Black Friday Money: How to Make Money (Not Just Spend It) During the Biggest Shopping Event of 2025
While everyone else is spending money on Black Friday, smart people are making it. Here’s your complete guide to turning Black Friday into a profitable opportunity.
Look, I get it. Every year around November, your inbox explodes with “MASSIVE BLACK FRIDAY SALE!” emails, your favorite stores start teasing their doorbusters, and suddenly you’re planning how to spend money you haven’t even earned yet.
But here’s what nobody talks about: Black Friday isn’t just the biggest spending day of the year—it’s also one of the biggest money-MAKING opportunities if you know where to look.
The Black Friday Money Reality Check
Before we dive in, let’s be honest about what Black Friday really is: it’s a massive wealth transfer from consumers to retailers, dressed up in red banners and “limited time only” urgency.
Here’s what the statistics actually show:
- 74% of Americans plan to shop on Black Friday or Cyber Monday
- The average person spends nearly $700 during Black Friday weekend
- 49% of people later regret something they bought on sale
- Online sales have grown 568% since 2013 (from $1.9B to $10.8B in 2024)
But while everyone’s focused on SPENDING Black Friday money, very few people talk about the other side of this equation: the entrepreneurs, side hustlers, and strategic shoppers who actually PROFIT from the chaos.
That’s what this guide is really about.
Black Friday By The Numbers
The data behind America’s biggest shopping event
💡 Black Friday online sales have grown 568% since 2013 – from $1.9B to $10.8B in just 11 years
Spending Breakdown: What Americans Buy on Black Friday
Black Friday Evolution: 2013-2024
- 2013: Early online adoption $1.9B
- 2017: Major growth surge (50.6% YoY) $5.0B
- 2020: COVID acceleration $9.0B
- 2021: First decline (supply chain issues) $8.9B
- 2023: Recovery continues $9.8B
- 2024: Record high – first time over $10B $10.8B ↑ 10.2%
6 Ways to Actually Make Money on Black Friday
The strategies most people don’t know about (but should)
1. Retail Arbitrage
Buy heavily discounted items on Black Friday, then resell them for profit on Amazon, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or Mercari throughout the year.
Real example: Grabbed a $300 KitchenAid mixer on sale for $179 at Target. Sold it sealed in February for $260. That’s $81 profit for 30 minutes of work.
Best items to flip:
- Small kitchen appliances (air fryers, Instant Pots, coffee makers)
- Name-brand toys (LEGO sets appreciate over time)
- Electronics accessories (AirPods, gaming headsets)
- Tools and power equipment
- Designer clothing and shoes
2. Affiliate Marketing
If you’ve got a blog, YouTube channel, TikTok account, or Instagram following—earn commissions by sharing Black Friday deals.
How it works:
- Amazon Associates: 1-10% commissions
- Retail affiliate programs: 5-15% commissions
- Finance products: $20-100+ per signup
Best platforms: YouTube (video reviews), Pinterest (deal pins), TikTok (short-form videos), email lists, deal forums
3. Flip Doorbusters
Buy limited-quantity doorbuster deals and flip them THE SAME DAY for quick cash. No holding inventory.
2024 example: Walmart’s 65″ TV for $298 (normally $498) sold out in 11 minutes. People listed them locally for $380-400 the same day.
Best doorbusters: Limited TVs, gaming consoles, high-end headphones, popular toys, small appliances with deep discounts
4. Freelance Services
Retailers are slammed during Black Friday and need help. Offer services they desperately need.
Services to offer:
- Social media management: Monitor comments and post deals in real-time
- Customer service: Remote support for overwhelmed retailers
- Content creation: Graphics, videos, promotional materials
- Personal shopping: Shop for people who hate crowds ($50-100 service fee)
- Deal hunting: Curated deal lists via Patreon or paid newsletter
5. Gig Work & Retail
Work retail or delivery gigs during peak season when demand and pay surge significantly.
Opportunities:
- Target seasonal workers: $15-24/hour + sign-on bonuses
- Amazon warehouse: $18-22/hour + overtime + bonuses
- UPS package handlers: $21-23/hour during peak
- DoorDash/Uber Eats: 20-40% pay surge on Black Friday
- Amazon Flex: $18-25/hour with flexible blocks
6. Credit Card Rewards
Turn necessary Black Friday shopping into profit through strategic credit card rewards and cash back stacking.
