What to buy and avoid during Black Friday to get the best bang for your buck

Black Friday used to be dubbed the unofficial start to the holiday shopping season, but deals began way before the Thanksgiving turkey popped into the oven.With discounts that are too good to pass up, it’s easy to excitedly add just about everything in your cart — but, it’s important to take the time to truly understand what’s worth your money and what isn’t.According to a recent Bain & Company report, U.S.retail sales between Black Friday and Cyber Monday are “forecast to rise 5% year over year to $75 billion ‘for the first time ever.” This comes as no surprise, as online shopping offers ample convenience, shopping options and research opportunities compared to in-person shopping.RELATED: Black Friday 2024 predictions and trends, according to shopping expertsOur Post Wanted team is comprised of professional product testers, deal-hunters and brand pros.

That’s why we’re so committed to helping you find the best deals on Black Friday and beyond.So, we’re telling you *exactly* what to buy (and what to avoid!) so you’re best prepared to conquer all the savings hitting the internet.“Over the past several years, we’ve seen significant changes in the holiday sales periods; rather than being confined to just two days, retailers now start sales earlier and extend them longer,” Ally Anderson, director of strategy and insights at LTK with more than 10 years of experience in digital marketing strategy, shared with The Post.

“This shift aligns with consumer shopping habits, which have evolved to start holiday shopping earlier in the season.Our recent LTK holiday shopper study confirms this, showing a growing trend of consumers kicking off their holiday purchases well before Black Friday.

According to the study, 58% of the general population will start shopping by the end of October.”As you can imagine, smart TVs come in thousands of different models and are one of the best product categories to comb through on Black Friday.After all, ...