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Thursday, November 15, 2007
Countdown to Black Friday!
We’re just over a week away from the busiest shopping day of the year: Black Friday (aka: The Day After Thanksgiving).
People will fight, go without sleep (and after all that turkey tryptophan consumption, who’s able to get up super early?!?!?), and spend spend spend to get the best deals on holiday gifts for their loved ones or, let’s face it, themselves too!
But how to prepare? Devour the ads, check them out online in advance, plan your routes, dress appropriately (no one wants to lug around a heavy winter coat unless you absolutely have to), don a fanny pack (I know, it’s a terrible thing, but sometimes you gotta do what ya gotta do), grab your lists and hit the road, all long before the sun rises?
These are all options and the strategy can be the most critical part of your day. But why not make it fun? Last year, I was up prior to the crack of dawn and at a local 24 hour store by 4:45 a.m. (the sales began at 5 a.m.). I shopped at 3 or 4 stores, got what I needed and got out! Then I met up with some friends, who were also out shopping, for breakfast. I had a great time, got some great deals and I wasn’t entangled in a fight with fellow shoppers.
With that said, here are my survival tips for brave Black Friday shoppers everywhere:
- Pay attention to the ads: No one likes to get to a store and realize that the sale on that DVD only applies to the full screen version and you want wide-screen (or whatever other nightmare realization you might have)
- Wear clothes appropriate to the weather (both in and out): If it’s cold out, have a coat/jacket/sweater handy for waiting in lines before stores open, but be prepared to tie it around your waist or put it in a cart, if you’re lucky enough to find one. The less you have on, the better. Stores get awfully warm with thousands of people running around for the best deals.
- Make a list! I cannot emphasize this one enough. Without it, you’ll surely forget at least one item you came for. If you’re super-organized, it helps to put the item, the store where it’s on sale and how much it’s supposed to be on sale for. Also handy, carry a highlighter to mark things off as you get them.
- Clean out your trunk (or cargo area): Better to have PLENTY of room for unexpectedly large items, or all of your shopping bags. Plus, if it’s in the trunk, it’s out of sight and theives are less likely to break in to steal your holiday gifts.
- Bring your ads with you: If you’ve got it, the store can’t dispute the price and you can check again on things you saw through the turkey haze the night before.
- Keep drinks and snacks in your car: You may have to wait in yet another line to get a beverage or a bite to eat in the stores and this way you stay hydrated, fueled and safe.
- Pack light: If you’re carrying a purse, clean it out the night before so you have only the essentials (checkbook, credit cards, ID, store savings/rewards cards, cell phone, gum and a hairband if needed). If you’re only carrying a wallet, clean it out too. If it’s too thick, it’s hard on your back.
- Wear comfortable shoes and clothes: Tensions will be running high, everyone will be tired and the last thing you need is for your feet to be aching while you wait in line. Same goes for your clothes. If you aren’t comfortable, change! No one cares if you’re making a fashion statement or not. It’s Black Friday.
- Put gas in your car the night before: Time is of the essence here. You won’t have time to stop and fill up between getting to and from each store you need to hit. Although, if you aren’t out shopping, lines at the pump shouldn’t be too bad…
- Have fun and be kind to fellow shoppers! This one may just be the most important! If you aren’t having a good time, you’re only going to make others miserable too. If you’re nice to others, it will come back to you. If you’re not, chances are, that’ll come back too, only you probably won’t like it.
Now for the best part: I’ve checked out a variety of sites proclaiming to have the Black Friday ads in advance and here’s the one that seems to have the most user-friendly listings. http://www.blackfriday.info
Of course, I make no guarantees as to what they have on their sites. I’ll be verifying everything with the real ads before I head out Friday morning and I recommend you do the same!
So, will you be heading out on Black Friday?
