligns with consumer shopping habits, which have evolved to start holiday shopping earlier in the season. Our recent LTK holiday shopper study confirms this, showing a growing trend of consumers kicking off their holiday purchases well before Black Friday. According to the study, 58% of the general population will start shopping by the end of October.”

What to Buy on Black Friday 2024

Smart TVs

As you can imagine, smart TVs come in thousands of different models and are one of the best product categories to comb through on Black Friday. After all, Black Friday is well-known for major discounts on tech, including laptops, smartphones, tablets, smart home devices and TVs. Pro tip: look for deals on older models, as retailers are often eager to clear out last year’s stock to make room for new releases.

Coffee Makers

One of our favorite kitchen products to recommend to Post Wanted readers is a newly minted coffee maker, and Black Friday is one of the best times — if not the best time — to buy one. From our experience digging into Black Friday products and price histories, it’s the ideal time to pick up top brands like Keurig and Nespresso, along with big-ticket espresso makers for less.

Korean Skincare

In recent years, we’ve been surprisingly seeing some of the best deals on Korean skincare. Items like facial sunscreen, glass skin-inducing cleansers and toners (like COSRX’s viral Snail Mucin) are discounted en masse. If you’ve been wanting to adopt a new skincare routine or pick up some products that’ll hydrate and do your skin some good, Black Friday is the time.

What to Avoid on Black Friday 2024

It’s no surprise we like to shop, but there are a few items we recommend skipping, for the most part. Of course, you’ll want to follow our coverage leading up to Black Friday — and, during Black Friday weekend itself — should any of these product categories feature a can’t-miss deal:

Newly released electronics: While older tech models can be a steal, newly released gadgets are often only discounted marginally. Brands like Apple, Samsung and Sony typically release their latest smartphones, laptops and wearables in the fall, and you’ll rarely find a good deal on these during Black Friday.

So, If you’re eyeing the latest iPhone or MacBook, we recommend waiting for a deeper price cut later in the year or after the holiday season.

Fitness equipment: While fitness equipment often gets heavy promotion on Black Friday, many of these deals aren’t necessarily great values. Items like treadmills, stationary bikes or elliptical machines may be a few hundred dollars off but, in retrospect, it may only be 10% or 20% off, which isn’t exactly a run-to-it deal.

Moreover, the market for fitness equipment has been on the downturn after the pandemic, when people were sprinting to purchase treadmills, walking pads for their standing desks and rowing machines to complete their at-home gyms. Some of the larger brands have seen price inflation or a reduction in quality.

That said, you may find better deals on items like dumbbells, kettlebells or resistance bands, which are typically cheaper and offer better value.

Fast-fashion clothing: Cheaply made fashion retailers will often offer Black Friday discounts, but the items on sale may be part of trends that won’t last long. Instead of going for clothes that are highly trendy or designed to last just one season, opt for classic wardrobe staples that will have lasting value.

Black Friday 2024 Shopping Tips

As mentioned, this isn’t our first rodeo covering all things Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Ahead, find our insider shopping tips to take with you as you peruse site after site, discount after discount.

• Do Your Research and Compare Prices: Know the regular prices of the items you want to buy. This helps you determine if the discount is truly a good deal (Don’t worry, the Post Wanted team works around the clock to ensure the deal we’re promoting is *actually* the very best, or else we’d recommend an alternate brand entirely.
• Make a List and Stick to It: It’s easy to get distracted by the flashing “Sale!” signs. Make a list of what you need and focus on those items.
• Shop Online Early: Many online retailers release their Black Friday deals early. This gives you a head start and lets you avoid the crowds.

Your Black Friday FAQs, answered by shopping experts

When is Thanksgiving 2024?

Thanksgiving is late this year, falling on Thursday, November 28, 2024.

When is Black Friday 2024?

This year, Black Friday and its much-anticipated sales will occur on Friday, November 29, 2024.

Are early Black Friday deals worth shopping for?

We recommend shopping early for items that are likely to sell out, such as perennial gift favorites like Xbox, Ugg boots, PS5, Apple AirPods, the editor-approved Dyson AirWrap and more.

Can I shop Black Friday sales online?

Yes! Most stores and big box retailers continue to hold traditional in-store Black Friday sales but also match discounts for online shoppers. According to the National Retail Federation, Black Friday has topped Cyber Monday as the busiest day of the calendar year for online shopping since 2019.

Why is it called “Black Friday”?

The earliest usage of “Black Friday” as we know it dates back to the 1950s or ’60s, with “black” nodding to dreaded traffic jams caused by shoppers crowding downtown retail stores, as well as understaffed sales associates. Retailers attempted to rename the day “Big Friday” to signify a day of family fun and shopping. Although the rebrand didn’t stick, the positive connotation did. Retail businesses enjoy increased sales, and consumers enjoy corresponding holiday shopping discounts.

Despite being a great day for retailers, Black Friday still draws on the dark side of American consumerism, as many will remember violent crowds competing for limited merchandise. However, with the advent of internet shopping, retailers and e-tailers have continued to see record-breaking sales in recent years, without the morbid mob mentality kicking off the holiday season.

When is Cyber Monday 2024?

This year, the online shopping holiday Cyber Monday will take place on Monday, December 2, 2024.

Which is better, Black Friday or Cyber Monday?

The short answer is, it depends. Some retailers approach Black Friday and Cyber Monday differently, discounting various brands and products throughout the days after Thanksgiving, sometimes at different price points.

Traditionally, Cyber Monday offers retailers an opportunity to drop deeper discounts on already on-sale products. However, consumers should take caution: waiting for Cyber Monday is a risk that products, or certain sizes or models, may sell out.

Conversely, some stores don’t differentiate between their Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.

When is Travel Tuesday 2024?

Jet-setters rejoice: Travel Tuesday, with its great deals on flights, hotels, cruises, all-inclusives, and more, will take place on Tuesday, December 3, 2024.

Where can I find the best deals?

Right here! Follow Post Wanted shopping coverage for all the Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Travel Tuesday deals worth your coin in 2024.

For over 200 years, the New York Post has been America’s go-to source for bold news, engaging stories, in-depth reporting, and now, insightful shopping guidance. We’re not just thorough reporters – we sift through mountains of information, test and compare products, and consult experts on any topics we aren’t already schooled specialists in to deliver useful, realistic product recommendations based on our extensive and hands-on analysis. Here at The Post, we’re known for being brutally honest – we clearly label partnership content, and whether we receive anything from affiliate links, so you always know where we stand. We routinely update content to reflect current research and expert advice, provide context (and wit) and ensure our links work. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.