A Black Friday Budget in Three Numbers: Total, Per-Item Max, and the Leftover
- Number 1: the total
- Number 2: a max price for each item
- Number 3: the leftover
- Small rules that help
- Where to keep it
- Tools that help
Most holiday overspending does not come from one big purchase. It comes from a lot of reasonable-looking ones that nobody added up. Three numbers fix most of that.
Number 1: the total
Decide one amount for the whole sales period (Black Friday through Cyber Monday). Base it on cash you already have or will have before the card bill is due, not on your credit limit. If you are also buying holiday gifts, decide whether this total includes them. Mixing the two is a common way to spend twice.
Number 2: a max price for each item
Split the total across the 3 to 8 things you actually plan to buy, and give each one a ceiling. Write the ceiling next to the item. During the sale you are only checking one thing: is the price at or below the ceiling?
Number 3: the leftover
Total minus everything bought so far. Update it after every purchase. When it reaches zero, you are done, even if there are more deals. A visible leftover number is surprisingly effective at ending the “one more” loop.
Small rules that help
- No new items on the day. If something not on the list looks great, add it to next year’s list instead.
- Watch the free-shipping threshold. Adding a $15 item to save $6 shipping is spending $9 more.
- Be careful with buy now, pay later. Split payments still count against the total on the day you buy.
- Free trials: write down the renewal date when you start one, and cancel a day or two early.
Where to keep it
A small spreadsheet works best because it does the subtraction for you: list, ceilings, purchases and a running leftover. Keep it open on your phone while you shop.
Tools that help
- Black Friday Deal Tracker spreadsheet ($2.99, Google Sheets + Excel): set a total, track target vs sale prices, and see spent, saved and left, per person and in total: https://smartbudgetsheet.gumroad.com/l/ykmstz?utm_source=nostr&utm_campaign=bf_article
- Black Friday budget calculator: https://smartbudgetsheets.surge.sh/calculators/black-friday-budget-calculator/?utm_source=nostr
- Christmas gift budget calculator: https://smartbudgetsheets.surge.sh/calculators/christmas-gift-budget-calculator/?utm_source=nostr
- Price in Work Hours, a free Chrome extension that shows prices as hours of your work: https://smartbudgetsheets.surge.sh/extensions/price-in-work-hours/?utm_source=nostr
- 42 free budget templates, pay what you want ($0 is fine): https://smartbudgetsheet.gumroad.com/l/ngpkrb?utm_source=nostr
General information, not financial advice.
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