The strategy:
- Sign up for cards with $200-500 sign-up bonuses in October
- Use them for Black Friday shopping you were already planning
- Stack with Rakuten cash back (up to 15% on Black Friday)
- Use category bonus cards (5% back on specific purchases)
How to Save Money on Black Friday
So you don’t lose what you made
The Brutal Truth About Black Friday “Deals”
Not everything on Black Friday is actually a good deal. I’ve tracked prices for years, and here’s what I’ve learned:
- Raising prices in October, then “discounting” back to normal in November
- Creating inferior “Black Friday special” versions of popular products
- Using confusing percentage-off marketing (60% off sounds better than $30 off)
- Limiting quantities to create false urgency
- Bundling products you don’t want with products you do
How to Spot Real Deals vs. Fake Ones
Free Amazon price tracker. Shows price history graphs so you know if it’s really a deal.
Browser extension that auto-applies coupons and tracks price history.
Cash back on purchases (up to 15% on Black Friday). It’s literally free money.
Compare prices across retailers instantly to find the best deal.
What to Actually Buy (And What to Skip)
- TVs (legitimately 30-40% off)
- Major appliances (washers, dryers, refrigerators)
- Power tools (real deals at Home Depot/Lowe’s)
- Air fryers, Instant Pots, small appliances
- Winter clothing (coats, boots)
- Jewelry (better deals in January/Valentine’s)
- Mattresses (Memorial/Labor Day better)
- Furniture (Presidents’ Day or July 4th)
- Last year’s tech (wait for new version drops)
- Anything you don’t actually need
Budget Strategies That Actually Work
Look, I’m not going to tell you to “just make a list and stick to it” like every other financial advice article. We both know that doesn’t work when you see a 70% off deal.
Before buying anything over $50, wait 48 hours. Add it to your cart but don’t check out. Most of the time, the impulse fades.
Set aside $100-200 that’s your “no questions asked” budget. Spend it on ANYTHING without guilt. This satisfies impulse buying while keeping it contained.
For every $3 you spend on gifts, you can spend $1 on yourself. Keeps you focused on actual holiday shopping while allowing self-rewards.
Calculate cost per use before buying. $200 jacket worn 100 times = $2/wear (great). $50 decorative item looked at occasionally = terrible value.
Psychological Traps to Avoid
Black Friday marketing is designed to override your rational brain. Here’s how to fight back:
- The scarcity trap: “Only 3 left!” creates panic. Reality: They’ll restock or you can find it elsewhere.
- The urgency trap: “Sale ends in 2 hours!” Most sales run for days now. Very few deals are truly time-limited.
- The comparison trap: “Was $500, now $299!” Focus on whether YOU value it at $299, not the fake “original” price.
- The bundle trap: “Buy 2 get 1 free!” is only a deal if you wanted all three items.
Black Friday 2025: What to Expect This Year
Key dates, trends, and predictions for the biggest shopping event
Major retailers start releasing early deals. Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Best Buy all launch their first sales events. Smart shoppers start buying early to avoid sellouts.
Walmart runs “Black Friday Deals Event 1” from Nov 14-16. Best Buy releases new doorbusters every Friday. This is when serious deal hunters start executing their strategies.
Walmart+ and Amazon Prime members get exclusive early access. This is often when the BEST deals drop before stock runs out. Join loyalty programs if you’re serious about deals.
Most stores closed on Thanksgiving, but online deals go live Thursday evening. In-store doorbusters start Friday morning. This is the day everyone’s been waiting for.
Small Business Saturday (Nov 29) supports local shops. Most Black Friday sales continue through the weekend with fresh inventory and additional markdowns.
Historically the biggest online shopping day ($13.2B projected in 2024). Many exclusive online-only deals. If you missed Black Friday, this is your second chance.
2025 Shopping Trends to Watch
Black November continues. Some retailers started in October 2024, and this trend is accelerating. Don’t wait until Black Friday itself.
69-71% of purchases happen on mobile. Make sure you have apps installed and payment info saved for faster checkout.
Affirm, Klarna, Afterpay integrated everywhere. Convenient but remember—deferred payments are still debt.
More retailers using AI chatbots. They can be useful for finding deals, but they’re designed to increase your spending.
Ready to Make Money This Black Friday?
The question isn’t whether you’ll participate. The question is: Will you be one of the people making money, or one of the people spending it?
Frequently Asked Questions
Last updated: November 2025
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