‘Twas the Eve of Black Friday, when all through the stores,
Ambitious patrons lined up for sales galore.
The Xboxes were placed far from the entrance with caution
In hopes that these shoppers wouldn’t cause a commotion.
The basics were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sequined Uggs danced in their heads.
But they would soon set out with Starbucks’ in hand
To seek out the best deals and strategically plan.
Yes indeed, folks! Black Friday is just around the corner. For most of us, this means setting out for the mall as soon as the Thanksgiving dishes are washed and the leftovers are stowed away. The next step is to get your coupons, your cohorts, and your caffeine. Time to pull an all-nighter! Who needs time with the fam when there are so many amazing deals to be had?
Perhaps this is the problem with this post-Thanksgiving tradition. We often forget the true point of the holiday: spending time with loved ones. We’re so preoccupied with the upcoming Christmas season to start that we can’t even enjoy the holiday at hand.
However, many consumers do think of Black Friday as the opportunity to get most of their Christmas shopping done—which is totally fine! There is some sort of twisted fun in loading up on coffee and setting out on a super-sale scavenger hunt. But is it really something to stress yourself out over?
Here are some tips to ensure that your Black Friday is fun, safe and efficient! Who ever said you can’t have your pumpkin pie and eat it, too?
1. Location, Location, Location.
Know which sales you want to hit up ahead of time—and which of those sales are actually worth checking out! Recent reports have revealed that some Black Friday sales pale in comparison to sales that stores hosted this past Labor Day, so make sure that you compare the advertised sale price to the item’s original price. The whole point of Black Friday is to make a dollar stretch—and far! It is also helpful to make a list of the items you want to purchase and to locate the business with the best deals for those items. The moral of the story? Don’t waste all of your time in any one store!
2. Hey, Big Spender!
It is vital to keep track of your purchases as you embark on your Black Friday expedition. Before you even set foot out of your house, create a budget for yourself and do not exceed that budget. If you use your credit or debit card, keep a list of the total amounts you spend throughout the night and add them up after each purchase. It also never hurts to download a banking app onto your smart phone to better help manage your funds and monitor your spending.
3. Better Safe than Sorry.
Fighting the store crowds can be a challenge in and of itself, so it’s even more so important to stay alert! Black Friday is infamous for its Xbox brawls and pepper-spraying fiascos. It is important to keep a level-head during this stressful shopping excursion so as to avoid dangerous encounters with unstable shoppers. It definitely isn’t worth tackling someone for a pair of shoes!
In addition to the physical violence that often erupts, hacking scams and identity theft are also threats posed by Black Friday deals (Take the Target debacle of 2013 as an example!). If you know that a company has had hacking scandals in the past, it may be best to do your purchasing via cash. If you decide to shop online, make sure that your computer is equipped with internet security software and that you only buy from sites you know you can rely on.
4. The Buddy System.
Going it alone may be more efficient, but bringing along friends or family members makes Black Friday much more fun—and safe! Having a partner can help prevent either one of you from being the victim of the crime; you have somebody to watch your back, and you can watch theirs in return. Your friend can also help monitor your spending and help you carry bags. And hey, maybe your buddy can even go grab snacks while you check out! It’s a win-win for everyone.
Don’t let this Black Friday be a source of stress for you; make it fun! And be sure to binge out on some turkey and stuffing before you go! Energy for the road, right?