The biggest shopping experience of the year is right on our door step; Black Friday! The last think you want to do is enter the chaos without some helpful Black Friday shopping tips. Otherwise you may find yourself left behind, discouraged and maybe even a little bit scared! We've done our homework and compiled a list of the top 10 best Black Friday shopping tips to help you through the chaos and achieve the best deals with the most fun!
Top 10 Black Friday shopping Tips
Black Friday Shopping Tip 1: Make a game plan- Decide long before the day what items you want and can afford. What stores you will visit and in what order. Gather sales fliers from the stores that showcase their black Friday sales. Compare them with each other. Find the ones with the best deals. Use sites like blackfriday.com and slick deals to help you find the right product at the right place at the right price. Slick deals has an entire forum dedicated to black Friday and if you are looking for a specific item, you can set up deal alerts so when that item is found on sale somewhere, it emails and text notifies you right away. Part of making a game plan is also setting your budget. Decide how much you can spend and plan your purchases accordingly. And lastly arrive early so you can secure a great spot in line.
Black Friday Shopping Tip 2: Do Your Research- If you are planning on making a special purchase of a big-ticket item based on a Black Friday sale, it is important to make sure that item really is a great deal. Check consumer reports and read consumer reviews of the item, see what quality of item it is before you decide to make the purchase. A bad product is still a bad deal no matter how cheap the price is slashed. Take the time to make sure it’s a quality product and worth getting up early or staying up late for the price cut.
Black Friday Shopping Tip 3: Stick to the game plan- Don't get distracted. Get in, get it, get out and then move to the next store. Don't let that fancy display distract you from your game plan. Having a shopping buddy will help with this, as you can divide and conquer, be a support to help each other to resist stuff not on the list. They can also turn a hassle shopping experience into a fun outting, and they can give you that second opinion if that dress makes you look like a stuffed plum.
Black Friday Shopping Tip 4: Cash only- Part of your game plan should be to make a budget. To help you stick to that budget only take cash with you. This way you can only spend what you have budgeted for and you won't be drawn to buy that extra pair of boots, or that unplanned for kitchen appliance. Make this year a guilt free black Friday.
Black Friday Shopping Tip 5: Bring the Ads- Many stores offer a "lowest-price" guarantee; however you may be required to produce a copy of the exact product being advertised for less. Although many stores won't price match an online deal, even if it comes from their own stores site. But it is always worth a try, so go ahead and print off that price sheet from online.
Black Friday Shopping Tip 6: Ask for a gift receipt- Many stores let you print a special gift receipt. This includes the item description and information the store would need if a return was made, but does not include the price paid. This is handy in case the person you give the gift to needs to return the product for any reason. Without a receipt many stores will kick and scream and may even refuse a return or exchange. Including a gift receipt will remove any headache your gift receiver may encounter.
Black Friday Shopping Tip 7: Dress for success- I don't mean go out in business attire. I mean don't wear those 6 inch heals that have your feet screaming after walking in them for an hour. I don't care how hot they make you look. You are on a shopping mission, not a guy hunting mission. Trust me, no guy will be looking at you, they will have their hearts, eyes and lips attached to that big screen TV that is $200 off retail price. Dress comfortably, in light layers. Wear comfortable shoes. Bring water bottles and snacks. This will help keep you at optimal shopping speed without having to stop and buy something; wasting time and your cash only budget.
Black Friday Shopping Tip 8: Let it go- if an item you wanted is gone. Oh we'll! Let it go. Don't let it ruin your entire holiday. Focus on the true meaning of the season, count your blessings for what you did get. And don't give up hope, there is always cyber Monday which often has better deals than black Friday. This is where slick deals will come in very handy. They will soon have cyber Monday deals listed and maybe you can find an even better deal.
Black Friday Shopping Tip 9: Skip it Completely unrelated to the others, but one way to manage black Friday shopping rush is to skip it. If the items you want aren't big door rushing items, then skip the madness and go later in the day. We always use black Friday to get PJs for Christmas. Not a big door rusher there. So often we go later in the day when things have calmed down. It makes for a much nicer shopping experience.
Black Friday Shopping Tip 10: Remember humanity- Above all else, in all the rush and chaos, remember to be kind, and human. What is it about saving a few bucks that can turn normal and kind people into savages that push, grab, and stomp all over each other? We all like to save a buck. But don't let that buck rob you of your humanity. Don't push. Don't steal or grab something someone else has. Don't trample over others. Think kind thoughts. Be kind to others. If even just a few are kind and courteous, maybe it will rub off and others will be kind and courteous too. Maybe we can all have a great Black Friday shopping experience.
