The following is a guest post from Mandi Ehman, the Deal Seeking Mom Project Administrator:
If you’re planning on scoring some deals on Black Friday, prepare ahead of time to make sure you walk away happy with what you’ve bought and spent. Below are 12 tips to make your Black Friday shopping trip a success:
Make a list
Black Friday is not the best time to go out just to browse. To maximize your savings (and prevent yourself from overspending just because something looks like a great deal!), make two lists — a shopping list of the deals you want to take advantage of and a gift list with the people that you still need to buy for. Start by scanning the ads and writing down any deals that are within your budget for yourself or as a gift. Take a separate list with you so that if you come across a great deal on a fondue set, you’ll be able to quickly scan your list to see that you still need to buy for Aunt Mildred, who happens to love fondue.
Prioritize
Once you have your shopping list done, decide which items are your highest priority. Prioritize both by store and by item so that you start with the deals that are most important to you.
Be realistic
Realistically, you’re going to have to choose just one doorbuster item at one store as your top priority because you simply won’t be able to wait in line to be the first person at each store. You’ll also want to be realistic about how much you can get done in the amount of time you have to shop and how long your energy will hold up.
Take a shopping buddy
That said, taking a shopping buddy who is interested in the same deals as you is a great way to score multiple deals at your first stop. Split up when the doors open and each head for a different section. Pick up two products instead of just one and then split them between you.
Leave the kids at home
Dragging young children around on Black Friday will most likely just make you, them and everyone around you miserable. You will probably end up spending more, getting less of what you want and feeling frustrated in the process. Leave the kids home so you can focus on your list, your budget and the deals, and you’ll enjoy your day much more.
Research prices ahead of time
It’s important to remember that not all advertised deals are as great as they seem. Spend some time researching the low prices of any items you’re hoping to score so that you know what’s really a deal and what’s not.
Wear layers
If you’re planning to stand in line outside early in the morning, it may be chilly. You’ll want to dress accordingly so that you’re not miserably cold while you wait, but be sure to wear appropriate layers so that you can peel them off as the day warms up and as you race around the stores!
Bring snacks and water
Pack plenty of snacks and water so that you have something to eat and drink while you wait in line or drive between stops. Waiting too long to eat because you’re afraid you’ll miss a great deal will affect your mood and energy level, so don’t do it!
Set your expectations
While it’s important to have a list of the items you’d like to get so that you don’t end up wandering through a store, don’t expect to get everything on your list. Some items may be sold out, shopping at a certain store may take longer than you planned, or you may just run out of steam. Work through your list in order of priority so that you get the most important gifts taken care of first.
Be friendly
Some people approach Black Friday like a contest and consider everyone else their competition. They become so focused on their goal — to save money and buy more stuff — that they forget to take the time to be friendly. Try being friendly instead, building a camaraderie with the shoppers and store employees around you. A little smile goes a long way!
Carry the sale ads with you
If you’ve made detailed notes about what you want to buy and plan to stick to your list and budget, you may not need the sale ads. But it’s better to carry them all day and not need them than to want them and not have them. For example, if you’re planning to buy a GPS at a specific store, but it’s sold out when you arrive, you’ll be able to check to see what the sale prices are at the other stores on your list. Or you might come across a deal that you hadn’t noticed in the ad and want to compare the price to the other sales to make sure it’s a good deal.
Bonus Tip: Wait until Cyber Monday
While many people find the challenge of Black Friday challenging and fun, it can be stressful and frustrating if your heart’s not really in the game. If you’re looking for great deals but don’t want to deal with the hassle and the crowds, plan on shopping online on Cyber Monday instead. I can guarantee you’ll find all the best deals here at Deal Seeking Mom, and even if they’re not quite as good as the doorbusters in stores, the extra sleep and low-key day following Thanksgiving may be worth it!
Do you usually shop on Black Friday? Share your best tip in the comments!
Mandi Ehman is the Deal Seeking Mom Project Administrator. She can also be found blogging at Organizing Your Way, where she shares tips for organizing, simplifying and decluttering as well as home management printables. Subscribe by email or in a feed reader to receive daily organizing tips!
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{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
My husband and I always get our shopping done on Black Friday! We leave our boys with my mom and take care of all of our family’s gifts in one day! It’s fun and it’s a great way for us to spend some time together.
I got the TV I wanted for just $20 more than it’s being offered on BF by utilizing Bing’s Cashback. Although for 65 dollars or so I’d brave the Black Friday madness, for $20 it just didn’t seem worth it :)
I don’t like the Black Friday craze, so I usually avoid it. But I’ve been shopping on Cyber Monday before I even knew it had a name! :) Love online shopping. I’m glad to know that you’ll have information on good deals up on your site – thanks!
My holiday shopping in complete as I do it all year long snagging great deals at 75%-90% off. I hate Black Friday.
I will be sleeping late and enjoying every minute.
Have fun!
Thanks for all you do.
I LOVE Black Friday!! One must have patience and be open minded. I always leave the shopping cart behind so I can get thru the crowds better!! This year I’m taking my big, blue IKEA bag into the stores to put my deals in!!
I always make a new friend while I’m waiting in lines!!! They even share their deals!!
Husband and I are sitting this one out {:(
I’ve braved Wal-Mart every Black Friday for the last 5 years, but not this year! Almost all my shopping is done, except for a little trip to Old Navy at my local outlet mall’s midnight madness sale. A little sad that I’ll miss the crazy people watching at Wal-Mart though. And with the $198 laptop they are advertising, it’s guaranteed to be crazy!
My sister and I LOVE black Friday. We have found that it is best to kill with kindness on BF. We are not the crazed “have to have it” shoppers and that makes things so much more enjoyable for us. If we don’t get what we want, we aren’t too upset. We are usually sitting at breakfast by 9 to split our deals and laugh about the crazy things we saw!
