It’s that time of year again, when we stuff our faces on Thursday and shop our hearts out on Friday. The unofficial holiday of retail has evolved throughout the years. Before black Friday was strictly on Friday in the early hours of the day. Now, almost every retailer starts sales on Thanksgiving or what I call grey Thursday. Below are some tips and tricks to survive this holiday shopping weekend.
1. Don’t skip the caffeine
Not everyone needs caffeine to function everyday. However, this is no regular day. This is the biggest shopping day of the year, so you must be prepared and fully energized. Since you’re already spending money that day, save yourself a few by brewing coffee before you leave the house. That’s one less line you’ll have to wait in.
2. Make a list, check it twice
This sounds like a no-brainer, but not everyone remembers. Know what you want to shop for before venturing out. First, make a list of what you are really looking for. Then, find those items in the ads. Go to places that can knock out multiple items on your list. Just another way to save waiting time.
3. Take a shopping buddy
Shopping alone is never fun. It can be helpful to have another opinion to talk you down from buying every deal. That being said, take a friend who is subjective. I usually use my mom as my partner in crime. She talks me down from my crazy ideas. Your partner in crime can also go to other deals and compare prices for you. And you guessed it, this cuts out more lines.
4. Don’t waste your time on grey Thursday
A lot of retailers are starting sales Thursday night. Personally, I think this is ridiculous. Everyone should have Thanksgiving off. Shopping on Thursday just helps the retailers more. A common misconception of grey Thursday is the deals will be better. This is usually false; the deals are most likely scheduled Thursday into Friday. Just read the ads and save time on waiting in line.
5. Make a Budget
This may be the most important of them all. Know exactly what you are willing to spend before you shop. The whole point of shopping on black Friday is to save. Don’t blow money by buying things just because they are on sale. Set a limit and don’t go over it. Once you’ve hit your limit, stop waiting in line and go home.
Thanks for reading my quick tips. Hopefully, you get through shopping without being trampled on. Happy shopping, be safe and remember your receipts. You won’t want to wait in line come return season.
