Cypress Mill November 2018

ONE COMPANY.
ONE AGENT.
MANY WAYS TO SAVE.
Let me help you save time and money.
Protecting more of your world with Allstate makes your life easier.
And it can put more money in your pocket. Bundle your policies and
you can save even more. Why wait? Call me today.
Warren Sloan
(713) 464-4442
1400 W. Sam Houston Pkwy. N #130
Houston
warrensloan@allstate.com
Subject to terms, conditions and availability. Savings vary. Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Co., Allstate Fire
and Casualty Insurance Co., Allstate Insurance Co., Allstate Texas Lloyd’s, Allstate Indemnity Co., Allstate Vehicle and
Property Insurance Co. Northbrook, Illinois © 2011 Allstate Insurance Co.
87877
7 ESSENTIAL BLACK FRIDAY
SHOPPING TIPS
Believe it or not, Black Friday is almost here.
But before you make a single purchase, there
are a few things we recommend you do. Remember,
Black Friday was created by retailers
to benefit retailers. But with our pointers
below, you’ll be able to turn the tables and
ensure you make the wisest buying decisions
throughout the holiday season.
Make a list, check it twice: One of the worst
things you can do during the holidays is purchase
items blindly without a shopping list.
This is true whether you shop online or in-store.
Shopping without a specific list causes you to
spend more and purchase items that you may
not necessarily need. By creating a shopping
list with specific items, you avoid falling into
the trap of buying unnecessary stuff.
Embrace your inner Scrooge: So you’ve
found what looks like the perfect deal and
you’re ready to pull the trigger. Stop. Before
you buy anything, there are two things you
should always do. First, use a price-comparison
engine such as Google Shopping,
ShopSavvy or PriceGrabber to make sure
you’re getting the best price on the item you
want to buy. It pays to shop around; you’ll
be surprised by how easy it is to find lower
prices. After you’ve done your homework
and ensured you’re not being overcharged,
find out if there are any perks to purchasing
from one store versus the other. Maybe you’re
an Amazon Prime member and Amazon’s offering
free next-day shipping. Or maybe you
have a Best Buy rewards card that promises
double points. Any opportunity to stack on
additional savings - even if small - should
not be missed.
Start your shopping early: Black Friday is
no longer a one-day event. As a matter of fact,
the best sales aren’t even released on Black
Friday, they’re actually unveiled throughout
Thanksgiving week. So the earlier you start
your shopping, the better your chances of
finding the items you want on sale and in
stock. In the past, we noticed some of the
best deals were released on the morning
of Thanksgiving Day. That’s not to say you
should avoid Black Friday, but be aware that
“Black Friday” is now a season that includes
most of November and December.
Be wary of doorbuster sales: Black Friday
wouldn’t be the same without a head-turning
doorbuster sale. However, these time-sensitive
sales were designed to lure shoppers
into stores in hopes of getting consumers to
spend on other nonessentials. Oftentimes, a
store will have a very limited number of doorbuster
items in stock. Moreover, they’ll release
them at odd hours in the morning. So unless
you’re first in line, your chances of scoring a
doorbuster deal are slim to none.
Get social: Want to get a leg up on the latest
Black Friday offerings? One of the best ways
to see what’s coming down the pipes is by
following your favorite retailers on social
media. Facebook and Twitter tend to be the
most active platforms for retailers, but don’t
be surprised if stores start using Instagram to
reveal secret coupon codes or early preview
deals as well.
Use one card: Data breaches are bound to
happen - especially during the holidays - and
the best way to safeguard yourself against any
potential identity theft is to limit the number
of credit cards you use during the holiday
season. While you could make your purchases
with cash only, there are many benefits to
using a credit card, whether you’re earning
cash-back rewards or using your card for the
added protections it offers.
Know your return policies: Retailers tend
to tweak their return policies during the holidays.
While some may extend them, others
might restrict them or increase their restocking
fees. Doorbuster and “final sale” products
tend to have the strictest policies, so be sure
you’re comfortable with a store’s policy before
you buy anything. Also, be sure to ask for and
save your receipts. You never know when you
may need them.
Source: www.tomsguide.com/us/black-friday-shopping-tips,news-26046.html
20
November 2018 | Cypress Mill Community Newsletter