Nobody needs to stand in a parking lot at 5 a.m. anymore. Black Friday now runs most of November, and you can shop all of it from the couch with a coffee.
The catch? A lot of those red sale tags are not sales. One price study found nearly a quarter of Black Friday items cost the same as they did a month earlier.
So here is the short list: 15 things that really do get cheaper around November 27, and 7 that are worth waiting on. We pulled it from AARP’s 2026 buying guide, deal editors and a few thrifty bloggers, and kept the picks that suit a house that already has most of what it needs.
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15 buys the experts say are worth it
1. A video doorbell or smart speaker
Smart home devices get some of the deepest cuts of the season, around 30% to 60% off according to AARP. Courtney Omell, an editor at The Krazy Coupon Lady, told AARP that manufacturers discount these heavily to bring you into their system. Think Ring doorbells, Echo speakers and Google Nest.
2. A new TV, if you are happy with last year’s model
AARP’s guide expects 20% to 50% off budget brands and last year’s models, with smaller discounts on the top-rated 2026 sets.
3. Headphones
Bluetooth headphones and speakers from Bose, Beats, JBL and Samsung may hit their best prices of the year, up to 50% off, per AARP.
4. An older-model iPad
Stephanie Carls, a retail analyst at RetailMeNot, told AARP she expects deep Apple discounts. Older iPads may drop by as much as 30%, and an older model is plenty for reading, recipes and video calls.
5. An older-series Apple Watch
The same logic applies. Last year’s watch does nearly everything this year’s does.
6. A laptop, with homework
Discounts run 15% to 40%, but Omell warns that laptop prices rose over the past year because of a memory chip shortage. Compare against last year’s price and check the specs before you call it a deal.
7. A stand mixer or other small kitchen appliance
Retailers clear small appliances before new models arrive, and Shand notes KitchenAid stand mixers often hit their best price of the year. NBC Select reporter Zoe Malin found the same pattern last year across blenders, coffee makers and space heaters.
8. A robot or cordless vacuum
Dyson, Shark and Roomba models may see up to 40% off, according to AARP. If hauling an upright up the stairs is getting old, this is the week.
9. Lego for the grandkids
Most toys get cheaper closer to Christmas, but Lego is the exception. The Classic Medium Creative Brick Box is the safe pick for almost any age. Julie Ramhold, senior editor at DealNews, told AARP that Lego discounts rarely go lower than the 40% seen over Thanksgiving weekend.
10. This year’s must-have toy
If a grandchild has asked for one specific thing, buy it when the price drops. Popular toys can sell out within hours, NBC Select reported.
11. Discounted gift cards
Carls expects retailers and restaurants to sell gift cards at about 20% off in November. Budget consultant Andrea Woroch also told AARP to look for offers like a free $10 card for every $50 spent, instead of paying face value.
12. A year of streaming
Subscriptions were among the steepest cuts NBC Select tracked last year, including a Hulu and Disney+ bundle at 62% off for a year.
13. An online class
The same NBC Select roundup found MasterClass at half price. A good one for the person who has everything.
14. Everyday clothes and shoes
AARP expects 30% to 50% off, with sitewide sales at stores like Gap and Old Navy.
15. Scarves and gloves
Heavy coats are not at their lowest yet (see below), but Ramhold says cold-weather accessories can be the better Black Friday deal.
7 things to skip for now
- Bedding and towels. Woroch told AARP the January white sales are cheaper.
- Flights and hotels. Wait for Travel Tuesday, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (December 1 this year). Skyscanner has reported 15% to 25% off flights bought that day.
- Winter coats and snow boots. Discounts are modest because winter has barely started.
- Off-brand doorbusters. Michelle Madhok, publisher of SheFinds, advises sticking to brands you know and checking model numbers and reviews.
- Bundles. Retailers often bundle items that are not selling. Buy only the piece you wanted.
- Mattresses and large appliances. NBC Select’s experts say discounts are about as good around Presidents’ Day.
- Furniture and beauty products. Carls told NBC Select these tend to drop further in December.
How to tell a real deal from a loud one
Rank your list by need before you open a single sale email. That advice came from Henry Jin, a professor of supply chain management at Miami University, in the NBC Select report, and it is the same rule frugal bloggers have repeated for years. Amanda Holstein of Advice from a Twenty Something saves Black Friday for big-ticket items that rarely go on sale, gifts, and quality pieces she wears daily, and warns against buying things only because they are discounted.
For the boring household basics, the writers at Thrifty Jinxy make a good case for buying a year’s worth once: air filters, razor blades, batteries, microfiber cloths. If any of those turn up in a sale, that is money you were going to spend anyway.
And if you want a listen while you wrap, NPR’s Life Kit has an episode called “Don’t fall for these marketing tactics this holiday season” on how to judge whether a discount is really a good price.
Discount ranges are forecasts and past-year examples from the sources linked above. Prices change daily, so check the current price before you buy.
Lead photo: Kaboompics.com / Pexels
