Shopping

Everything You Need to Know About Shopping the Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sales

Explore our helpful guide to shopping the biggest deal event of the year

Corner of a white dining room with wooden sideboard, wooden dining table, plates on wall, table lamps, candles and flowers
(Image credit: Jonathan Bond Photography)

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are, without a doubt, the biggest shopping events of the year for securing excellent discounts (especially for products for the home).

And that is where we come in. Here at Homes & Gardens, throughout the year, we have a team of dedicated product experts and shopping editors who work tirelessly to test everything from the best non toxic air fryers to the best Dyson alternatives, and who research and stay on top of all of the latest homeware trends, helping you to invest in quality products to enhance your home and lifestyle. Our experts not only know these products inside out, but they also know the best places to shop for them, too.

Quick Links

If you want to see what our favorite big retailers and brands have on offer right now, here are quick links to the sales we recommend shopping.

How We Find the Best Deals for Your Home

Each of our editors has their own specialism. Lydia looks after our kitchen content, reviewing everything from the best blenders to researching the best refrigerator brands. Dan covers the best vacuums, and hunts down all the latest offerings from Dyson, Shark, and Bissell. Charlotte from our interiors team has her eye on all things chic homeware and the best furniture deals and Ottilie loves all things home fragrance, including rounding up the best candles.

In the lead-up to Black Friday, Cyber Monday and during the event, our expert team will channel their retailer and product knowledge to hunt for only the very best deals on products that they actually love or have tested.

FAQs

Should You Shop Black Friday Early?

Black Friday deals started dropping as early as November 1st in 2025 (yes, you read that right). So, with that in mind, it's smart to wonder if you should hold out until the big day or shop Black Friday early. It can feel like a real lose-lose. If you buy now, you could miss out on the huge savings on the day itself, but if you wait too long, the gadget you've had your eye on all year could quickly sell out.

Leo Smigel, personal finance expert and founder of Analyzing Alpha says, 'while the conventional wisdom suggests waiting for the main event might secure the best bargains, this isn't necessarily true in today's retail climate. Black Friday, once a frantic day of retail madness, has morphed into a more protracted and accessible event'.

Not only is there little risk with buying early, you can even find some better deals. Last year we recommended a deal on one of the best vacuums for pet hair. The vacuum was a remarkably good deal; the price plummeted from $309.99 to $99, however, the price then jumped back up to $172, so it didn't pay off to wait.

Our advice ultimately boils down to a simple rule of thumb. If the product you're looking for is a necessity and you see a good early discount, we would recommend purchasing, but if the product is more of a 'nice-to-have', hold out until Black Friday and try your luck.

a headshot of finance expert Leo Smigel
Leo Smigel

Leo is a personal finance expert and the founder of Analyzing Alpha, a business dedicated to algorithmic trading. He uses data science to determine what works in the markets when trading and investing.

When Is the Best Time to Shop Home Deals?

There's always a home deal somewhere, that's the beauty of having so many sites and so many experts (like us) at your fingertips. While Black Friday tends to see the biggest discounts, it's not the only time to grab a discount. Major retailers are almost always selling off old stock at a discount, and every major federal holiday has its own sales event. The big events, such as Black Friday, holiday sales, Memorial Day, July 4th, Presidents' Day and Prime Day will have some of the best sales, but there's plenty to go around in between.

It's also worth remembering that good discounts will roll around on seasonal items in off-peak times. For example, if you want the latest grill or some chic outdoor furniture, you're best buying them during fall, when all the prices drop post-summer.

Zara Stacey
Content Editor

Zara joined Homes & Gardens in February 2022 as a Content Editor. After studying English Literature at University, she worked as an Ecommerce Website Editor, Content Writer and Buying Intern at multiple independent businesses within the luxury retail and lifestyle sectors. Her role at Homes & Gardens unites her love, experience and passion for the world of design and desire to create inspiring written content. She enjoys nothing more than discovering new trends, brands and products, whether that be in fashion, interior design or lifestyle.

With contributions from