Black Friday 2025: Buy This, Not That

Black Friday is one of the most popular shopping events of the year. Whether you prefer making purchases online or visiting the mall, there are already Black Friday deals announced for many popular shopping categories.   

Buy

• Electronics. While retailers may offer less significant deals due to tariffs, there will still be discounts on select Apple products (AirPods), laptops, speakers, and more. The iPhone 17 is an especially hot commodity this year but likely won’t see significant markdowns.¹ 
• Gaming systems. Black Friday is a fantastic time to purchase consoles and video games, like the PlayStation 5 Pro Console or desktop gaming systems. Look for savings from retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, and GameStop. Often, retailers will have gaming bundles that include the gaming console along with accessories or games for even steeper savings.   
• Home appliances. Do you need a new washer, dryer, refrigerator, or major kitchen appliance? Look for a replacement on Black Friday to score a great deal. Smaller appliances like coffee makers, toasters, and vacuums are available, too. For the latter, the Dyson V9 Motorbar™ vacuum is a popular option that many homeowners will love! 
• Travel deals. Do the holidays have you in the traveling mood? Lucky for you, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are fantastic times to strike bargains on hotel rooms, airfare, and excursions. Visit the websites of major airlines and online travel sites to see what’s available during this limited time. Note that deals may come with exclusions, such as booking the trip or scheduling travel during a set window.  
  • Tip: Get 24/7 access to Concierge Services² for travel, dining, and entertainment; special event perks; and no foreign transaction fees with General Electric Credit Union’s Visa Signature® card.² But it’s not just for travel–you’ll earn 2x the points on all purchases, whether your state-side or abroad!³ 

Skip

• Toys. Historically, you’ll discover bigger savings on toys closer to Christmas. But, note that in waiting you run the risk of a product going out of stock. This is important to consider especially if your child asked for one of this year’s most sought-after toys, like the interactive Ms. Rachel Speak & Sing Doll and Pop Mart's Labubu figures.
• Winter wear. Shopping for clothes out of season is still one of the best ways to save, especially in today’s economic climate. Fall and winter items are currently full price, but markdowns typically begin after the New Year when demand drops. Women’s boots are a possible exception, often featured in Black Friday and Cyber Monday doorbuster deals. In 2025, tariffs are also influencing prices—especially for imported apparel—so waiting for clearance sales can help offset these added costs.
• Holiday décor. The best time to buy holiday décor is right after the holiday in question is over. While this is a bummer if you wanted to add to your collection, it pays to hold off. Use what you already have this year then buy wrapping paper, yard decorations, and other seasonal trimmings at steep discounts after December 25^th. Both craft stores and big-box stores are likely to have the best deals.

Get the most out of shopping

Earn cash back or points 

Use a low-rate credit card at checkout to get rewarded for your purchases. The best credit cards give you the flexibility to redeem points for cash back, which can be applied to your statement balance. Be sure to pay the balance in full each payment cycle to avoid accruing interest.   

Another option is to download a browser extension like Rakuten or Honey. Note that these services won’t apply cash back to your statement balance. Instead, they may cut you a check, allow you to redeem cash back for gift cards, or allow you to transfer the balance to a linked Paypal account—depending on the service being used. Want to rebound from shopping even faster? Enlist both methods and layer on the cash back.  

• Do you know the common red flags of store credit cards? While they may appear enticing at the register, don’t get distracted by temporary perks. Learn what to look out for from Neil Peterson, GECU’s Chief Credit Officer.

Online shop–safely 

Online shopping’s popularity has been on the rise for years, and this trend will continue for Black Friday 2025. Scammers know this, so it’s important to stay vigilant and protect your personal information with some proactive safety measures. Update weak passwords to online accounts, only shop on secure sites (you’ll see the padlock symbol in the address bar), and enroll in eStatements to keep tabs on your transaction history and spot fraud quickly.  

Use a digital wallet

Digital wallets make holiday shopping fast and secure because they remove the need to even have your debit or credit card on hand! Instead, Apple Pay®, Google Pay™, and Samsung Pay™ encrypt your cardholder information and store it for use on your device. This keeps card and personal details safe, even in the event of a hack or data breach, because merchants are only given the encrypted information.   

Ring in the holidays feeling confident you got a good deal and get more out of Black Friday shopping with GECU credit card in your wallet. Don’t have a card with us yet? Apply for one online in minutes!