Shopping This Black Friday? Have a Strategy

Before you go shopping on the day after Thanksgiving, make a plan. Read all the ads; they can be found a week or more beforehand online, or if you prefer print, the majority of newspaper Black Friday ads will come in the paper Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Pick one super doorbuster (one of those "75% off, 10 in stock, doors open at 5 a.m." deals) item to go for, and concentrate on the less stellar, but still substantial morning sales for the rest of your Black Friday shopping.

Don't even dream of getting the super doorbuster early a.m. specials more than half an hour after the sale begins. Stores usually have a dozen or fewer of such amazing deals on hand. Many stores will list their inventory in the sale ad, but if it's a high number, still be wary of it selling out quickly.

Map out your route. Know exactly which stores you are going to and at which times. If you're very brave, or very insane, you will be tempted to try hitting more than one super-doorbuster sale, say a 5 a.m. and then a 6 a.m. I enjoy insanity, but I'm afraid this time I'm going to have to come down against it. Only experienced Black Friday shoppers should even consider it. First-timers should pick one super-doorbuster sale item at one store, then plan the rest of the shopping morning around the morning-long sales.

The night before, try to get a good night's sleep. You'll be getting up at 5 a.m., 4 a.m., or even earlier and you want to be as calm and rested as possible when dealing with the hubbub of early-morning doorbuster sales.

Take a partner. Two to three people working together on Black Friday shopping works best. Early sales often have long checkout lines. To streamline things, have one person wait in line the moment you enter the store while the other person quickly shops for the special deals that have already been agreed upon. One person working alone is less efficient, and it's comforting to have another person to vent to, work with, and bounce ideas off of. More than three people, and you'll have too many bodies to keep track of.

Keep in cell phone contact with your partner(s). If you have a Nextel, make sure you have everyone's 2-way programmed into your phone, and stay in contact by beeping each other.

Get gift receipts for everything. If you're buying two or more gifts at once, ask for separate gift receipts. If the store is unable to do that, pay for the items separately. It's obvious, but I'll say it: Don't forget your credit card, debit card, cash, and/or checks. Have two or more forms of payment handy on the distant chance something goes awry with your chosen payment method.

Armed with a plan, you'll cut down on the potential stresses of Black Friday and make it manageable. These strategy tips come from a family of battle-hardened Black Friday veterans. I shopped Hudson's doorbusters before it was Marshall Fields. Before it was Macy's. Now put on your helmets and grab those Black Friday deals, soldier.