Black Friday is a widely recognized day of mass chaos, lots of running and driving around, and some of the best deals you'll ever find in stores everywhere. It is easily my favorite part (sorry Thanksgiving) about our Thanksgiving break, because I like to take full advantage of the day as much as I can. However, there are people who sometimes like to enjoy it a little too much. Or even not enough at all. If you're new to Black Friday, inexperienced, or want to see things from the perspective of someone who has "been there, done that", I have a guideline below.
Do:
Have a plan beforehand. Black Friday really tends to suck when you spend more time travelling and walking around than you do actually shopping and getting the things you want to get. While it may seem like fun just to "go around for the hell of it", trust me, it isn't. It actually totally degrades the experience, turning what should be an incredible hectic and fun time out, into just driving all over the place at an obscene hour, something you can do anytime.
Prepare to spend money. Though it may seem like this goes without saying, and that it likely links into my first "do", don't do through all the stress and work to purchase some $5 toy that's $7.50 in normal hours. That's pretty much a waste. That toy is a nice side to a bigger buy, but slashing prices on otherwise high priced stuff is the major draw of doing Black Friday.
Try to bring a friend along. Though you might've been doing this with your parents the last few years and might want to get away from it all, the fact of the matter is that there are wacky people out there. You will want to consider bringing a friend as a minor "buddy system", if you will. It sounds absurd, but it's really good to have, since some folks will do just about anything to save a buck or 2. It also helps to share the experience with someone you know.
Keep calm. Again, though it may seem absurd, these are some things you have to think about and address when it comes to Black Friday. Though it may upset you that you missed out on your deal, really, the only rational thing you can do is to either try somewhere else, or to give it up. I can't tell you how many times post-Black Friday I've turned the news on, only to find that someone did something horrible at a Black Friday sale.
Don't:
Come in "summer clothes". It's gonna be very, very cold outside. When you factor that you'll likely be waiting in a line for quite some time, you will be at a legitimate health risk if you don't bundle up. It's really quite simple, just throw on a sweatshirt, pants, and maybe a coat, and you'll be fine. I'd also recommend gloves. It's gonna be a long wait, and it would be horrible if you ended up with something like hypothermia, only because you weren't prepared.
Be late. Especially if you are trying to get in on the deal that "everybody wants", because once those doors open, that stuff is gonna fly off the shelves. It would be a travesty to make all these preparations, go through all of it, only to end up empty handed because you couldn't set your alarm clock 15 minutes earlier.
Be "that guy". Yes, you are essentially competing with everybody else to get in on these sales, but you don't have to be a jerk about it. Nobody (hopefully) is going to get violent or rude with you if you don't start it, and if someone else tries to start it, the best thing to do is usually to look the other way. It's not worth ruining your experience over.
