10 Ways to Save Up for a Black Friday Doorbuster

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Black Friday is just a few weeks away, but if you want to have the cash to jump on those sales, then there's still time to save up. At this year's doorbuster sales, we expect shoppers to snag 55" 4K TVs for $239, current-generation iPads for $204, and mainstream laptops for under $300.

Your plan to save depends on which of these top doorbusters you want to buy. Even if you don't have a cent to spare yet, we have advice on how to save up enough in time for the big day... though you're on your own when it comes to getting up bright and early to catch the best of this year's sales.

Here are 10 ways to cut your expenses this month so you can afford to buy that doorbuster TV, iPad, or laptop!

Cut the Cable Cord

Considering that Americans pay about $95 a month for a cable television package with equipment, cutting your cable bill out entirely could save you almost $100 by the end of November. That's assuming you don't immediately replace your cable subscription with a host of new streaming services, of course.

SEE ALSO: Almost Every Streaming Device Just Got a Huge Update

But what if you're not ready to go all-in with ditching your cable? You've still got money-saving options. Do you really need 500 premium channels? Switching to a lower-cost package may be an easy way to save some cash. Leaving for a different provider can be a good cost-cutting move, too. Many cable companies offer excellent introductory deals that cut your bill steeply; sometimes, just calling your provider and saying you want to switch can get you a discount.

Potential Savings: $20 to $95 per month

Reevaluate Your Phone Plan

Cell phone bills can easily get into the three digits per month. Cellular providers haven't made it easy for cost-conscious consumers to rein in their spending, either, with complicated billing plans that are difficult to decipher. However, it's worth at least trying to untangle yours, as you may be able to cut back on your spending without having to change your usage.

The first step is to take a good look at your bill. Are you paying for features you don't use? Are you consistently under your data cap? Does another carrier offer better options? A no-contract plan will save you an average of $30 a month (though getting a new phone with your new plan will likely eat up those savings), while dropping your data cap (and data use) could save you another $20 or $30.

Potential Savings: $30 to $60 a month

Cut Back on the Coffee

It might be a bit cliché, but if you're looking to save, it's time to cut back on your coffee habit. If you stop every morning for a pre-work caffeine boost, that's $4.25 a day, $21.25 a week, or $85 a month — all for the smallest #PSL.

Making coffee at home will get you your caffeine fix at a more reasonable price. (Our advice: Skip the Keurig and do it yourself for coffee that's both better and cheaper.) And if you can't cut it out entirely, dropping your Starbucks visits to once or twice a week will help, too.

Potential Savings: $51 to $85 a month for a daily latte drinker

Eat and Entertain In

The average cost of a dinner out in the U.S. is $36.30 per person. Though you can certainly do dinner out more frugally, meal costs can still add up. Even fast food can be pricy, with average prices per person ranging from $3.86 to $14. Turn that into dinner and a movie with an average ticket price of $8.65 per person, and a single night out for two could cost as much as $89.90!

With prices like that, it doesn't take much cutting back to net noticeable savings at the end of the month. Take a brown bag lunch to the office, and spend a few date nights watching Netflix. Even if you just cut back on a meal or two a week, it's bound to yield savings.

Potential Savings: $40 (one fast food meal a week) to $290 a month (one nice dinner for two a week)

Make a Shopping List (and Stick to It)

If you're cutting down on eating out, that means you're eating in more — which can also make your grocery bills spiral. One way to help keep spending in check is by making a shopping list and skipping those impulse purchases. As a side effect, you'll likely make fewer trips to the store, waste less food (Americans throw away $165 billion in food a year), spend less time shopping, and, of course, spend less.

SEE ALSO: Reduce, Reuse, Save: 10 Ways to Help the Earth AND Your Budget

Potential Savings: $40 (or more) a month

Make Use of the Local Library

No bargain-hunter should discount the value of a library card, which can offer a near-unlimited supply of books, movies, and music — and all at no cost! If you're looking to save, head to your local library.

Potential Savings: $25 a month, depending on how much you watch or read

Buy Used, Refurbished, or Generic

Why spend more than you have to when you're shopping? Though you'll want to take some care when buying used, thrift shops, Craigslist, and eBay can be great ways to find gently used goods at a fraction of the retail price. Refurbished items are usually guaranteed by the manufacturer to be as good as new, and come with a nice discount. And while opinions vary on generic goods, you can't deny the cost savings, especially with generic drugs.

Potential Savings: Varies

Cut Down on Banking Fees

It's all too easy to get hit by banking fees and other financial charges, and these fees add up. The median overdraft fee is $35. Average fee for using an out-of-network ATM? About $2.50 to $3. Average late fee? $37.

Simple mistakes can wind up costing a lot. Fortunately, they're all avoidable with some planning. Most banks allow you to set up online alerts for when bills are due, account balances get low, and more. Setting up automatic bill payments will also help you avoid that $37 late fee for forgetfulness. As for ATM fees, it's all about planning around them. Instead of hitting up a high-fee ATM on the spot, figure out how much cash you'll need ahead of time and get it from a fee-free ATM.

Potential Savings: Skipping a weekly ATM charge alone will save about $10 to $12 a month

Tame Your Commute

Driving to work every day can be a big drain, but there are lots of ways to save. Can you trade your car for public transportation? How about joining a carpool with co-workers? Even if ditching your commute isn't an option, if you take the time to compare gas prices and keep your car in good shape (keeping your tires properly inflated, for one), you can get better mileage for a lower cost.

Potential Savings: Varies

Sell Your Stuff

Our homes are full of stuff we aren't using, from old clothes to old smartphones to mystery boxes in the attic that we haven't touched in years. Why keep the clutter when you could sell it for cash?

SEE ALSO: 11 Tips for Buying at Yard Sales and Selling on eBay

You may be surprised by how much your old electronics are worth. Even if they aren't working, people may be interested in buying them for parts — eBay is a particularly good market for this. So clean out your closets, hold a garage sale, and toss things on Craigslist or eBay. Depending on what you have, you could net a tidy profit.

Potential Earnings: Varies

So start saving up! This year's excellent Black Friday TVs, iPads, and laptops are just around the corner.

Readers, will you buy any Black Friday doorbusters this year? What are your favorite ways to save up for holiday sales? Let us know in the comments below!