A Shoppers Guide For Black Friday And Cyber Monday

The day after Thanksgiving has been dubbed "Black Friday". It's the day when conscientious consumers help take the retailers out of the red and into the black. It is not the biggest shopping day of the year, but it's in the top five and is certainly the busiest shopping day of the year. If you are one of the brave Black Friday shoppers who are willing to get up very early to get a good deal, there are some tips below to make your shopping experience better than ever.

Cyber Monday is the first work day after Thanksgiving. Online retailers offer big discounts and free or low cost shipping in order to get you to order your Christmas presents online. Many people have begun skipping Black Friday and doing all their Christmas shopping on Cyber Monday. It's a great way to avoid traffic and crowds and there are really good deals to be had on Cyber Monday if you know where to look and what to expect.

Black Friday Shopping Tips

Have a plan of action! Prepare your Christmas shopping list and have the store advertisements and coupons ready to go before you head out on Black Friday. List specifically what gifts you want to buy for each person, and which store has these items for sale.

Prioritize the list of stores you want to shop in on Black Friday. Items often sell out quickly, especially if it's a great deal on electronics. Be sure you know where each store is located and what gifts are at the top of your list.

Know when the stores will open on Black Friday. Some stores open hours earlier than others. Be prepared to get there early and wait in line. Take plenty of patience with you, and snacks.

Bring a helper or helpers with you on Black Friday. It is essential to bring a friend who is willing to tough out Black Friday with you and will help you split up and get the gifts on your list. It makes the shopping go faster and it's more enjoyable.

Dress in layers. I speak from experience when I implore you not to wear a turtleneck shirt on Black Friday. It may be very cold outside the stores, but inside with hundreds of people running around it gets very hot and stuffy. Bring a jacket you can tie around your waist and wear your most comfortable walking shoes.

Don't push, shove or lose your temper, in line or inside the stores. Black Friday will test your every nerve because there are so many people trying to shop at the same time. Just go find the gifts on your list and get checked out and move on to the next store.

Tips For Cyber Monday Shoppers

Make sure your computer is updated with virus and spyware programs to keep it protected on Cyber Monday.

Before Cyber Monday, browse the internet and see which of your favorite stores are advertising Cyber Monday deals and sales. A great website that lists and links many of the online retailers and their deals is CyberMonday.com. CyberMonday.com has featured deals with coupons and discounts to many well known retail stores.

Getting online early on Cyber Monday is important. Some of the online deals will sell out fast. Electronics that are marked way down in price are usually the first items to sellout. Have your Christmas list ready and when possible, combine shipping. Some retailers like Wal-Mart will be offering free shipping for the holidays.

Make sure you know how long the item will take to ship and whether or not you can return the item if it's not what you expected.

Whether you shop on Black Friday, Cyber Monday or both, be a conscientious consumer and buy only what you know is needed on your gift list. Happy shopping to you!

Source: Article based on author's experience on Black Friday's and Cyber Mondays.