Thanksgiving is near. It’s an exciting time to visit family and friends, watch football, and eat way too much food. However, this weekend marks the date for another important event: Black Friday. Crazy sales mean crazy shoppers. If you want to participate, which I mean, who wouldn’t with some of the deals that are happening this year, you have to prepare. It can be a madhouse. As a veteran in the Black Friday Madness, I’ve learned some tricks along the way. So, if you are heading out to shop til you drop, follow these tips to make the most of your time.
1. Look at the deals before you go out.
Going in blind will end in disaster. By looking at the catalogs that stores put online before you head out, you’ll have a purpose when you head out. Also, you can see what stores have the best deals. If your mom has been eyeing the Fitbit, you can see what store has the best price. Saving money takes some leg work before, but by even spending half an hour looking at things you want, and stores you want to go to, you can save so much time later.
2. Check out online deals.
If you don’t have to leave the house to get the best deals, make sure you know. Tons of stores participate in Black Friday online, and Cyber Monday happens as well. If you can do all your Black Friday shopping in the comfort of your home and your pajamas, then go for it!
3. Decide what you want.
While the dream would be getting everything you need on one day, here's a reality check. You may be too tired to go to all the stores, and some hot items might sell out. Make sure you determine what is most important for you to get. While making this choice, you also might want to look at the amount of items a store has. If you want to get Beats Headphones at Best Buy, but there’s only going to be 10 in the store that day, you may want to hit them up first.
4. Plan out your night.
Alright, you have your items picked out, and you know the stores you want to go to. Make a plan! Find out when stores open, and make a smart path. If you’re going to a mall, plan out the stores you want to go to first.
5. Sleep the night before.
OK, you’ve had a great Thanksgiving meal, so the American tradition goes, make sure you nap. Get plenty of rest, you’re going to need it if you’re going to make it through the whole morning. Many stores open at midnight, and if you’re going to be out for a long time, you need your rest.
6. Go with someone.
You’ll need someone to help. First of all, waiting in line can be super boring, so having a friend with you can make the experience so much better. Plus, you can support one another when things get crazy, and split up to get more done.
7. Wake up early.
This may be hard, but getting to the stores early will help you get the stuff you need and want. Drink tons of coffee if needed, but be up and ready to go as soon as you can.
8. Bring necessities and plan for breaks.
You won’t be able to go through five hours of shopping without breaks. Bring snacks, water, and make sure you’re not burning out too quickly. Also, bring your shopping list, your phone, and anything else you may need.
9. Stick to your budget.
Don’t get swept up in the sales and buy everything. Items can add up, and while everything might be half off, if you buy four times as many things as you planned, you may end up spending more than you planned.
10. Be flexible.
You might not get everything you want. Have a backup plan, and move on if a store you went to didn’t work out. You’ll live if you didn’t get that skirt you wanted. If you were getting a perfect gift for someone else, look for sales after Black Friday, or come up with something else.
11. Stay sane and have fun!
Seriously, shopping isn’t worth your life or your sanity. Every year there are crazy stories about shoppers. Don’t be one of them.
There you are! Following these steps, you can have a successful Black Friday experience. While it’s awesome to score some sweet deals, just keep in mind that at the end of the day, it’s only shopping. You can get great deals later, treat yourself after the fact, and even if you don’t get the perfect gift for your best friend, the giving session is so much more than fancy items.
