Your Thanksgiving prep list is probably feeling gargantuan right now. You have to order the turkey, iron the tablecloth, make the pie crust — while I hate to tack one more thing onto your already packed to-do list, you might want to add “shop Black Friday deals” to the mix. Yes, that’s right — unlike in previous years, when Black Friday was a 24-hour affair, it’s become an entire month of sales (aka “Black November”). That means you’ll want to get your savings plan in place pronto — and here at Yahoo, our team of shopping editors is here to help you navigate the markdown madness to keep things stress-free.

But first, just what should you be spending your time (and hard-earned cash) on? After all, not all Black Friday deals are created equal. I spoke with retail experts and got the scoop on what you can expect this year — plus, I’ve included some early Black Friday deals I’ve got my eye on.

What to buy during Black Friday 2025

While there’s a chance that not every single item on your wish list will be discounted for Black Friday, it’s safe to assume that many top brands will offer markdowns — and for some, it’ll be their largest sale event of the year. So what can you expect to save big on?

“Black Friday still delivers some of the biggest price drops of the season, especially on high-ticket categories,” says RetailMeNot Retail Insights Expert Stephanie Carls. “Retailers know this is the moment shoppers are ready to make a move, so they tend to save their strongest offers for this week.

Here’s what usually wins:

• TVs and home entertainment: Big screens and soundbars are the classic Black Friday power plays. Best Buy, Walmart, Amazon and Target bring out their best prices because they know shoppers are ready to upgrade. It is one of the few categories where the hype really does match the savings.

• Large appliances: Washers, dryers, refrigerators and dishwashers often hit some of their lowest prices of the year. Home Depot, Lowe’s, Best Buy and Costco usually compete pretty hard here, especially on last year’s models. If something at home has been hanging on, this is the week to check.

• Smart home devices: Video doorbells, smart speakers, security cameras and smart thermostats will drop in price at Amazon, Target, Best Buy and Walmart. These tend to sell quickly because shoppers use Black Friday to upgrade their homes or knock out a bigger gift in one move.

• Laptops and tablets: You will see strong tech deals on Black Friday, especially on mid-range laptops, Chromebooks and tablets. Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart tend to drop prices early, and some of the better picks sell out before Cyber Monday even starts.

• Home essentials and small appliances: Vacuums, cookware sets, air fryers and countertop appliances are usually priced to move. These categories work for both gifts and anyone updating their home.

• Travel Tuesday: The day after Cyber Monday has become a sleeper hit for flights, hotels, cruises, and vacation packages. If you are planning travel for 2025 (and even into 2026), this is one of the best places to find it.

• Beauty: Beauty is always strong during Black Friday. Sephora, Ulta, Macy’s and Nordstrom roll out deals on sets, fragrances and limited-edition holiday kits. Prestige brands do not go on sale often, so shoppers wait for this moment to grab the items they’ve been saving in their carts.

• Clothing: Clothing is a solid Black Friday category every year. Old Navy, Gap, Madewell, Abercrombie and more usually roll out deep percent-off deals on sweaters, denim, outerwear and shoes. It’s an easy way to grab gifts and refresh the basics your closet needs.”

Shopping expert Trae Bodge of TrueTrae.com agrees: “Retailers across the board will be offering deep discounts on tech, fall apparel, small home appliances and beauty products, especially gift sets. My followers DM me all the time about sales, especially laptops!”

What not to buy during Black Friday 2025

While there aren’t hard and fast rules about what to avoid during Black Friday — as mentioned, many items will be on sale for their lowest prices of the year, or ever — there are some things to consider as you browse. “Things are more unpredictable than usual because of tariffs,” explains Bodge. “Expect higher prices on imported items, and, possibly, lower inventory on ‘hot’ gifts. We can also expect that discounts won’t be as deep as we’re accustomed to.”

With that in mind, Bodge notes that “spending priorities are shifting,” with more shoppers likely to focus more on necessities. If you’re looking to cut costs this season, stocking up on essentials is a smart idea (but don’t forget to treat yourself too!).

Shopping strategies for Black Friday

• Have a plan: “Go into the weekend with a shortlist,” advises Carls. “Use Black Friday for the bigger savings and the categories that reliably drop. Then, check Cyber Monday for gifts, beauty and clothing. When you shop that way, you get the best of both days without feeling like you are chasing every sale.”

• Research, research, research: “For online shopping, browser extensions are very helpful,” Bodge says. “Once installed on your computer, plug-ins work in the background to find cash-back opportunities and coupons that can be applied to your order. … You can search for a specific item to see where it’s being sold and for how much. You can set price alerts, and sometimes, the tool will surface coupons for you. … I also like a tool like Yahoo Shopping.” (Aw, thanks, Trae!)

• Don’t believe everything you see: As someone who tracks markdowns for a living, I’ll be the first to tell you that just because something is called a deal, it doesn’t mean it is one. Starting prices often get a boost in the days or weeks before a large shopping event to make it seem like you’re saving more than you really are. To get a better sense of a product’s price history, you can consult a tracker like Honey, or let our team of shopping pros do the work for you. We’ll be on the hunt for the best Black Friday deals from now through the end of November, sharing our vetted picks. Speaking of which…

Best Black Friday deals to shop now