Black Friday and Cyber Monday are quickly approaching, and here is a list of the 5 best shops, both online and in-store. They all open the earliest they ever have: at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day so you can beat the crowd (good luck) and not break the bank.
My first tip is to stay away from shopping malls. If you can limit yourself to the local boutiques around you, or department stores then you can get the best deals as well as dealing with less (but not significantly better) of a crowd.
1. Best Buy – Don’t waste your time going to the mall and waiting in line at the Apple store to buy the new iPhone 6 Plus, or any of the latest technology. Best Buy not only has all kinds of technology from printers to televisions, but it also provides the Geek Squad insurance. That way when you buy your lower-than-normal priced item, it also has protection or a warranty so that you can return it if need be.
2. Macy’s – Being one of the US’s largest department stores, it can cover your every need. It is one of two divisions owned by the company, with the other being the upscale Bloomingdales. Macy’s is great for children’s toys, great fashion and home decor.
3. Amazon.com - While this is an online store, they also engage in the Black Friday specials well before Cyber Monday. Depending on how much money you spend, you can get free shipping.
4. Target – Target is great for the everyday needs, or easy stocking stuffers. They have inexpensive shoes, clothes and jewelry that all make for nice, easy gifts. If you are shopping at a Super Target you can even pick up food there-- if you even need it after all the leftovers from Thanksgiving. Also another great reason to shop at Target, their online store carries significantly more items and doesn’t run out as quickly.
5. Dicks Sporting Goods – For all your outdoor and sporting needs, this store will be open at 5 p.m. and Lord only knows why. We all need good deals on the outrageously priced sporting goods though, because between Nike, Patagonia, and Under Armour, a regular priced piece of workout gear is just too much, so even with the Black Friday deals, they will still be pricey, but obviously much better than normal.
Good luck and happy shopping!
