Learn

Personal Resource Center

The Truth About Holiday Deals

Magnifying glass icon
Do you know the real difference between Black Friday and Cyber Monday?

Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday Deals Week

Though Black Friday has been around longer, Cyber Monday has also emerged as one of the biggest shopping days of the year. However, you may not be sure what the difference is between the two. Knowing what deals are worth pursuing on Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday can help you stick to your holiday shopping budget.

The biggest difference is that Cyber Monday takes place exclusively online.3 Additionally, while Black Friday deals are leaked as early as October, Cyber Monday deals are largely unknown until that week.

The other big difference between the days: which products have the best sales.4 Black Friday sales usually center around expensive tech items. This includes smartphones, TVs, laptops, headphones, and speakers. The best Cyber Monday deals tend to be for smaller appliances such as vacuums, stand mixers, and espresso machines.

 

How to Budget for Holiday Spending

Want to shop during Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or any other holiday events? It's important to start planning now so you don't end up in the red at the end of the year.

First, review your budget early on and decide how much you can afford to spend during the holidays. Then start setting aside some money each month leading up to the shopping season. You can even open a separate savings account just for your holiday funds so there's less temptation to spend it on other expenses.

Next, do some research to be sure a sale you're considering is really a good deal. You can use a price-tracking browser extension or app5 to find out if a price is truly discounted compared to the rest of the year. These tools can also let you know if a better price can be found elsewhere or if there is a current promo code that can knock it down further. Want to be notified if the price drops in the future? These tools will let you do that too.

The deep discounts on Black Friday may be few and far between compared to the earlier years, but that doesn't mean you can't still score good deals. By planning and saving ahead of time — and weighing your options — you can stick to your budget, save money on your holiday gifts, and make sure no one gets cut from the list.


Synovus Holiday Savings Account

Important disclosure information

This content is general in nature and does not constitute legal, tax, accounting, financial or investment advice. You are encouraged to consult with competent legal, tax, accounting, financial or investment professionals based on your specific circumstances. We do not make any warranties as to accuracy or completeness of this information, do not endorse any third-party companies, products, or services described here, and take no liability for your use of this information.

  1. Matt Egan, "Record Online Discounts Are Coming This Holiday Season," CNN, published October 5, 2023, accessed November 3, 2023. Back
  2. Hayley Peterson, “13 Ways Black Friday Retailers Trick You," Kiplinger, published October 21, 2019, accessed July 30, 2021. Back
  3. Big Commerce Essentials, “What Is Cyber Monday?," Big Commerce Essentials, accessed November 3, 2023. Back
  4. Sarah Handley, “Black Friday Vs. Cyber Monday: Which Has The Better Deals?," Good To Know, published October 26, 2023, accessed November 3, 2023, Back
  5. Adam Oram, Zachary McAuliffe, Alexandra Garrett, Alison DeNisco Rayome, “These Browser Extensions and Apps Can Save You Money When Shopping Online" CNET, published September 30, 2023, accessed November 3, 2023. Back