First Person: Black Friday Shopping Tips from a Veteran

SULLIVAN, Ill. -- Shoppers everywhere are hunting 2010 Black Friday deals. But it is developing a shopping game plan that will save the most bucks. This means knowing when stores open and which products will fly off the stack-outs first. Being a Black Friday shopper in central Illinois for more than 10 years, I know if I don't follow a plan, my Christmas budget will drastically expand.

I do the bulk of my holiday shopping on Black Friday for the same reason most people do -- I can't afford not to. Buying for five nephews and nine adults, my budget can only stretch so far. I typically take around $600 and purchase three gifts each for everyone but my fiancé. He scores about 20 presents, half of which are clothing.

It isn't necessary to spend all the money I take. On most Black Fridays, I only spend around $300. The rest is back-up funding for missing the best deals or buying electronics, like the year he got his Nintendo Wii.

Some 2010 Black Friday Shopping Tips from a Veteran

* Make a list of which stores you are going to and what time you are going to them. Have a list of each store's Black Friday sales and where deals are located in the store. Some store websites will have special Black Friday maps.

* If you are shopping for big-ticket items, especially electronic, be there first. Stores may show these items in Black Friday ads, but the reality is there are only a few of them to be had. Cell phones and sending people to other store locations are your best bet.

* Read the circular fine print. I've been disappointed to find that a deal was only a deal with a mail-in rebate. If you don't have the cash to spend and wait on the rebate, pass up the deal. Certain sales will also only be for specific times. Read the adverts carefully.

* Don't dawdle. It's tempting to shop around after you've scooped up a deal, but don't. This will keep you from the next store opening and blow your budget. Every minute you take perusing non-sale items is 10 more shoppers ahead of you in the check-out line.

* Bring a shopping buddy who isn't out to buy anything. You can send them into nearby stores to scoop up deals. I took two extra people to Walmart last year. We were able to get everything I wanted when the pallets were opened. While I was standing in checkout, one went across the parking lot to Radio Shack and bought the wireless keyboard I needed.

* Know what is going to fly off the shelves first and plan accordingly. From experience, these are toy sales more than 50 percent off, children's clothing, electronics and jewelry.

2010 Black Friday Store Openings

Stores don't just open at 5 a.m. on Black Friday anymore. Times vary, with some even opening on Thanksgiving Day. Along with this, not all store sales start when the doors open. When planning your shopping, you may have to return to a store later in the day.

Store openings I will be hitting on Black Friday this year:

* 10 p.m., Thanksgiving, Toys'R'Us, Champaign, IL: Toy deals.

* Midnight, Walmart, Champaign, Ill. : Toys and home goods early bird sales start.

* 3 a.m., Kohls, Forsyth, Ill.: Clothing sales.

* 4 a.m., JC Penny's, Forsyth: Door busters start. Disney snow globe free gift. Get there early, grab hot deals and go. Penny's will re-stock clothing items and you can return for those later in the day.

* 4 a.m., Target, Decatur: Clothing, toys and home goods sales.

* 5 a.m., Walmart, Decatur: Electronics Black Friday sale begins.

* 5 a.m., Kmart, Decatur: Not too worried about missing door busters, as this store doesn't mark the sales very well and Black Friday deals are typically still there later.

* 5:30 a.m., Radio Shack, Decatur: Electronics deals.

The rest of the day I will return to Walmart, the Hickory Point Mall and other stores. My main Black Friday sale shopping will be over and it will be time to enjoy myself and get into the holiday spirit.