If you’re anything like me, you are already getting super excited for one of the biggest shopping days of the year, Black Friday! If you do it right and are well prepared, you could come out of Black Friday unscathed and equipped with tons of great new (discounted!) goodies. Follow these tips to make sure you stay a smart shopper and get amazing gifts for everyone on your holiday list!
1. Go With a Game Plan
I cannot count the amount of Black Friday’s I have went into with no game plan and have come out with loads of shopping bags, but absolutely no money left in my wallet. Black Friday is a big day, and it is important to have a general idea of specific items you want to buy for yourself and for gifts, as well as have a general idea of what stores you are most interested in and are having the best Black Friday deals. Most stores already have announced their discounts being offered and if they haven’t, will keep rolling them out in the next week. It’s never too early to start doing your research!
2. Be Wary of What’s Really a Deal
While Black Friday is a huge day for cheaper electronics and big department store deals, often clothing and accessory stores do not provide deals significantly different than what normal costs would be on any other shopping day. If something does not seem much more discounted than what is normally is, unless you absolutely love it maybe save your money for the better deals and try your luck again on Cyber Monday!
3. Squad Up
Make sure you roll up to Black Friday with a great squad in tow! You want to go with friends or family who will stand in long lines at 9 am with a smile on their faces, want to go to similar stores with you, and tell you how it is (aka tell you when you don’t need to buy a shirt in three different colors or spend $50 on a dress that is just eh). Black Friday can be brutal but with the right group of people, it could be a super fun adventure!
4. Get an Early Start
No one likes waking up early (especially during Holiday Break), but to get a true Black Friday experience and have the best selection of items to buy, it’s an absolute must! Also, if you are spending your Black Friday at a large shopping center or mall, it will be incredibly difficult to land a great parking spot the later you arrive to the party. Set your alarm clock, chug a Starbucks holiday drink, and get your shop on!
5. Don’t Forget to Try it On
Often times, we get lazy and neglect to visit dressing rooms and actually try on the clothing to see if it looks good on us, especially at stores where we know our exact sizing. On Black Friday when lines could get crazy long, the tendency to skip the dressing room is especially strong. However, if you take the time to actually try your clothing on it will likely end up saving you a lot of money! On Black Friday, it’s tempting to grab a bunch, pay, and run to the next store but if you try stuff on, you might realize you only really love and feel comfortable in half the stuff you are holding!
6. Be App-Smart
Apps are truly lifesavers, and that is especially true on Black Friday. Apps can be used to look up deals and compare prices at many of the different stores you visit. All you have to do is searches “Black Friday 2016” into the app store and many options will come up that allow you to make customized lists and budget. In addition, it’s always helpful to have the apps of your favorite stores, especially if downloading the app and using it gives you special discounts!
7. Have Courage and Be Kind
Black Friday can be a somewhat scary day full of very long lines, huge masses of people, and lots of grumpiness. Approach the day with strength and make sure to be especially kind to everyone you counter. Everyone is on edge with the stress of the day and wanting to score the best deals to make the holiday season a bit cheaper, so make sure to smile at people and be polite while on line (especially be polite to the brave souls working at the stores on Black Friday). The holiday season is all about spreading love, so start off strong!
Happy shopping!