How to Get the Holiday Deals You Want on Black Friday

Black Friday, the Friday immediately following Thanksgiving and the unofficial first day of the Christmas shopping season, is one of the biggest shopping days of the year. Depending on how you approach Black Friday, it can be a dream come true or an absolute nightmare. To make sure you get the deals you want this Black Friday, take some time to prepare.

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Arrive Early for Black Friday

When it comes to getting the holiday deals you want, you can never start too early. In years past, many shoppers began lining up the night before. Secure a support system, dress weather appropriate and arrive at least 3 hours early. If possible, I recommend camping out around midnight.

Secure a Support System

To make this Black Friday more bearable, make sure you have family or friends who can support you during your campout. This holiday season, have someone on call to get you coffee, food, toilet paper or to act as a stand-in while you use the bathroom. If you do have someone stand-in, make sure to clear it with your fellow Black Friday shoppers, since you will be spending the entire night with these folks. It also doesn't hurt to befriend your fellow holiday shoppers, offering to hold their place or sharing your coffee.

Prioritize Deals

Accept that you may not be able to get everything on your list and prioritize your deals this holiday season. It is better to walk away with something from your Black Friday list than nothing. Plus, if you've subscribed to Slickdeals, you may still be able to get what you want at the price you want in the days leading up to Christmas.

Find out Quantities in Advance

Each holiday season, stores expect that consumers will line up for deals hours before opening. Usually if you call a store prior to Black Friday, they are happy to tell you their expected quantities for the products you want. By calling prior to Black Friday, you can save a ton of time. If you know that Toys R Us will only have 3 Wiis in stock and you arrive 4th in line, you can move on to your next destination.

Find Obscure Locations

Typically the most popular locations will have the most quantities for Black Friday. However, this also means that they will be the most populated. You might be better off finding a Bestbuy out of the way with smaller quantities, but better chances of your getting first in line.

Check for Online Deals

Nowadays, stores offer many Black Friday deals online. If you really aren't up to waiting in line this holiday season, just make sure to log on to your favorite store early.