The holiday season is officially here! It's time to hit the mall and find all of the perfect gifts for the special people in your life. Personally, I am absolutely obsessed with holiday shopping. I have gone Black Friday shopping and Cyber Monday shopping for several years now. I love doing my research, planning my shopping experience, and finding the best deals. I also love the holiday shopping season because of the extended hours. I don't know about you, but I think that going shopping in the middle of the night on Black Friday is super fun. It's actually one of my favorite traditions.

However, some people absolutely hate the thought of fighting the crowds, being overwhelmed with options, and end up finding that a lot of the best items are picked over. Therefore, I decided to write about some tips and tricks on how to have a successful holiday shopping trip. Whether it be on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or the week before Christmas, if you plan out your trip strategically, you are sure to have a more relaxing and successful experience.

My first piece of advice is to go shopping as early as possible (especially if you are buying a specific item that is going to be very popular). Black Friday sales seem to start earlier every year. There's nothing worse than getting to the store just to find that the item you wanted is completely sold out.

My second piece of advice is to take advantage of online shopping. Check store websites frequently for online sales. If you know that you hate fighting the crowds and being out shopping all night, this can be a great option. Just remember to go online shopping as early as possible! It's super frustrating when items are sold out online.

I would also advise you to make a list of specific items you want to purchase and the specific stores you need to go to. If you don't have a plan of action for the items you're going to buy and the stores you're going to visit, shopping can get stressful. Having a plan will help you have a more successful trip. I've tried going Black Friday shopping with absolutely no plan, and I didn't get much accomplished. Learn from my mistakes! Having a list will help you stay focused and on track so that your shopping experience is more productive and less stressful.

Also, do your research before you shop! You can use the newspaper ads or store websites to figure out the best deals. Before you buy, make sure that there's not a better deal out there.

And finally, have fun and be safe! If you're going out to shop, make sure you wear comfy shoes and clothes, bring water and snacks, and bring some friends along to make the trip a blast!