No matter what your plans are for Black Friday; I wish you the best of luck and above all I hope you have fun! I hope our Black Friday shopping tips have helped you navigate through the chaos that awaits; and that you were able to score some amazing deals for your Holiday shopping. Let me know of some of your brilliant black Friday shopping plans! Are you staying home? Are you braving the store?
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{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }
really really really wish I had read this before my crazy black Friday shopping trip…lol could have used all the help I could get… Chaos
Good tips, but I think I’m going to skip it altogether this year. There’s nothing worth fighting crowds of rude people as I have in years past.
I’m up with tip #9…I always skip it. I don’t have the patience to go out and get ran over by people while trying to get inside a store…never done it, never will!! Besides, all I Want for Christmas is kitchen stuff! Although, a new camera does sound amazing!
#7 had me laughing
So true!
I think tip 10 is the most important of all- I mean we are shopping for Christmas after all. Another tip I would add is bring dollars- why? Because there will usually be a Salvation Army kettle outside and there are those who need help- remember the season.
These are wonderful tips. I could never stand in line or deal with the crowds on Black Friday. My brother-in-law on the other hand loves it. I’ll have to pass these tips on to him.
My favorite tip is wait for cyber Monday!
I’m not a fan of crowds or waking up early so I think that’s what I’ll be doing. You’ve got great tips for those who love it though!
I’m going to skip it this year~ just like the past few years. Its so not worth it! With the companies starting on Thanksgiving this year~ and taking their employees away from their family, it has just turned into madness. It’s enticing ppl to put material goods in front of families and it’s just not worth it.
Thanks for the tips, I have already done my research and some of it will be done online!
Those are all wonderful tips! It can definitely be chaos, so I don’t think I’m going to attempt going this year.
Since I am alone with our 4 kids this Thanksgiving I am definitely NOT planning on heading out on Black Friday, but I will be doing my shopping online!
These are great tips though and I will share with my readers! thanks!
You missed the best tip of all – Stay home and order everything online
I have also noticed a lot of retailers have extended their Black Friday sales to be all week long. Like Lane Bryant is doing 50% off most everything in the store all week, instead of just on Friday like they have done in years past. So check that out too before you go.
Oh my gosh, sounds like preparing for a tough marathon! I never ever go Black Friday shopping, I have no desire, but my husband goes occasionally, so I’ll be passing this off to him.
Not sure what happened to my other comment!
Anyhow, I went last year for the first time and will never go out again! But you have some great tips here!
I went out black Friday shopping last year for the first time….Never again! I’ll stick to cyber Monday!
Thanks for the great tips… I don’t think I am brave enough to shop on Black Friday
I dread black friday, but I still do it anyways. These tips are great to make it less stressful!
Black Friday just doesn’t have the appeal it used to, at least in my book. It just seems silly with stores opening so early on Thursday and many of the deals on Cyber Monday being better.
All great tips! I love the “cash only” tip – it definitely keeps us out of trouble when sticking to a budget. The past couple years, I’ve went Black Friday shopping with my teenage daughter. It’s fun to get that one-on-one time with her.
Great tips! I hate crowds though, so I am a chicken and just shop online! =) If I were to brave it these are great to know!
Great tips. In Canada we just tag along on your Black Friday sales. Love the idea if cash only. No going over budget!
My favorite tip is CASH only for sure!!!!
I totally agree with you about making a plan and using cash! It’s so easy to go overboard this time of year!
Love it! Stick to the game plan is always the hardest one for me to follow!
love it! Stick to the game plan is always the hardest one forme
Thanks for the tips. I am probably staying in this year and shopping online.
Great list of tips! We will be heading out Thursday night to do some shopping. Not sure how late I will stay out.
This is a great list. I don’t shop on Black Friday but I know my whole family does. I will be sharing!
Such a great list! My boyfriend’s mom wants me to go with her this year and I’ll definitely have to remember this if I do go!
Great list…. 8, 9, and 10 are tips that everyone needs to really remember!
Great tips but I not a “Black Friday” kind of gal! I shop on-line on Black Friday, or better yet Cyber Monday from the comfort of my home. A lot better than those crazy lines at the store
Great tips….and your kiddos are so precious. Will you be shopping on Black Friday? If so, online or off?
great tips – can’t wait!
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