Black Friday shopping tips

Oh, Black Friday.
Some love it, some hate it, but you can't quite deny the potential savings that American retailers make available to us.
Personally, I am not a fan of the way Black Friday continually competes with family time. Mom and I are intentional about parceling our time dedicated to planning and shopping on the day after Thanksgiving. We have been shopping together for quite some time now and I have some tips to share with you today which will allow you to drag your turkey laden self out into the cold to snag all the great buys.
One disclaimer: We never go out after the big, crazy things like TVs and trampolines, but the smaller, generally good buys like small appliances and pillows and sweaters and Christmas gifts and the like. I'm not here to tell you how to camp outside of Target or Best Buy for 3 days. In the words of Sweet Brown, Ain't Nobody Got Time For That.

1) Prep and Plan
One of the keys to a successful shopping trip is to have a good agenda, but please, please, only flip through the pounds of ads after the meal and time spent with family. I find that it's best to flip through all the ads, and then asses what you want, where it's at, what time the location opens, and how great the savings is. Then prioritize. For instance, you may not want to go to a store that is across town that opens at 2 am for a hoodie that is only $10 off. Now that you know what you want and where it is, try to plan the order you want to hit the stores, based on location and opening time. I would encourage you to write it out as a list with vital information as well as the prices and titles of the items you are looking for as it would be feeble to expect your tired and well fed brain to remember all the details. In fact, I keep the brochures as well as any lists together in a folder or binder. It allows you to show any sales people what you're talking about if they're unsure of the product you're looking for. One word though: don't be afraid to sway from the plan. Nothing is set in stone. If the K-Mart line is around the building and all you wanted was one, $35 air mattress, you may wanna scrap that and move on.
In short, be a dork and make plans and carry the ads with you.

2) AM or PM, not both
Unless you really hate yourself, don't try to hit stores that opening in the evening and expect to shop all night. Do the evening stores, then go home, sleep, and do more shopping in the morning, or get up before the crack of dawn and do all the shopping in the morning. Don't try to do both. Also, we discovered that if you aren't going for the big ticket items, there is a good chance the little things will still be available. I mean, if you're racing to grab the discount TV you'll probably rush past the 5 dollar Monopoly board game. Don't give up hope after 8 or so in the morning. There are good buys to be had well into the afternoon.

3) Right tools for the right job
Black Friday is not the time nor the place to try out your new heels or those uncomfortable, tight jeans, or that cardigan that isn't quite warm enough. Be comfortable. You'll be dashing around a bit, standing around quite a bit, sitting on the floors or ledges, and potentially trying on clothes. Be prepared, and be well outfitted. Be comfortable. If you're shopping with others as a group or a pair, avoid wearing gray or black, as everyone will be wearing those dark colors and it'll be harder to distinguish your people from the crowd. I'd also advise you to bring a good, functional, function over fashion bag for the outing. Cross body bags are secure and comfortable, as are backpacks. Backpacks offer more room to haul your ads and agenda, as well as snacks and such which will be necessary when when waiting in obscenely long lines. Be sure to charge your phone fully the night before, as well as any supplemental battery packs you may have. Those will come in very handy as you'll most likely be on your phone quite a bit.

4) Prep your vehicle
Remember that your vehicle will serve as "home base" for your adventures. Clean it out, and maximize your space by laying the seats flat or whatever magical features you car has. Think about what you'll be buying, and plan ahead. For example, mom and I always get poinsettias, so we take towels or trash bags to set them on. If you plan to shop in n area with theft issues, you may want to take a large, dark colored blanket or sheet to throw over your purchases to discourage any would-be thieves. Pack your car with things to make your shopping trip more comfortable and enjoyable, such as an AUX cord to listen to music (or CDs) for driving around town, more snacks, shoes to change into, or layers if you know the weather will change drastically.
prep vehicle

5) Be someone your mom would be proud of
Don't let all that turkey go to your head, and don't forget all those warm fuzzy feelings you had for your family the night before. Be kind to your fellow shoppers, and especially the employees. You are shopping alongside a bunch of other folks who are out trying to score good deals. There's no reason to make it a competition. Hold the doors in stores, and help them kind the rebate toasters. Smile to the people waiting in line. Maybe ask them about their purchases or their Turkey Day. Remember, we're all in this crazy retail rat race together. As for the employees, please be kind and understanding, even empathetic towards them. They are people too, who may or may not have had the opportunity to enjoy as much of Thanksgiving as you have because they had to sleep and then get to work. Be understanding if they forget to give you your free snow globe or if they seem tired or overwhelmed. Please, please, don't be unkind to them. Make your mother proud. Ask them about when their shift started, what they did the day before, what their favorite dish is, etc. You have the power to be the bright spot in their morning. Please do so.


I think that's about it! What would you add to the list?