Black Friday Shopping Tips

Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year and the start of the holiday shopping season is fast approaching. I have enjoyed shopping on this day for many years and accomplish most of my Christmas gift shopping on this day. What better way to work off all of that Thanksgiving turkey and pumpkin pie. I love getting up before the sun rises and hitting the stores for great deals!

Traditionally, Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving and the name symbolizes when retailers move into the "black" financially for the current year which means they begin to make a profit. I'm not sure how much of this remains true, but who cares as long as the stores offer terrific bargains. The supply is limited and as the saying goes, "the early bird gets the worm."

Here are some great tips and bits of knowledge that I have gained through the many years that I have shopped the Black Friday sales.

Look at the store ads ahead of time. This is of utmost importance to the success of your shopping experience. Find out what time each store opens and compare the prices of similar items being sold. Take some time, sit down with the Black Friday ads, and decide what you would like to purchase. Some of these ads are available online well in advance. You will need to prioritize the items that are most important to you and then make a list of which stores you need to go to first. Check the opening times since they do vary. I even map out a driving plan to maximize my time and shorten the distance I travel. It may benefit you to pay a little more for an item at a store you want to buy other things than driving to a store for only one thing.

Take the store ads with you. Usually the stores have the ad items in the aisles or the end caps in the appropriate department. Some stores place some things in the front of the store for easy shopping. You need to have the ad with you in case you cannot find an item. You can show it to an employee and get quick help. Make sure that you are buying the special sale item because sometimes these are packaged just for the Black Friday sale and they will not let you buy a replacement item. One year I went to buy a Nintendo Game Cube. I found it in the electronics department and when I went to check out, they said it was not the correct item on sale. The Black Friday Game Cube was packed especially for the sale and had already sold out. Bummer since I had stood in line to buy it! Over the years, you will learn where stores put the sale items and how each is organized. You will eventually decrease your time spent in each store.

Arrive early if you plan to purchase big ticket electronic items. Electronics seem to be hot items on Black Friday because stores offer them for a steal! However, you may need to get in line the night before in order to get the $300 laptop or the $500 TV. Dress warm, take snacks, and possibly even a sleeping bag and tent if the weather will be rough. Check out the weather forecast in your area and decide if it's worth braving the weather for that great deal. If you will be "camping out" the night before, it is nice to have someone else with you for company. A group is a lot of fun to hang with as you wait in line. Of course, you will probably make new friends too!

Do not purchase other items that day. Do not bring your shopping list of personal and household items with you. First of all, you want to be in and out of each store fast and this will only slow you down. It will be very crowded that day and if you spend time looking for deodorant or toilet paper you will just waste precious Black Friday shopping time.

Wear comfortable shoes and clothes. You may be in for a long day of shopping and standing in lines so it pays to be comfortable. Bring a warm coat, hat, and gloves if it is cold or you will be miserable. One year I decided not to take a coat to avoid the bulkiness and I was freezing for the 30 minutes that I stood in line to get into the store.

Do not use a shopping cart. If you are purchasing heavy items then you will need to get a cart, but if not, don't bother. Now I never get a cart so that way I can get in and out of aisles fast, squeeze between people, and get to the check out before the lines form. The one time I got a cart, I waited behind people with carts and it took forever to get anywhere - never again unless I buy a TV.

Take food and drinks with you. Grab something to eat and drink before you head out in the morning. Don't waste time in the drive through getting a coffee or breakfast unless you leave early! Take some quick snacks with you to give you an energy boost while shopping. Enjoy a nice meal out after the shopping is done.

Have fun, but be ready to scramble, grab, and move fast! Be on guard for very enthusiastic and bold shoppers. Some tend to get a little violent when they are after a good deal. Enjoy your morning and take a nap later in the day!