4-Minute Money Monday
Read time: 4 min
What's inside today:
How retailers inflate prices before the sale
The 4-step Before-You-Buy Filter to test any deal
The question that prevents impulse spending in real time
👋 Hey, it's Travis
Years ago, I walked into a Black Friday sale convinced I was getting a deal.
70% off TVs. 50% off kitchen appliances. "Doorbusters" everywhere. I walked out feeling like I’d saved hundreds.
Then I got home and did the actual math.
Turned out that TV was the same price it had been in September. The appliances? Cheaper on Amazon two weeks later. The "doorbuster" laptop had last year's specs marked up before being "discounted" 50%. I didn't really save anything, I just felt like I did.
This week's Money Monday is about the Black Friday math retailers don't want you doing, so you can actually spot real deals instead of manufactured urgency.
🏷️ The Markup Game: How "Sales" Work
Here's what most people don't realize about Black Friday pricing:
Step 1: Inflate the "original price"
Retailers mark items up 30-50% in October, then slash them on Black Friday to look like massive savings. That $500 TV "marked down from $800"? It was never actually $800. They raised it to $800 specifically so they could discount it.
Step 2: Create artificial scarcity
"Only 3 left at this price!" "Doorbuster - while supplies last!"
Translation: That want you to buy fast before you have time to compare, think or price match.
Step 3: Hide the real cost
"$30/month for 24 months - 0% interest!"
Sounds better than "$720" doesn't it? That's the point. It feels more manageable when the numbers are smaller, you're more likely to say yes.
Bottom line: You're not saving money. You’re being pushed to spend faster than you normally would on things you likely wouldn’t have bought at full price.
📊 The Before-You-Buy Black Friday Filter
Here's how to know if something is actually a deal:
Question 1: What was this price 2 months ago?
Use CamelCamelCamel for Amazon prices or Google the product name + "price history."
If it's the same price or cheaper than it was in September/October, it's not a Black Friday deal. It's just the regular price with marketing.
Question 2: Do I need this, or do I want it because it's "on sale"?
Be honest: Would you buy this at full price?
If no, then you don't actually need it. The discount is just making you feel justified in buying something you didn't want yesterday.
Question 3: Can I wait 2 weeks?
Real deals stick around. Manufactured urgency doesn't.
If you can't find this same price on December 1st, it wasn't that good of a deal to begin with. Most "Black Friday exclusives" show up again during Cyber Monday, then again mid-December, then again after Christmas.
Question 4: Does this fit my actual budget?
A 60% discount on something you can't afford is still something you can't afford. $200 saved on a $500 purchase still means you spent $300. If you don't have $300 in your discretionary budget, it's not a deal, it's debt.
💰 The Real Black Friday Wins
Not every Black Friday deal is fake. Some are legitimately good. Here's what's usually worth it:
✅ Electronics with last year's model
Retailers genuinely discount old inventory to make room for new stock. A 2024 iPad at 40% off? That's real.
✅ Big-ticket items you already planned to buy
If you were going to buy a mattress in November anyway, and it's actually cheaper than it was in September, great. Buy it.
✅ Staples you'll use no matter what
If it's something you buy regularly (diapers, batteries, toiletries) and it's legitimately cheaper in bulk, stock up.
The best Black Friday strategy: Make your list before Black Friday starts. If it wasn't on your list before the sale, don't buy it during the sale.
🛑The One Question That Stops Impulse Buys
When you're standing there, deal in hand, ask yourself:
"If this wasn't on sale, would I buy it next week at full price?"
If the answer is no, put it back. The discount isn't saving you money. It's just making you spend money you weren't going to spend. A $100 discount on something you don't need is still $0 saved and $X spent.
✅ Money Moves to Make This Week
🎯 Action 1: Set your Black Friday budget (10 minutes)
Decide right now, before the deals hit - what's my max budget for Black Friday? Write it down, that's your limit.
🎯 Action 2: Make your pre-approved list (15 minutes)
Write down all the things you were planning to buy this Black Friday. This is your first draft.
🎯 Action 3: Question each choice and trim (10 minutes)
Ask yourself the questions outlined above and trim the list. Be honest with yourself. Only buy those things on Black Friday. Nothing else, no last minute deals or 'I gotta have this' mentality.
Do this now before Black Friday starts tempting you with "deals" you don't need. You'll thank yourself in January.
💬 Fund(amental) Quote of the Week
"The best way to save money on Black Friday is to not show up."
If you don’t track as you go, you will overspend. The deals are designed to make you lose track. Use the tracker or use paper. The method doesn’t matter. The accountability does.
Until next Monday,
Travis
Disclaimer: The information in 4-Minute Money Monday is for educational purposes only and isn’t financial advice. Everyone’s situation is different — always do your own research or consult a qualified advisor before making major financial decisions.