This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UFL chapter.
Although the majority of Americans are preparing for Thursday’s big meal and camaraderie, collegiettes need to remember to prepare for Friday’s big event as well. While some might laugh (and sleep) Black Friday off, if you want to have an effective Black Friday shopping experience, you need to strategize far in advance.
Her Campus UFL is here to provide some suggestions to maximize Black Friday shopping proficiency and ensure you don’t go home empty-handed.
DO
- Sacrifice your beauty sleep. While holidays are certainly energy-consuming, the day after Thanksgiving is not the time to catch up on your rest. Take a nap after your big Thanksgiving dinner so you can be well-rested enough to tackle the morning of Black Friday properly.
- Dress comfortably. Black Friday done properly is more of an athletic event than Soul Cycle! This being said, it is perfectly acceptable to throw on your Lululemon athletic gear and wear your hair in a messy braid. No one can judge you on this day!
- Wear running shoes for utmost comfort. You are going to be rushing to different stores and departments all day starting in the wee hours — wear only things that will still be comfortable at the end of the day because there are no breaks on Black Friday!
- Lay out your clothes the night before. Even though putting on workout clothes doesn’t take much creativity, if you are hitting the early morning doorbuster sales, you will definitely be happy you don’t have to exert any additional effort.
- Plan ahead of time. If you have a few specific items you know you would be devastated to come home without, make sure to get them first. Then you can spend the rest of the day casually perusing other sales.
- Rally your troops. If you are planning on going with friends and family, schedule meeting times beforehand, especially if someone is notorious for running late. A minute off schedule could mean you miss the perfect item!
- Eat breakfast! As you dash out the door, grab some delicious leftovers and water so you can stay invigorated until lunchtime. This is important, even if you don’t feel hungry at the time.
DON’T
- Exceed your budget. Although it can be tempting to buy everything at discounted prices, it is necessary to know your financial limits. Nothing is worth going into serious debt for!
- Be greedy. Think about whether you will actually use the items you are considering purchasing and if they are similar to any items you already have. Shopping is great, but make sure what you’re buying is worth the cost.
- Get too competitive. Although things might seem crucially important in the moment, think before you act. Is the free keychain you don’t need worth trampling other shoppers for? If someone tries to cut you in line to checkout, take a deep breath before responding. It is always acceptable to stand up for yourself — but you probably don’t need to start a brawl in public.
Consider these tips while preparing for Black Friday 2012, and you will definitely be successful! Happy shopping!