Black Friday Savings and Shopping: 2020 Edition
ByAnna Baluch
UpdatedMay 28, 2025
- Black Friday is no longer a single day, and you don't have to duke it out in person.
- Look to buy what you want early. Plan your spending and look for deals with apps, social media and online comparison sites.
- Shop safe with pre-orders and curbside pickup.
Black Friday is fast approaching! If you’d like to take advantage of the country’s favorite day of bargains during this pandemic era, safety should be your utmost priority. While you may have to forgo your annual tradition of waking up at the crack of dawn, waiting in long lines, and navigating large crowds, you can still score some great deals. Here’s a closer look at how you can enjoy Black Friday savings while keeping yourself and your loved ones safe.
Get to know retailer safety measures
As a result of the virus, many retailers are implementing special safety measures to make Black Friday shopping safe and enjoyable. It’s a good idea to become familiar with them so that you can adjust your plans accordingly. Several of these safety measures include:
Longer sales: To prevent crowded stores on November 27th, some retailers are offering the same deals the week or even month leading up to the day. If you have your eye on a particular item, you may be able to save just as much money by buying it before Black Friday.
Pre-orders and curbside pickup: By accepting pre-orders and curbside pickup, retailers are limiting the interaction between customers and their sales associates. Pre-orders and curbside pickup can be a good option if you know exactly what you’d like to buy and want to avoid searching for your items in store.
New in-store protocols: To ensure customers feel safe in their stores, some retailers are limiting how many people can enter at one time, reducing store hours, requiring masks, and providing hand sanitizer. If you prefer to shop in store, these protocols should make you feel a bit more comfortable.
Online deals: Although online Black Friday shopping has been a tradition for decades, it may be even more popular than usual this year. You may find that retailers that only offered in-person doorbusters are now promoting Black Friday savings online. This is great news as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests we avoid shopping in crowded stores right before, on, or after Thanksgiving. They highly recommend Americans shop online rather than in person on the day after Thanksgiving.
How to save on Black Friday
Now that you know how retailers are planning to create a safe shopping experience in the midst of the pandemic, here are some tips on how to save on Black Friday.
Follow retailers on social media: Follow the pages of your favorite retailers on social media. This way you won’t miss out on any Black Friday promotions. If you don’t watch a lot of TV and tend to throw out ads you get in the mail, social media can help you stay in the know. You can also subscribe to email newsletters, and even get additional discounts when you sign up.
Plan your Black Friday shopping: Tons of impulse buys on items that you don’t really need or want can push you into debt this holiday season. Therefore, it’s a good idea to plan your Black Friday purchases beforehand. Jot down a list of how much you have, what you’d like to spend your money on and then stick to it.
Don’t forget about coupons: Just because you find a great Black Friday deal doesn’t mean you can’t use coupons to save even more. Depending on the retailer and item, you may be able to cash in on extra savings with coupons. RetailMeNot, Honey, and com can help you find coupons and discount codes.
Abandon your cart: This is a tick that has been discussed by some online savings advocates. If you’re shopping online and can’t find any relevant coupons or discount codes, place the items you’d like in your cart and leave the website. A few online retailers may send you an email or ad from their site with a coupon. Strategically abandoning your cart might just lead to additional discounts you may not be able to find elsewhere.
Cyber Monday will be big this year: Don’t forget about savings opportunities on Cyber Monday. Retailers should be even more prepared to give those last chance discounts in the totally safe environment of online shopping.
Download browser extensions and apps: There are a number of browser extensions and apps that inform you of cheaper prices and deals, so consider downloading them. A few options you may want to try include Flipp and Shopsavvy.
Be smarter about debt this Black Friday
In addition to capitalizing on Black Friday savings, use this holiday to it to learn how to better manage your debt. The less debt you have, the more enjoyable Black Friday shopping can be. If you’re struggling with debt, download our free How to Manage Debt Guide to learn about your options now. This free information is a great way to start taking ownership of your money and move toward a more secure financial future.
Learn More
10 Holiday Shopping Debt Traps You Need to Avoid (Freedom Debt Relief)
Balances at a Historic Low: Time to Get Credit Card Debt Under Control (Freedom Debt Relief)
The Credit Card Sign Up Bonus: Too Good to Be True? (Freedom Debt Relief)
Top 10 Black Friday Shopping Tips (Freedom Debt Relief)
Debt relief by the numbers
We looked at a sample of data from Freedom Debt Relief of people seeking credit card debt relief during April 2025. This data reveals the diversity of individuals seeking help and provides insights into some of their key characteristics.
Age distribution of debt relief seekers
Debt affects people of all ages, but some age groups are more likely to seek help than others. In April 2025, the average age of people seeking debt relief was 53. The data showed that 23% were over 65, and 14% were between 26-35. Financial hardships can affect anyone, no matter their age, and you can never be too young or too old to seek help.
Credit card debt - average debt by selected states.
According to the 2023 Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) the average credit card debt for those with a balance was $6,021. The percentage of families with credit card debt was 45%. (Note: It used 2022 data).
Unsurprisingly, the level of credit card debt among those seeking debt relief was much higher. According to April 2025 data, 88% of the debt relief seekers had a credit card balance. The average credit card balance was $16,635.
Here's a quick look at the top five states based on average credit card balance.
| State | Average credit card balance | Average # of open credit card tradelines | Average credit limit | Average Credit Utilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $17,984 | 7 | $24,102 | 81% |
| Alaska | $19,343 | 9 | $28,791 | 79% |
| Arkansas | $14,227 | 9 | $27,261 | 78% |
| Kentucky | $12,929 | 8 | $25,731 | 78% |
| Alabama | $14,363 | 8 | $26,156 | 77% |
The statistics are based on all debt relief seekers with a credit card balance over $0.
Are you starting to navigate your finances? Or planning for your retirement? These insights can help you make informed choices. They can help you work toward financial stability and security.
Manage Your Finances Better
Understanding your debt situation is crucial. It could be high credit use, many tradelines, or a low FICO score. The right debt relief can help you manage your money. Begin your journey to financial stability by taking the first step.
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Written by
Anna Baluch
Anna Baluch is a freelance writer who enjoys writing about all personal finance topics. She’s particularly interested in mortgages, retirement, insurance, and investing.
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