This week holds not one, but two important holidays. Thursday, of course, is Thanksgiving, the day we share with our friends and family and celebrate being thankful and blessed. However, the very next day, is Black Friday – the holiest of all shopping days.
On Black Friday, one needs to prepare themselves for the chaos that the malls can hold. With the sales being the best of the year, and everyone and anyone will be looking to get the best deals and huge savings. For this Black Friday, go in with a few simple steps to help survive the craziness and find the best sales!
1.Look up your deals a head of time: There are so many stores, so one should look online in preparation of the sales! My personal favorite is blackfriday.com. The site has a list of advertisement fliers that are yet to be released. With these sales flyers, one can go through and see what exactly they want. This way you know which store has the better sales!
2.Make a list: Go in with what you want in mind. If you go in looking for anything and everything, you’re going to drive yourself crazy in the chaos! People are running around everywhere, items will be out of order, and it can turn into your worst nightmare. This is not the day to just go browsing for a new outfit for Toads or the perfect little black dress. This is the day to have a shopping mission, and conquer each item on your list for the Holiday Season.
3.Check out the times ahead of time: Some stores may open at midnight, some not til 3 am or 5 am, while some may even open on Thanksgiving! Stores can change all over the country, so look up specifically for your local stores. Make sure to call ahead. The television you’re dreaming of getting mom and dad to say thank you for everything may be gone by the time you get to Best Buy at 5 am since the store actually opened at midnight!
4.Prioritize your stores and items: Some stores are going to be crazier than others! Plan according to the importance of the item and the size of the store. Best Buy, JcPenny, Sears, and other department stores are going to be much crazier. Giving is a main part of Christmas, so think about the importance of each item. Is the $50 savings on your little brothers dream gift more important than the extra $5 gag gift for your roommate when you already have her other present? By ranking the items and stores, you’ll be able to get more done.
5.Be smart about your purse and wallet: As much as you may love your large purse, this is the perfect time to use the satchel! Don’t carry a lot with you – in all the craziness, it’s easier for someone to swipe your wallet! This isn’t the time to bring along all of the extra gift cards you have accumulating in your wallet.
6.The internet is your friend!: Last year, I discovered that the sales are sometimes even online! Everyone knows about Cyber Monday, and all their great sales! Last Thanksgiving, however, I logged online to finalize my list for Black Friday and discovered that the sales were online on Thanksgiving! After the parade, log online and see if some of the deals are going on. If the site has free shipping as part of the promotional offer and the sale is online, why not just save yourself the hassle and shop in your pajamas?!
Happy shopping!