Target's Back in Black Friday Sale

You may or may not have seen me on KOMO 4 News last night discussing tomorrow's Back in Black sale at Target (& the other Christmas in July sales). You can preview some of the items that will be on sale at Target (online only) staring at midnight PST tonight here.

However, I want to take a few minutes to discuss the trend of Christmas in July sales with you.

1. Quantities are limited. Target has a history of overselling products & cancelling transactions. It happened to me a year or so ago. I had a confirmation number, my credit card was charged, & then the order was canceled by Target. So be aware that your order may get canceled. You might get lucky, you might not...but just go into it knowing that.
2. Use your credit card. Don't use your debit card! When Target canceled my order that I just mentioned, my credit card was credited right away. However other people online were complaining that it took 4 or 5 days to get their money back into their checking accounts. Skip the debit cards & use a credit card & save yourself the hassle.
3. Compare prices elsewhere! As you saw on KOMO, I found several items either identically priced, just a few dollars more, or even cheaper elsewhere...& all are available right now. I like to use Amazon or Shopzilla for quick searches to see if I can find a better price. Don't let the "Christmas in July" hype brainwash you; verify that this is in fact, a good deal before you hit "purchase."
4. Target has not indicated what the shipping fees will be for the sale items. Those can add up, so add the item you want to your cart & check the shipping. It may or may not be a deal if the shipping is high.
5. Make sure you don't buy more than you need! I know this sounds obvious, but retailers will do anything to create a sense of urgency & get people to make a purchase. If you do purchase anything during these sales, be careful not to overspend in the upcoming months. There will be sale after sale from now until the holidays & you will always find a great deal. Don't buy "just one more thing" because it's a bargain. When you're done, you're done. Otherwise you might blow your holiday budget on little purchases here & there.
6. There will always be another sale. If you miss out on something you want tomorrow, don't fret. Retailers are hurting & you can rest assured the deals will continue to roll out as the holidays get closer.

Remember, Target's Back in Black sale starts tonight at midnight PST. If you see something on the preview site that you like, I'd recommend staying up late to order it if you're on the west coast, or set your alarm & get up bright & early if you live in another time zone. Leave a comment if you snag a deal!