Yes really? Perhaps it’s because we love the special time we get to spend together or the fact that we’re nearly finished with all of our shopping by the end of the day, but we look forward to rising early in the AM every year the day after Thanksgiving. Over the years, we’ve learned a few things that help us keep on track and sane. Here are a few of my favorite tips:
- Know the sales before they hit the papers. Many of the stores leak their ads days and even weeks before the actual sale. I like TheBlackFriday.com and bfads.net but there are many other sites that leak details, too.
- Take cash. Have a spending limit or you’ll find yourself with way more than you need in your cart.
- Take a friend. In our case, it’s a spouse that shares the morning’s adventures. If you’re hitting a Big Box retailer, one of you can park the cart (we love the pharmacy because no one is there) and hang out while the other darts about to get the items you want. That way, you don’t end up in cart gridlock. If you’re somewhere like Old Navy, have one person get in line as soon as you get there. The lines tend to be long so while you’re waiting, the other person can snag all of the bargains. It works out almost perfectly.
- Have a timeline in mind and stick to it. You’ll be less likely to browse at things you don’t need if you know what times which stores open and hop from place to place. An end time is also great to keep your day in check.
- Not all Black Friday Sales are about gifts. Kitchen appliances, bath towels, coats, and countless other items drop to their lowest prices of the year the day after Thanksgiving. Keep in mind that you might not see these items so cheap until next year.
- Celebrate your success. Have a light breakfast out or a cup of coffee to celebrate the day’s shopping savings. If you’re away from home visiting family, it’s a great time to talk about strategies for hiding all of your Christmas goodies in the trunk.
- Hit the ‘Net. If Black Friday isn’t your thing, know that many retailers offer their pricing online, too. And last year, Amazon pretty much matched things at each store price point to price point with great deals on shipping.
What about you? Do you shop on Black Friday? How do you make it more fun and stay on target with your budget?
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