Black Friday, a much-anticipated retail event, is set to kick off early this year as major retailers in the United States have announced that their promotions will begin ahead of the actual date. Notably, industry giants Amazon and Best Buy are rolling out their Black Friday deals starting November 19.
This year’s Thanksgiving falls on November 26, with Black Friday following on November 27. Additionally, Cyber Monday is scheduled for November 30, marking a significant shopping period for online consumers.
According to an annual forecast released by Adobe on September 28, online shopping in the U.S. is expected to reach a staggering $275.1 billion from November 1 to December 31, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 6.7%. The five-day window from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday, termed “Cyber Week,” is projected to contribute approximately $47.5 billion to this total, making up around 17.3% of the entire holiday season’s online sales.
Furthermore, Cyber Monday is anticipated to be the single largest shopping day of the year, with consumers expected to spend about $15.1 billion, which represents a 6.2% increase compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, Black Friday’s projected sales are $12.9 billion, showcasing a more substantial growth rate of 9.2%. Adobe attributes this robust sales growth on Black Friday to substantial discounts on popular categories such as televisions, clothing, and household appliances.
In its forecast, Adobe has identified the days with the steepest discounts across various product categories. Among the five major retailers participating in the sales, Walmart and Best Buy have opted to break their promotions into multiple waves, creating a staggered sales approach. However, Target had not disclosed the dates for its Black Friday week promotions as of November 10.
For interested shoppers, the prices listed in publications as of November 13 are subject to change as retailers adjust their offerings. Categories such as Costco, Lowe’s, and Kohl’s were not included in the primary discounts table, as their promotional data were not available at the time. Shoppers are encouraged to verify prices on product pages at checkout to ensure accuracy.
It is worth noting that many prices being offered during Black Friday have already been seen during earlier promotions such as Prime Day. Consumers are advised to utilize price tracking tools like Keepa or CamelCamelCamel to review historical pricing before making purchase decisions.
Additionally, consumers should be conscious of price matching and return policies offered by retailers as they navigate these sales.
When it comes to utilizing browser extensions that automatically find discount codes, cashback platforms like Rakuten are designed to rely on a tracking record in the browser proving a consumer entered a store through the platform in order to issue rewards. Some discount code extensions may alter this tracking record at checkout, potentially causing consumers to miss out on cashback opportunities from Rakuten.
Honey, a browser extension owned by PayPal, has faced accusations in the past of altering tracking records even if it didn’t successfully locate a discount for the user. As a result of these issues, Rakuten Advertising removed Honey from its affiliate network in January 2026. To maximize cashback when shopping through Rakuten, consumers are encouraged to temporarily disable other shopping extensions during checkout.
While online shopping, consumers can take advantage of five types of discounts: store-specific sales, loyalty program points, cashback rewards, credit card merchant offers (such as Amex Offers and Chase Offers), and direct cashback from the credit card itself.
New Rakuten members who sign up through a referral link and spend $50 within 90 days of joining can earn a bonus reward of $50. This offer is valid until December 31, 2026. For those who join without a referral link, a minimum spend of $25 within 90 days is required to qualify for standard welcome rewards. Rakuten distributes cashback quarterly in February, May, August, and November, with a minimum balance of $5 required for cash out.
Common cashback credit cards offer various benefits, which may vary depending on the issuer’s announcements.
It is essential to note that this article is not intended as financial or purchasing advice but rather serves to provide general information. Terms and conditions regarding credit card rewards and cashback platforms are subject to change, so consumers should consult their respective issuers and platforms for the most accurate and updated information.