The Best Tips for Shopping on Black Friday
As we all know, Black Friday is next week. This is the day that so many people anticipate for getting a bit of Christmas shopping out of the way. I personally just go for the thrill of it all.
For the past two or three years, I have only purchased pajamas on Black Friday. I honestly go shopping because I enjoy being out in the crowds and spending time with my mom because we don’t live in the same city.
I also enjoy running into people that I haven’t seen in years.
The thing is, most people aren’t like me. Most people go out on Black Friday to do some hardcore shopping. There are so many Christmas presents to buy and some things will be on sale for the lowest prices of the year!
For those of you who will be out shopping for Black Friday, here are a few tips to survive the experience.
Gather Sales Circulars
Before heading out, its a great idea to gather all of the sales circulars for the stores that you would like to visit on Black Friday.
This can also be completed online. I personally think it’s better to use the circulars from the newspaper. That way you can circle things and make notes to yourself.
When you have all of the circulars together (on paper or on the computer), it’s time to compare prices!
You want to find the best deal on the things that you would like to purchase. Multiple stores may have game systems on sale for $250, but make sure to choose the bundle that comes with five games instead of three games for the same price.
You want to get the most bang for your buck.
Make A List
The next tip is to make a list of the things that you are planning to purchase. The worse thing to do on Black Friday is to walk around aimlessly with so many great sales going on.
That can be completely overwhelming and you may end up spending too much or going into debt. The best thing to do is to make a list of things that you are interested in purchasing.
Don’t forget to include things that you may want to take a better look at while shopping. Indicate these items with a question mark. You can always modify the items on your list later if necessary.
Get Organized
The best Black Friday shoppers are the most organized shoppers. Once you have your list, try organizing it by the type of item.
This helps you remember everything when you are on an aisle with 100 other people. You don’t want to leave the craft aisle without looking at all of the crafting items on your list. This will slow you down tremendously when you have to backtrack.
Your list is going to be very helpful while mapping out your shopping trip.
Create Your Budget
With me being on a debt free journey, what would this list be without me mentioning a budget?
The budget for Black Friday is fairly simple. It is the amount of money set aside for you to spend on Black Friday. That’s it.
The amount that you choose should be an amount of money that you can comfortably spend without adding debt if possible. I personally save money for Christmas all year round, so that money is what I use for Black Friday.
Shopping is more enjoyable for me when I know exactly how much can be spent on Black Friday. I can have fun shopping and feel great about my purchases when I get home.
Subscribe to Newsletters
It is a great idea to subscribe to the newsletters of the stores that you plan to visit. A few days before Black Friday, stores will announce their upcoming deals.
Some stores even send coupons to their email subscribers that can be used on top of already discounted items.
Most of the time, email subscribers get access to discounts before other customers. Some stores will even give you free gifts and exclusive coupons for special events.
Don’t go crazy with this tip though. Only subscribe to the newsletters of the stores that you have already planned to visit.
Too many emails may cause you to overspend or go into debt to buy things just because they are on sale.
Find A Shopping Buddy
It’s very important if you are going shopping on Black Friday to have a shopping buddy. Things get crazy this time of year. The stores are going to be crowded and it will be hard to watch your surroundings alone.
There will be people running around and grabbing things without paying attention to anyone around them. Be aware of your surroundings and watch out for the people shopping with you.
Choose a friend or family member that enjoys shopping on Black Friday and matches your shopping pace.
You don’t want to go with someone that will be tired after two stores when you are planning on going to ten stores. That won’t be a fun trip for you or the other person.
When you go shopping on Black Friday with a buddy, don’t forget that you can tag team crowded stores.
One person can stand in line while the other person uses the list to get the items. This will make checking out a breeze.
Make Your Plan
Now that you have your list, budget, and circulars, and your shopping buddy, your plan of action can now be created.
The easiest way to do this is to determine which store has the big-ticket items that you need. You will need to visit this store first because big-ticket items move fast.
Use the list that you created above to map out your trip. Write down the name of the store with the time that you would like to shop there. It is also helpful to write down the things that you would like to purchase from this store along with the price.
When creating your plan, you also want to make sure to pay attention to the distance of the stores that you want to visit. Make sure that you’re not driving all over town and backtracking because there will be tons of traffic.
Dress Appropriately
More often than not, you will be out on Black Friday for a few hours. Some people will leave home on Thursday evening and some will leave home early on Friday morning.
Whatever the case, be sure to dress appropriately. Wear comfortable clothes that allow you to move around freely.
If you live in an area where it may be cold standing outside waiting on stores to open, dress in layers. It is easy to take off a layer or two and drop them into a shopping bag when you warm up.
As for shoes, I suggest wearing flat shoes that are comfortable. This isn’t the day to debut your brand new shoes. If you choose to do this, your trip may be cut short.
The Bottom Line
If you follow these tips, your Black Friday trip should run smoothly. Take your time while traveling from place to place and remember to relax and have fun.
If a deal runs out before you get there, just move on. There is no point in fighting or getting arrested over something that you can purchase 364 other days out of the year.
I hope everyone has a great Black Friday shopping experience. Be safe out there!
What are you planning to purchase for Black Friday?
If I ever shop on Black Friday….. It’s all on line – so I don’t have to deal with the mobs of people and the lines!
That is a wise decision! Honestly, I just go out because it gives me a rush. I do make sure to stay away from the angry mobs of people waiting for big ticket items.
I think it’s important to have a list and a budget limit! I always have those two things on black friday.
This is the only way I can keep things together with all of the chaos going on!
I don’t really shop on Black Friday. I am way too scared of those crazy crowds. But I do need some new jeans! 🙂
The crowds are VERY intimidating. It gets worse every year. Good luck on your search for new jeans!
I’m very glad you posted this because, as the economy worsene, Black Friday gets crazier. My mum is trying to get an iPad and we’re trying to see if we can just get it online. Going out in our city on Black Friday is a tad bit dangerous.
Traffic and the number of people out on Black Friday can get a bit crazy! Don’t forget to check Amazon. You can shop from home and still get great deals. Whatever you decide, please be safe!