We aren’t going this year; it’s one of my sons’ seventh birthday and I would much rather spend the day with him! The crowds get a little too crazy for me. I agree with the suggestion to NOT take the children. We went last year (though not real early and only to one store) and I would NEVER take the kids, especially not the younger ones. I’m done shopping anyway.
I think organization is the key to making the most of your Black Friday experience. (My organization method can be found on my blog.)
Another big one for me is the opposite of something in this post — I highly recommend going by yourself! Having to wait around for someone else costs precious time, and you may have to compromise where you want to go because of where your buddy wants to go.
My sister-in-law and I have made black friday a tradition. We consider ourselves BF athlethes. We start the day out knowing we won’t snag every deal and we’re ok with that. One tip I’ve found works well is at Walmart. There is always madness back by electronics, when I am finally able to squeeze up to the item, I grab a few more. Then on my way out of the sea of people I offer my ‘extras’ to people standing near the back of the line that way they don’t have to wait while the crazies push and shove for the deal. I’ve also found that people get outta your way so you can leave the department if you can hand them the deal they’ve been waiting on for half an hour. It has worked well for me for 3 years now.
Great tips, Mandi! I usually avoid Black Friday and do my shopping online, but for some reason I am thinking about braving the masses this year. I’ll definitely take your advice!
This year I’m testing the Target price reduction policy. The only thing I wanted was the playstation controllers since my sleepy son stepped on his getting out of his dorm bunk, lol. I bought two yesterday at full price and plan to go into Target later Friday or Saturday when the madness is over and ask for the $15 price reduction in customer service. I’m told this works, so we’ll see : )
As someone who has to work on Black Friday, I have a few suggestions.
1. Please, please bring your ad with you, with the things you want circled. We’ll be able to help you so much faster that way.
2. Please don’t tell us you wish we didn’t have to be working, it just makes us cranky. Instead, just thank us for helping and tell us you hope the rest of our weekend is good.
3. If we tell you we’re sold out, we really are. Yelling does not make another one appear in the store.
I love shopping on Black Friday! It’s not even about the deals for me b/c I can find things all year at great prices – It’s just something I love to do! I love the sales, the people – it’s just kind of a kick off to the Christmas season for me :-)
Great tips. My favorite is being friendly. That is always my goal. If you can’t keep in touch with why you are shopping, the reason for the season, you should stay at home.
I always start at Meijer, the stoer is open 24 hours so I get there early and don’t have to worry about standing in the cold. I alwso don’t tend to worry if I don’t get something. I also tend to look ahead of time on websites like theblackfriday.com to get a good idea about what is out there. Last year for the first time I waited outside in line at ABC warehouse for a reciever with my husband. They are one of the last stores to open so by the time my kids and I got there we’d already finished everything, the kids had a blast rather then cause me problems they actually were a big help. My husband has to work on black Friday, and since my mom works at Meijer (managment) she has to also. So I generally do the early morning stuff with my teenager then pick up the little ones and do the extra stuff. I also don’t grab something just because it’s a good deal… I look at the toys my kids want and those are the only things on my list. This year Kmart has Handy Manny Motorcycle 1/2 off.. I’m preying I get one for him… so instead of hitting Target for the appliances (or walmart) I’ll go to Kmart instead. For me leaving the kids behind isn’t an option and nither is shopping online since we have decided to live 12 months without plastic including debit cards.
Can anyone tell me what time the cyber Monday deals start? Do I have to get up at the crack of dawn to get things before they run out? I’m just curious – there aren’t any big-ticket items I’m looking for.
Adding on the Katie’s list of things from people who have to work:
Please don’t ask if we can call another store to see if they have what you’re looking for. If it’s a doorbuster, they don’t have it. I don’t have to call them to know that.
As she said, don’t be furious if we’re sold out of something. It’s not our fault, and if we do somehow come up with one and you just yelled at us, guess who’s not getting it.
Last, ask about our policies. Where I work, if we don’t have your size, you can buy ANY size and return it when we get more for the same price. This also helps if you’re in a hurry. If you don’t have time to dig for that size Medium sweater, grab the one on top and come back next week to exchange it. Even better if you can find out what and when they get restocked :)
I have only shopped on BF one time and I got one thing because it was what we were looking for for my Daughter’s “big” Christmas gift that year. I plan on shopping at the local walmart for some of there great deals but I only have a very small amount left on my list to buy this year! YEA!!
Please, please remember the Walmart employee who got trampled to death last year on Black Friday. Be kind and polite to the other shoppers and the store employees who got up early to wait on you and are tired and undoubtedly wishing they could have that day off.
And remember all this is just “stuff”…fun stuff to be sure, but we can’t take it with us! It is transitory, and temporary.
I’m sitting out Black Friday, and enjoying the day with my husband and kids.
Have most of my shopping done, and what’s left isn’t major.
These are some great suggestions. I especially love the reminder about being friendly. At one time, the majority of people you encountered while shopping were friendly. Unfortunately, at some point, friendly people became the minority.
I would never venture out on black friday, however Cyber Monday …I’m all about it!!
The black friday is one of the best contest and all our Family members enjoyed the day with new shirts and variety of shopping items in low cost purchase.
I LOVE the thrill of getting great deals on Black Friday. I’ve never had a bad experience and usually find everything on my list.
I’ve been watching the ads being posted over the last few weeks, and I have my list all ready to go. Whatever I can’t find in the store I’ll get on Cyber Monday.
Thanks for the great tips… OH, and I heard on the radio this morning that WalMart will be price-matching any competetor’s Black Friday print ad! Kewl!