Thanksgiving is up and right around the corner, and so is the much-awaited day for buzzing shoppers: Black Friday! This Black Friday, make sure to shop smart with these tips to help you get the most out of your hours spent on the line.
1. The (amazing) Amazon Shopping App.
This app lets you pull up the price of any item on Amazon and compare discounts. According to TheKrazyCouponLady, over 17% of items actually, cost more on Black Friday than they normally do on Amazon!
2. Mark your territory the day before.
If you are confident you will be visiting a store and you want to see what's there, check it out a day or two before! Walk around the store to know the setup, take note of things you might be interested in, and know what the sales are so you can grab and go on Friday!
3. Now where do we go?
If you're planning on hitting a mall, make sure you go to the brands and stores that offer free items first. For instance, Victoria's Secret usually gives customers a free gift (tote bag, towel, etc) when they spend over a certain amount. There's a catch, however; these stores will run out of their free perks after a couple hours! Stores may only have a set amount; for example, in 2015, Kohl's offered free movie tickets to the first 100 people in line.
4. Don't just hit your faves.
This one may be obvious, but check out the stores that rarely have sales! Though you may be tempted to go to only your favorite stores, be a truly experienced Black Friday shopper by buying items that won't be on sale almost any other time of the year.
5. Sign up for membership the week before.
Certain brands or retail stores may offer even BETTER discounts to their loyal members. Even if you've been a member for only 7 days, they might give you a 40% discount rather than 30%! Since all you need to do usually is to sign up for their mailing list (which you can be removed from later), so why not?
6. Have a (Christmas) list.
Maybe you have a friend whose birthday is coming up. If not, Christmas is right around the corner! If you plan out what your friends might want super early, why not get it all the day you'll be shopping for yourself? Might as well wait on line and buy all the items you need.
7. Get ready, get set.
Let's be real here. Out of the stampede of people who will be rushing into JCPenny to be the first ones to get doorbuster, it's not a great time to be wearing uncomfortable, stiff clothing or shoes. Instead, wear sneakers you know you can walk (and stand for a long time) in! Bonus points if you're super prepared and you bring snacks, water, and a portable charger as well. Pack like a dad bringing a family to the water park!
