With the best bargain shopping day of the year nearly here, shoppers are encouraged to start their homework now on products and prices.

• Read the Ads: Check local newspapers on Thanksgiving Day. Friday's papers will include additional sales and doorbusters. Get on retailers' email lists and look for deals and coupons listed on their Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages.
• Check the Fine Print: The fine print holds the most important information on advertisements, whether they be digital or print. Sometimes the store will advertise special Black Friday shopping hours, and the advertisement will also show the great sale prices of items, but the fine print will inform you the advertised sale prices do not start until the store’s regular shopping hours. Therefore, if you go in to shop during the store’s special hours, you may not find what you are anticipating to be on sale.
• Evaluate the Deals: Not all advertised items are great deals. To separate standard prices from great deals, always comparison shop. If you know what you are buying ahead of time, do some research online prior to heading out to the store. Even if you are in the store, don’t be shy to pull out your phone and do a quick search of the item to find out the price at other stores. Keep in mind, some stores are willing to price match competitor’s prices.
• Research the Right Product: A low price on a lousy product is no bargain. Just like “Evaluating the Deals” above, if you know what you are buying ahead of time, do some research online prior to heading to the store. Read customer reviews by real owners of the products you are thinking of buying, even if you find the reviews on a different website from the store you are thinking of purchasing at. If you are in the store, there is no shame in doing a quick search and seeing the ratings on an item prior to purchasing. These reviews may influence your decision to make that purchase.
• Save with Coupons: Sometimes stores will allow you to use coupons coupled with Black Friday deals. Always check the fine print of the coupon, but it doesn’t hurt to ask! If you are heading to the store, check the store’s website prior to leaving and bring a screenshot of the coupon with you.
• Be an Early Bird: Plot your route from store to store based on store opening times (and sales during that time-see “Check the Fine Print” above), and since quantities are very limited, arrive before the doors open. Send family members to different stores if opening times conflict. Generally, stores only have a few in stock of the items advertised at exceptional prices, and rain checks are not typically issued for these special sales.
• Check the Return Policy: Before buying, find out the store’s return policy. The return policy may influence your decision to make your purchase. While many stores have extended their return deadlines, others may charge a restocking fee, only give store credit, or be final sale purchases.
• Get a Gift Receipt: Make returns easier for gift recipients by asking the store for a gift receipt. A gift receipt will allow the recipient to return the gift without seeing the cost of the gift on the receipt. Without a receipt, a refund may be denied outright, or may be limited to only an equal exchange, or to a merchandise credit for the lowest price the item has sold for in the recent past.
• Use the Right Credit Card: Certain credit cards offer valuable free benefits. For example, don't be pressured into buying a service contract or protection plan when you can get up to an extra year of warranty coverage free or a warranty protection plan just by using a certain credit card. Ask your credit card issuer what length warranties qualify for an extra year of coverage, if any, or check the terms and conditions of your credit cards. Some credit cards also offer a return protection guarantee (they will refund the purchase price within 90 days if the store will not), or a sale price guarantee (they will give you back the difference if an item goes on sale within 60 days of purchase).
• Save More with Price Guarantees:The bargain shopping process does not end with a product purchase. Keep checking the prices of the items you bought. Since many stores offer a price protection guarantee, you may be entitled to get back some additional money if the seller or a competitor offers a lower price before Christmas.