The sales are already on strong so here are some tips to help you save a few bucks:

Comparison Shopping with Honey

I use a browser extension called Honey to keep track of the price of specific future purchases and use this app’s in browser information to know if something had just gone up or down in price on Amazon Canada, Best Buy Canada, Newegg Canada and several other online retailers I use.

This app installs in your browser and adds a orange tag with and stylish H in it to the top right of your browser, with allows you to view the recent price changes for the product you’re viewing and applicable coupons at checkout, which is quite useful.

I doesn’t work on every Canadian retailer online but the list of American retailers it works is extensive, so you should definitely consider installing it, especially if you import from the states often.

Rebates via Rakuten

Rakuten Canada is another browser extension I use regularly to get money back on my purchases and they’re offering higher rebates for some stores for Black Friday.

I personally use them on my online orders from Best Buy, Canadian Tire, Old Navy, Microsoft Canada , Home Depot, Home Hardware, Micheals, Staples, Well.ca, The Source, Joe Fresh, Shoppers+, NordVPN and eBay. And the payments are made in the middle of the month to my PayPal account but I also have the choice to have an Amazon gift card or mailed cheque.

They’re also offering extra rebates for this period, as well as a $30 welcome rebate to new users.

Bonus Air Miles

You can get bonus Air Miles by purchasing via Airmilesshops.ca and occasionally by purchasing select gift cards at participating Shell gas stations, although the latter is only offered randomly so you need to check your local station to see if it’s active.

The list of participating Canadian retailers is extensive and you can get bonus Air Miles from American retailers. But if you don’t use Google Chrome you’ll need to access the above linked website because their browser extension is exclusive to Google Chrome.

Bonus Optimum Points & More

Bonus points offers for PC Optimum are regularly offered on gift card purchases at Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstore and Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix stores. And these are listed in the Optimum Points app and on their weekly flyers.

These points are redeemable in store, online at Joe Fresh and shop.shoppersdrugmart.ca, the latter carrying some electronics.

Misc. Offers from Scene Plus

If you go to Cineplex Theatres often or shop a Sobeys or FreshCo grocery stores you might know the Scene+ program, especially if you’re a Scotiabank card holder or eat frequently at Harveys restaurants.

This program offers redeemable points that can be linked to Rakuten Canada. But you can also redeem these points directly at the aforementioned retailers or for gift cards, including gift cards for Canadian retailers Indigo Books and Home Hardware.

Comparison Shopping Online

If you can shop online, you can compare prices on in stock items more easily and have your purchases delivered or held for pick up.

This all enables you to avoid the lines and crowds, which is a good idea now that we’re in flu season, on top of the multiple respiratory diseases lingering around.

If you do need to go out you can still always use hand sanitizer, distance yourself from others and possibly wear a N95/KN95 face mask, which I recommend.

Have a safe Black Friday/Cyber Monday.