Black Friday and Cyber Monday are right around the corner, so now is the time to prepare. Before you start buying everything in sight, remember: Just because something is on sale, doesn’t mean you have to buy it.

Here are some details and then a look at what you should and should not buy on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Shop Early

It never hurts to start shopping for the items you need before Black Friday and Cyber Monday. That’s because often stores will offer the same deals from now through the end of those shopping holidays. Even when they’re not the same deals, the difference usually isn’t much. Plus, shopping early means if there’s a limited quantity you’ll give yourself a better chance at snagging the item.

Best Deals

The best deals tend to be available on things like:

Electronics
Toys
Home goods
Small kitchen appliances
Small home appliances
There are also deals to be had on offseason apparel

Keep Your Eye on Tech. The big category to watch? Tech. This is often the best time of the year to score deals on:

Computers
TVs
Smart accessories
Tablets
Video games and consoles

What Not to Buy

The only items that you might want to wait on include the following:

Large appliances, like grills
Dishwashers
Beds and mattresses
Often, President’s Day sales offer better discounts on those types of items.

Do One Thing: Plan your Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping in advance so you don’t overspend.

Original article by Chris O'Shea and adapted in partnership with SavvyMoney.

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