Black Friday 2026 · Nov 27
The list, before the day
The rule: decide what you need before the sale starts, then check the price history, not the "was" price. These are the categories and the reading we use for it. No prices on this page, on purpose: check the current price and the 30-day low on the product page before you buy.
The three-step check
- Write the list in October, not on the day.
- Compare to the lowest price of the last 30 days, never to the crossed-out one.
- Pay in full. A 25% discount financed at 24% a year is roughly no discount.
The picks
Robot vacuum
Home category on the Black Friday shortlist. Check the 30-day price history before you buy; the video shows how.
See on Amazon
Home security camera
A common Black Friday category. Check whether the camera needs a paid subscription to do its basic job.
See on Amazon
Echo and Fire TV devices
Amazon's own devices are among the most discounted items of the week. Look at the 30-day price history before you decide it's a deal.
See on Amazon
Wireless headphones
Big range between brands and a big range in price history. Pick the model first, the sale second.
See on Amazon
Electric bike
The biggest ticket on the list, and the one where having a list in October matters most.
See on Amazon
Waterproof mattress protector
Protects the thing you paid a lot for, whatever the sale price was.
See on Amazon
Adjustable pillow
A much cheaper comfort upgrade to try before you replace the mattress.
See on Amazon
Contoured sleep mask
Costs next to nothing and does the job a lot of expensive bedroom gear promises.
See on Amazon
Predictably Irrational
Dan ArielyHow anchors, decoys and "free" bend decisions. It shows up at the checkout counter and on the price tag alike.
See on Amazon
Priceless: The Myth of Fair Value
William PoundstoneThe book-length version of this episode: how the number next to a product shapes what it feels worth.
See on Amazon
Influence
Robert CialdiniScarcity, social proof and the countdown clock. The toolkit behind every doorbuster.
See on Amazon