How to Save Money (and Time) This Black Friday

If you’re anything like my students, the answer is probably “too many.” With Black Friday and its tempting offers just around the corner, this number might soon grow even more. So before you spend money and time on more courses you won't use, let us dive into how you can save money and time this black Friday.

The Hidden Cost of the Wrong Resources

Alessia and I recently started working with several new students. We’ve noticed something striking: students who’ve studied a lot before coming to us have a harder time improving than those who’ve barely studied at all. It’s not because the latter group has a lower rating—it’s because they have less BS in their minds. When you study resources that aren’t ideal for your level, you introduce confusion. Your brain starts thinking about subtle positional sacrifices when what you really need is to spot hanging pieces.

Also, knowing too much opening theory always gives you the feeling of having to remember everything - even if it will never actually happen in a real game. The result? You develop habits and thought patterns that hold you back. Worse, before you can improve, you have to unlearn these patterns—which means wasting even more time. That’s why I’m so frustrated with courses promising quick fixes or selling advanced concepts to players who aren’t ready for them. Even a great course can harm your progress if it’s not the right fit right now.

Do You Have a Plan?

A friend of my dad’s once came to dinner, beaming with pride. He’d gone to the grocery store and bought a ton of desserts at 50% off.
I really love desserts, so I was happy too. Until I saw how much he actually bought:

• Two full cakes
• Four pastries
• A cupcake each

For the three of us! There was no way we could eat it all before it went bad, and we had to throw most of it away. My Dad's friend thought he was saving money, but in reality, he wasted it. He bought things he didn’t need (and too much of it!), just because they were on sale. This is exactly what happens during Black Friday. We’re bombarded with deals and end up buying things we “might need someday” or that seem like a steal. But without a clear plan, we overspend on resources we don’t use—or worse, make us worse.

How to Shop Smarter This Black Friday

Here’s a simple strategy I use to avoid Black Friday regret:

1) Make a List of Your Needs:

Before the deals start, I think carefully about what I actually need - before seeing enticing offers.
For example, my own list this year includes:

• A Laptop
• A Desktop Computer
• A monitor
• Three long-sleeved sport shirts
• Two pairs of running pants
• New Running Shoes

2) Stick to Your Plan:

When offers pop up, check them against your list. If it’s not on the list, skip it, no matter how tempting.
Notice what’s not on the list? A shaver. Yet yesterday, I walked into a store, saw one on sale, and almost bought it. I thought it would be handy to have a new one because mine is "getting old." Then I stopped and thought: “This hasn’t bothered me for 11 months—do I really need it now?” Nope. So I put it back, used mine today, and didn't feel any need for a new one. The same principle applies to chess improvement. If you have a clear plan, you can easily see which resources align with your goals and which are distractions.

A Plan Works Wonders for Chess

Imagine waking up every day knowing exactly what to study and why. This clarity saves you a lot of time and money going into Black Friday. Now, when an ad for a new opening course pops up, you don’t feel the need to buy it. You already understand your openings and their key ideas. A flashy calculation course? Interesting, but you know you’re working on tactics, which is what you need right now. When you have a plan, you’re not just saving money—you’re saving time, energy, and frustration.

Want Help Crafting Your Chess Plan?

If you already have a working plan - then just don't mess it up! Never change a winning plan. You should slightly adjust it and improve it on a weekly basis, but not change it altogether. Ignore the sales coming up, stick to your routine, and continue improving your game.

But if you have no plan, it is time to create one before you mindlessly buy courses that might not be for you. The simplest way to come up with a plan is by following my 1/3 rule:

• Spend a third of your time on tactics (you need one high-quality resource for this!)
• Spend a third of your time on playing + analyzing (right here on Lichess)
• Spend a third of your time on endgames, openings & strategy... combined! (one resource to start!)

I'm a big fan of the Step Method Books if you like reading, while Lichess Tactics and a course like ChessMood's Tactic Ninja (this is an affiliate link) are my favorite simple ways to improve your tactics digitally. For your personalized training plan, you now only need to find one book/course/resource for either endgame, opening, or strategy study. This depends on your current weaknesses, what and how you enjoy studying, and which resources you already own.

A simple example could be:

• Study Tactics with Tactics Ninja - solve puzzles on Lichess
• Play & analyze on Lichess
• Improve your strategy with the great book Mastering Chess Strategy (physical or on Chessable)

More Advanced Chess Plans

If you want to take it a step further and learn how to study chess with maximum efficiency, my Next Level Training course might be for you.
The course is designed to help adult improvers:

• Understand what they should spend their time on
• Learn how to study and play with better focus
• Study each area of chess the right way
• Write their own training plans... and stick to them

If you are happy with your current plan, or the plan above seems good enough for you, Next Level Training is not for you.
Remember, you want to get only what you really need!

But if you are overwhelmed and need someone to explain step-by-step how you can study chess so you can finally break through your plateau, Next Level Training is for you.

You can save $100 on the course right now until Sunday 24th.

Let me clarify the idea of today's article: if you actually need the course, go through it, and apply what you learn, you save $100. If that sounds like you, check it out here. You can get your money back within 14 days if you don't love it.

If you don't need it or are not ready to apply what you learn (hint: training the right way isn't easy), don't get it. Use the simplified plan from above, keep working on your tactics, analyze your games, and have fun.

Keep improving,
Noël

PS: My Beginner course is also on sale for anyone below a 1400 Lichess rating (30% off).