Make the Most of Black Friday!

Spending money to save money can be a slippery slope. But with a little planning and a lot of self-discipline, you can get what you need and stick to your budget.

If you’re looking for Black Friday (or Cyber Monday) deals, follow these practical tips from NBC and NerdWallet:

Prioritize. Create a realistic shopping list and stay focused. This will help you avoid impulse buys.

Be open to different brands. You’ll have more deals to choose from if you consider products from multiple brands. Just remember to read reviews.

Price match. Many retailers will honor the prices of competitors.

Research return policies. Some Black Friday purchases may be excluded from standard return policies.

Use rewards cards (responsibly). You may see perks like higher cash-back rates or free shipping for holiday purchases.

Research bundle deals. For example, a retailer might offer a free charger with the purchase of a tablet or free accessories with a toy purchase.

Look for early deals. Over the past couple of years, retailers have made promotions available as early as October. This gives you more time to shop around for the best discounts and spread out your spending. It also gives you peace of mind that your gifts will arrive in time.

Be wary of “shrinkflation.” Many companies are offering smaller volumes of the same products to cut costs or avoid raising prices.

Download a money-saving app. These apps can automatically apply coupon codes to your online shopping carts, give you cash back or other rewards for purchases, or monitor the internet for deals on products you’re interested in.

With potentially months of deals instead of just 24 hours, there are many ways to save — if you’re smart about it.