Know Exactly
What You Want
Before you join the crowds, be sure to make a list. This will be a great season to catch a bargain on even the hottest gifts—whether it’s a tablet for someone special or an upgrade to the family room with a new TV, Black Friday is an excellent time to buy. Just determine the model you want and find out where and whether it will be marked down. It’s also smart to get familiar with store layouts to make it easy to tackle your shopping list.
Do Your
Research
It’s always good to have as much information as possible before taking on Black Friday. Even if you’re already familiar with a particular product, it’s wise to visit the manufacturer’s website and check out expert and user reviews. You’ll also want to visit retailer websites and special deal sites for offers, promotions and last-minute markdowns. Better yet, sign up for e-newsletters from your favorite stores, which sometimes offer extra special deals and perks to subscribers.
Bonus Tip
Sign up now to get notified about Samsung's Black Friday Deals.
Divide and
Conquer
With all the traffic and long lines, Black Friday can be pretty stressful. One way to overcome this stress is a strategy that includes your family members in the shopping adventure. Save tons of time by sharing the list with your helpers then assign particular categories or stores to each person. Since many stores have deals that occur in a window of just a few hours—doorbuster sales—each member can visit specific stores at specific times to take advantage of the best bargains. Make sure to plan a route to maximize your helpers, then stay in touch with your cell phones for meeting points and figure out who’s going where.
Know Why You’re
Getting Up So Early
It’s hard to figure out which deals are truly worth losing sleep over. Stores have sales throughout the year—such as the Fourth of July weekend or President’s Day—and products can be bought with far less effort and stress. So what’s worth the Black Friday trek? Well, almost everything goes on sale for Black Friday, but you’re most likely to find the best bargains on electronics. TVs and hot gadgets like tablets or the latest cell phones tend to get the deepest discounts. Household appliances are another good bet—sometimes you can save hundreds of dollars. Of course, Black Friday is a great time to buy toys, too.
Put Your
Smartphone to Work
A more recent phenomenon on Black Friday is the use of social media to announce last-minute deals. Luckily you probably have a smartphone, which you can use to check for sale updates posted on Facebook or Twitter. Some stores may even run specials you can only see when checking in with Foursquare, or ask your friends and followers who might even tip you off about a great sale right around the corner. So stay socially connected while waiting in those long lines, or read an ebook, watch a movie or play a game. Just make sure to bring a phone charger and extra batteries.
Alert Your Credit
Card Companies
For your own protection, many credit card companies freeze accounts when they see certain shopping patterns. Big purchases for electronics or lots of clothing on a single day can trigger a freeze. Let your companies know that you plan to go on a shopping frenzy and that your card should be available for charging up a storm.
Don’t Be Afraid
to Ask for Help
Let's face it: you could be in for a long day of shopping. If you have young children at home, they simply won't have your endurance. Hire a babysitter or ask a family member to help you make the shopping day as efficient and stress-free as possible.
Get Lots of Rest
and Eat Well
This is probably the most important advice of all: eat a hearty breakfast. The day ahead will require your energy, strength and patience. So get a good night’s sleep, wear comfortable shoes, drink lots of water to stay hydrated and pack a supply of snacks for everyone in the family. And no matter what the day brings, remain calm. As stressful as Black Friday can be, you can handle it. Of course, keeping a headache medication handy might be a good idea, too.
Fuel Up Your
Car, Too
Whatever you do, don’t wait to get gas on Black Friday morning. Spending time in lines at the gas station will waste precious shopping time. Fill up the tank the day before so you’re good to go. Plus, make sure your car is equipped to haul all your big purchases. You might want to store some extra rope in the trunk to secure everything.
Mind Your
Manners
With everyone scrambling to get what they want at the best price possible, you can expect a little pushing and shoving while you’re trying to grab that last product off the shelf. Just remember that it’s not personal, so keep your temper in check. Arguing with another customer in the middle of a busy aisle will keep you from getting to the next deal on your list.
For more Black Friday shopping tips, read the Black Friday Entertainment Guide and 5 Apps to Help You Survive Black Friday.
Are you a holiday entertainment expert? Share your tips in the comments below.
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