Hot Deals for Black Friday

Knowing what’s hot for the holiday season is important for this grandfather.

                                           Bruce Wallace

And knowing what the hot deals are for Black Friday is a priority for any grandfather looking to spoil his grandson.

I just wasn’t ready for “Black Friday Deals” the day after Halloween. We barely had the hundred or so photos of local spooks and goblins downloaded than I had my in-box filled with what to buy and what not to buy this holiday season.

So, it seems more urgent to talk holiday bargains than it is show a photo of my grandson in his Tigger costume.

Buy: Apple products

Traditionally, major retail stores such as Best Buy, Target and Walmart discount Apple products each year on Black Friday, and previous-generation models usually see the most dramatic deals.

Target devoted an entire page of its 2016 Black Friday ad to Apple. All iPod models were 20% off, and the Apple Watch Series 1 started at $198.

Skip: Toys

Toys are one of the seasonal purchase staples, but you might want to think twice before checking them off your list on Black Friday. Historically, it’s best to wait until closer to Christmas to purchase dolls, action figures and play sets. You run the risk that certain items will sell out, but you may also be able to find bigger savings on what’s left.

Be patient. Last year, in the final days before Christmas, select toys were on sale for as much as 50% off.

Buy: Electronics (TVs, tablets and smartphones)

Electronics deals are a Black Friday staple. In 2016, Walmart offered an impressive $125 deal on a 40-inch Element or Hisense HDTV. Best Buy discounted select Amazon Fire tablets by up to $30.

No matter where you choose to spend your Black Friday (or Thanksgiving), you’re almost guaranteed to find TV and tablet doorbusters.

Skip: Christmas decorations

You’ve likely seen the blowout post-Christmas clearance sales every year on Dec. 26 as you made your way to the store to return that gift that missed the mark. That’s when Christmas decorations, wrapping paper, tinsel and other seasonal trimmings reach super low prices (for obvious reasons).

If you can’t wait until after Christmas, hold off for a little while. Sure, you’ll see plenty of deals on artificial trees and rolls of wrapping paper on Black Friday — especially at home and craft stores — but retailers are particularly eager to slash prices closer to Dec. 25. In the days leading up to Christmas 2016, Big Lots took 50% off a selection of ornaments and decorations.

So my Black Friday shopping is set: Eat an enormous turkey dinner, give my wife a list of potential gifts and the credit card, then turn on the football game and take a nap.