6 Tips to Get the Most out of Black Friday Shopping

It’s that time again! Thanksgiving (aka my favorite holiday) is next week and what follows is one of the biggest shopping days of the year; Black Friday!

The Friday after Thanksgiving is the official start of the Christmas shopping season and is often met with excitement over deep discounts on everything from clothing and shoes to appliances and electronics. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of Black Friday shopping. I have very little patience for crowds and foolishness, so if I must, I do my shopping on the less hectic Cyber Monday (the Monday after Thanksgiving). Whichever big shopping day you choose, here are some tips to get the best deals and avoid the stress:

Plan Ahead: Do some pre-Black Friday research on your must haves to make sure you’re getting the best deals. You can compare prices using ads, apps or websites like BlackFriday.com  and don’t forget to check out smaller businesses for similar deals. Check out the stores return or exchange policy before committing and carry ads with you to avoid price confusion at checkout time.  You could also avoid the foolishness completely and check the pre-Black Friday sales for deals.

Beat the crowds: This is the main reason that I avoid Black Friday shopping… People are cray. Anywho, most stores carry very limited quantities of their hottest deals so you’ll be in a race against the clock. Lucky for you (and unfortunately for retail employees), many stores are opening up earlier and sales are starting as early as Thanksgiving Day. Make sure you check the stores opening hours and know that you may need to stand in some crazy long lines. Make sure to eat before you leave the house and bring snacks and water with you for the road. Long lines and hunger are a dangerous combo.

Don’t get Black Friday crazy: While there are definitely some great deals on Black Friday, it’s not the only sale day of the year. There’s still Christmas, after Christmas and countless other sales that may give you a chance at some really deep discounts. Go back to tip #1 and do your research. Also, don’t just buy stuff because it’s on sale. Make a list of what you want to get and stick to it. If you’re easily tempted, only carry cash so that you don’t overspend.

Stack your savings: Use coupons and other offerings (like military, student and other discounts) to get the absolute best price.

Divide and conquer: Team up with a friend or family member so that you can cover more ground at once. Make sure your phones are charged up so that you can easily contact each other.

Shop online: If you just can’t wait for Cyber Monday, you’re in luck. Lots of stores offer Black Friday deals online. Use these tips to save yourself some coin. Pour yourself a cup of hot cocoa, snuggle up in your fave blanket and shop from the comfort of your couch.

What say you?  Are you a Black Friday shopper?

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