Black Friday shopping tradition continues, could see record number of consumers
MILWAUKEE - Black Friday is on Friday, Nov. 29, but the deals started days ago – and so has the spending.
"Got to be ahead of the game," said Torre Williams, a holiday shopper.
It's a method Williams is not sleeping on.
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"I mean, the cost of living is extremely expensive. From groceries on out," he said. "I got a big family, so just trying to save as much as I can."
That's why Williams said he started his holiday shopping three weeks ago.
"The more I save, more presents I can give," Williams said.
It's a reality folks can relate to, especially when it comes to spending this season.
The National Retail Federation expects a little under $1 trillion will be spent between November and December. Experts say spending will increase 6-8% more than 2023 and that it’s because of inflation.
"The prices are a little higher than pre-pandemic, so you need to be careful with your budget and the stuff you're going to buy," financial expert Carlos Guaman said. "If not, you are going to spend a lot of money."
Financial experts like Guaman say looking for deals on days like Black Friday and Cyber Monday can help you save.
Holiday spending could set record this year; Black Friday most popular
FOX6's Kennedy Hayes joins FOX6 WakeUp with a preview.
"It's online and you can compare from many different websites to see which one is going to give you the better deal," Guaman said.
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A deal Williams knows all too well, so he can kick back and enjoy the holidays, knowing the heavy lifting is already done.
"I always use coupons. A lot of websites," he said. "Free shipping is key, so yea if you go over $50, then yeah, you have to take advantage of that."
If you're only shopping online, consumer experts say a good rule of thumb to remember: if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.