Holiday Shopping: Eight Stops You Should Make when Buying Gifts This Season

Holiday shopping is one of the most exhilarating yet frustrating activities that humans go through every year around Thanksgiving time. Best Friday's sales give many a chance to get the bulk of our shopping done before Christmas sneaks up on us December 25th. Some people save up their money the year around just for the day after Thanksgiving sales. Memphis has lots of great shops, both big and small, to choose from but there are a few stores that will have the most to offer on November 24th, 2006. Below are a few tips on what stores you should stop in and shop at during this Friday after Thanksgiving sales.

Macy's: One can never go wrong with this store because there are so many departments to choose from when purchasing gifts for someone or even a little something for you personally. Macy's will always pull out all the stops around the holidays and on Best Friday, the sales will prove to be magnificent. With one sales coupon, you can receive discounts on your favorite clothes, jewelry, shoes, household products, and other wonderful items the whole day! This store is definitely bound to be filled with people, so make certain that if this store is high on your priority list, be there early! Tip: If there is an item that you really want to buy, go in the store and have it put on hold a day or two before the big sale. This way, there will be a better chance of the item still being there.

Sears: Sears is a favorite store with many Memphians, for the store also has multiple products and services to choose from in retail. Clothing, jewelry, electronics, eyeglass center, painting, and home care are some of the many departments included in this store. On Best Friday, the section will be the most crowded will be electronics (televisions, dvd players, telephones, stereo systems, and computers) because many people have waited all year for those particular items to go on sale. I have seen the lines around the corner outside of Sears' door at 5 a.m. so there will always be a shopping chaos associated with this store. Tip: Some stores require you to purchase an item ahead of time, so to avoid standing in a line and being disappointed, make sure you ask about that policy. Shop smart!

Toys 'R' Us: One cannot discuss holiday shopping without including the illustrious toy store, Toys 'R' Us. This store has a catalogue that many children from all over look through and make extensive Christmas lists of all the toys they want. Parents are definitely put in a different position when trying to buy the toys from the list. So many kids want the same toy but many times, the store can sell out quickly so if you have children, this store should be higher on your priority list when shopping.

Circuit City/Best Buy: Both of these stores deliver some of the best technological products at great prices. People are usually geared up to buy multiple dvds, cds, video games, and accessories to add to their collections. Computers, televisions, and home appliances (washer/dryers, refrigerators, etc) are sure to have major discount prices that can save someone a few hundred dollars. Once again, these stores will be filled with people and many of them are trying to take advantage of the sales. Be prepared for long check out lines, irate customers, and other frustrations, but do not let that deter you from shopping in good spirits and benefiting from great sales!

JCPenney: This store has plenty of departments to choose from when shopping for the holidays. Clothing, toys, home and furniture, shoes, facial products, electrical gadgets and more! This store has lots of great deals and you can even use the catalog that the stores send out to its customers.

Target: This store is definitely all about wonderful gift giving and low prices during the holidays. You can find all your household items in this store, but also purchase toys, furniture, clothes and other technological materials to give family and friends this holiday season. Target has very chic items and a variety of brands to choose from - a plus when shopping.

Dillards: Dillards is always overflowing with eager shoppers during the Christmas holidays. People especially like to buy gifts like coats, shoes, or dresses for their loved ones. Make sure to know each person's size when going out to buy clothing, because fit is important.

Home Depot: This store gets many men excited and should be on lots of lists. This store provides those that love to fix things with all manners of hardware. For those that would rather not do it themselves, Home Depot offers installation at low prices. Have your floor redone or your kitchen remodeled to welcome your guests into a new setting this holiday season!

One thing you must do during this shopping season is first practice being focused. Make a list to know exactly what you want to buy before going in the store because it is easy to get sidetracked and stray from your original purpose. Exercise a modicum of patience although many people will have lost theirs in no time. Have all of your coupons, credit cards, and other materials readily accessible, but organized so that you can quickly buy and move on to the next shop. Take all of these tips into consideration and you will have a much easier shopping experience. Happy holiday shopping!