After this past Thanksgiving, I went Black Friday shopping for the first time in quite a few years, and maybe it was the intense lack of money in my wallet or the amount of people that stepped on my toes without saying sorry, but I highly regretted going immediately upon entering the mall. While a quick stop to shop with friends is always a good time, the whole "huge savings" and "mega deals" thing wasn't really the highlight of my trip.

Even though I am down for shopping no matter what, this past Friday made me realize that staying clear of any stores offering 30 percent-off or more the day after Thanksgiving, is probably the best thing to do for my sanity and most importantly, my bank account.

1. You can tell when you're within 10 miles of a store offering deals because the traffic is the absolute worst.

2. And finding a parking spot at the mall reminds you of the start of the Hunger Games.

3. Department stores or large retail stores become your actual worst nightmare.

4. Stepping into Bath and Body Works is a freshly-scented passage to your doom.

5. Don't even think about stopping by the mad house that is Forever21.

6. Really, the only safe place is the food court, because nothing can ruin food.

7. And you might as well forget trying on clothes because the line for the dressing room is unreal.

8. Stores that offer 70 percent-off are a post-Halloween haunted house with the amount of people in there.

9. When some stores aren't even offering sales.

10. Leaving and realizing you only bought one thing.

11. Telling yourself you will never shop on Black Friday again, but secretly knowing that's a lie.