I’ve heard all too often from girls my age that they’ve committed in my eyes the ultimate sin of womanhood: they’ve never been Black Friday shopping. The way I see it, Black Friday is a marathon that like all other marathons, I train for all year. I’ve been waking up at 5 a.m. for Black Friday since I was 13 years old, and haven’t missed it since. It is the only day out of the year that you will hear me rejoice when I hear the melodic alarm blare its horn at that otherwise ungodly hour. In fact, in recent years, I have been known to beat the alarm. So you could understand my feeling of distress when I hear someone has not yet experienced this glory. For those of you rookies planning your first trip, here’s how to make the most of your experience:
1. Put your journalistic skills to the test and do your research! Fortunately for us, many stores announce their Black Friday sales weeks ahead of time. Knowing what you are looking for in advance will keep you from spending more money than you had initially planned, plus it will clue you in on where to go first.
2. One of the most important aspects of Black Friday is having a budget. Set aside a specific amount of money that you want to spend and know who you want to shop for. You may want to leave your credit card at home to avoid overspending. Black Friday is a lot like gambling: you bring a set amount of cash, and once you’re done, you’re done.
3. Have a game plan. Once you know the sales, you can figure out where you want to go first. Department stores are known for having the biggest and best deals. If you’re planning on walking away with a big ticket item, (iPad, iPhone, TV, game console, etc.) you’ll want to get there ahead of time and wait in line. If you’re planning on being one of those who camps out for a deal, at least do yourself a favor and bring an air mattress and a small Thanksgiving dinner to feast on while you wait…alone.
4. Go early. Every year the deals start earlier and earlier. While it’s understandable that you don’t want to miss out on Thanksgiving for good deals, go as early as you can. The best deals are given out early and all the good items in stock are taken. The early shopaholic gets the shoes. Many shoppers, who are not as crazy as I am shop on Friday, but miss the deals! Most Black Friday deals end around noon on Friday. If you’re thinking of going later in the day, just stay home. Prices will go back to being full price, and all the inventory will have already been scavenged by earlier shoppers. You can catch deals online for Cyber Monday.
5. Dress comfortable in loose clothes and whatever shoes you feel most comfortable in! Chances are you will be trying on a lot of clothes. Dressing rooms will be packed and it will be hot. You’ll want to try on your clothes as quick as you can, without the hassle of having to take off and put back on tight clothes.
6. Bring snacks and water. Like I said, I see Black Friday like a marathon. Shopping makes me hungry. With a set budget, I don’t want to spend any of my money on the junk offered in the food court. Although McDonald’s may sound like a good idea at 5 a.m., it’s better to have something more filling and satisfying like fruit or a granola bar.
7. Ask yourself, ‘Do I need this?’ Be careful not to fall victim to the sales! If you cannot think of at least three outfits to wear the clothing item with, you do not need it! Willpower is the name of the game, folks.
8. Finally, show off what you got! You woke up early/stayed up all night for these deals. Don’t be afraid to brag about them!
May the sales be ever in your favor. Happy shopping!