Live larger by taking advantage of Black Friday deals

Black Friday can be cutthroat, but that’s because the deals offered are frequently incredible. If you want to live luxuriously on a budget, do your Christmas shopping on Black Friday—but also pick up a thing or two for yourself! You’ll be surprised at how far your dollar will go. Here are a few of the finer things you should pick up this Black Friday.

1. TVs

Marked-down TVs are not likely to be cutting-edge (high-end TVs get their prices cut in January, in anticipation of the Super Bowl), but the good news is that, like computers, the resolution and clarity of new TVs is racing forward, so even last year’s model will be light-years ahead of the five-year-old clunker you’ve been procrastinating replacing.  If you’re looking for an extra television for a spare room or living area, Black Friday is a great time to shop. If you want the big, impressive centerpiece for your media center, check again after Christmas.

2. Tablets

If you or someone you care about hasn’t jumped on the tablet bandwagon, now is the time! With Android devices quickly catching up to iPad in market share, prices are much more competitive and the level of quality you can get for the money is higher than ever. Tablet sellers hungry for market share will be posting extremely attractive Black Friday tablet deals, so it’s a great time to go shopping for one.

3. Laptops

This is a similar situation to what you find with televisions—you won’t get the highest-end laptops significantly marked-down (for instance, the Apple Store’s Black Friday deals leave a lot to be desired)—but hungry competitors will be practically giving their laptops away to show that their products are worth your consideration. In particular, look for student laptops—these are the most frequent Christmas gifts, so sellers race to the bottom on price.

4. Video Games and Blu-Ray

These are perfect items to shop for on Black Friday, because there is no difference in quality—other electronics manufacturers can skimp on their Black Friday offerings, but a Blu-Ray is a Blu-Ray is a Blu-Ray, no matter how much you pay for it. Especially look for discounts on boxed-sets—full series of TV shows, and anthologies like The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Star Wars. Blu-Ray manufacturers are being hounded by free torrent sites, so they’re grasping for relevance with lower and lower prices—and that will never be more true than on Black Friday.

5. Kitchen Items

All the little things add up, and kitchen gear is no exception. Black Friday is a great time to pick up new cookware, pots and pans, and the mobbing will be a little less furious than, say, the crowds for the latest toy or electronic gadget. In particular, hunt for discounts on infrequently-used items, like fondue pots and bread makers. Other more frequently-used appliances like microwaves and blenders will be discounted in anticipation of being given as gifts to young newlyweds or college students, so the quality won’t be as high—but they will definitely be deeply discounted.

Patricia Shuler is a BBGeeks.com staff writer from Oakland, California. She’s an admitted tech-junkie who’s quick to share her honest opinion on all things consumer electronic—including up-to-date news, user reviews, and “no holds barred” opinions on a variety of social media, tech, computer, and mobile accessories topics.