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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Mercer chapter.

     Once you are stuffed with turkey and are filled with thanks, what do you the day after Thanksgiving? Well department stores across the nation open their doors for one of their biggest deal days of the season, Black Friday. Many stores have Early Bird specials for those customers who are willing to wake up in the wee hours of the morning to stand in line for deals on their new favorite laptop or savings on winter wear. Black Friday is also one of the best times of the year to shop for Christmas presents for your family and friends. Some of the stores with the biggest deals include Kohl’s, Target, Wal-Mart, and Best Buy.

     Here are some tips to keep in mind when shopping on this crazy day:

  1. Check out the ads to maximize your coupons and deals.
    The best deals are usually the ones that require you to wake up the earliest. You can check print ads, coupon magazines, and the store website.
  1. Make a list.
    Santa will be making a list as well, but the list you make will help you eliminate any unnecessary shopping at certain stores. This record can include Christmas gifts, household and school necessities, or items that have been on your wish list since the item came out.
  1. Map out the best route.
    Figure out what stores open the earliest and how long their deals last. Then find the quickest route to get to each store.
  1. Set a time frame.
    Decide how long you will allow yourself at each store so you can effectively increase your productivity at each location.
  1. Bring items to help boost your energy.
    Keep a bottle of water to stay hydrated from the rush from store to store and excessive walking throughout malls or shopping centers. Also snacks and/or music can keep you awake while waiting in those long lines.
  1. Fill up the tank.
    Between sitting in traffic, driving from one store to another, and just keeping warm in the comfort of your car, a vehicle can lose a lot of gas. So before heading out or the day before, make sure to fill up that gas tank.
  1. Snuggle up!
    Finally, make sure to dress appropriately for the weather. If the temperature is below 55 degrees, bring a jacket. Even if you assume that it will be a warm night, bring a jacket or blanket just in case the weather is chillier than expected.

     With these tips, you will surely be able to be one of the most efficient Black Friday shoppers ever. You can start your planning by checking out the links below. Remember to have fun, especially by saving some money, since, as a college student you don’t have a lot of cash to begin with. Happy Black Friday shopping!

Wal-Mart: http://www.walmart.com/cp/black-friday/1076614

Best Buy: https://blackfriday.bestbuy.com/#!/door+busters

Target: http://www.target.com/c/target-black-friday/-/N-5q0f2

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Black-Friday/b?ie=UTF8&node=384082011

Kohl’s: http://www.kohls.com/upgrade/giftinglisting/gift_guide.jsp?astid=2534374762135185&level=1&pfx=pfx_google_branding

Staples: http://www.staples.com/cat_BI291467?icid=HP:HP:XLPB:PREBF:WEEKLY:20121118:1:700X440

JCPenney: http://www.jcpenney.com/dotcom/jsp/browse/marketing/promotion.jsp?pageId=pg40014800013#/43bpreview/0

Photo courtesy: http://www.blackfriday.fm/bf_i…

 

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Steffiny is a senior pursuing a B.A Accounting degree at Mercer University. In addition to being the Campus Correspondent for Her Campus, she is a Contributing Writer for Her Campus Mercer. Steffiny is very active at her campus. She is the Vice President of Alumni Relations for Delta Sigma Pi (the professional business fraternity), a Resident Assistant, and she works at the Academic Resource Center. Steffiny has many other talents, one of which is Indian dance choreography. If she could be anything in the world, she hopes to be a mermaid. Steffiny likes to travel, spend time with family and friends, listen to Disney songs (especially the Tarzan soundtrack), and play in the rain. This past summer she went to New Zealand for an accounting internship. After she graduates in May 2015, she will go to Thailand to teach English for nine months!