To snatch the best deals, wake up extra early and be among
the first in line. Named for the day stores and retailers
start "getting in the black" (turning a profit),[1] Black
Friday is the day following Thanksgiving. It is notorious
for frustratingly long lines, thick crowds, and limited
discount merchandise. But despite this, it's a highly
anticipated occasion as shoppers hunt for amazing bargains
and hope they'll get incredibly low prices for more
expensive items. Here are some suggestions for surviving
Black Friday.
!! Steps !!
Know what you want before heading out. If you don't have any idea of
what you want, seriously question your purpose in heading out into
the crowds. Without a plan, it will be tempting to spend money you
don't necessarily have on items you don't necessarily need and the
experience will be fraught with exhaustion, impulse buying, and
possibly even guilt. It is a lot better to have a plan in mind, or
else you could be using this day more constructively to take a rest
or see a movie!
* If you're shopping for gifts, write a list of all the people
you're planning on buying gifts for. This way, you can keep track
of who receives what, creating an organized method for your
shopping and helps you to avoid duplicating gifts or missing out
on anyone. Decide which person is the recipient of which item.
* If you're buying things for yourself or for the household, again
write a list. If you're after clothes, specify what types of
clothes rather than thinking "Oh anything that looks reasonably
priced". If you want a pair of jeans, new pajamas and a stack of
new socks, write these things down. Anything else is peripheral.
Same goes for household items: avoid wandering along in the hope
of adding "stuff" to your kitchen or other areas of the house.
Think about what is actually missing, broken, or outdated that
could do with adding or upgrading to your household rather than
buying gadgets you're not even sure what to do with!
* Plan your budget. If things are tight, a budget is essential. Even
if they're not tight, a budget will help to rein in impulse buys
and can curb the temptation to buy things just because you think
someone else "might like it". Decide how much money you have
spare, and stick to that amount.
Plan your shopping attack with the precision of a general planning a
battle. Not only is the budget and list important, but so are the
methods you plan to adopt when going in for the bargain. Timing is
everything with limited bargains, so the first thing to keep in mind
is hour at which you intend to turn up. The earlier, the better, if
you have your eye on items that you know will sell out fast. If
you're super keen, you might like to camp out - read How to Camp Out
for Black Friday for more details on how to do this.
* Find your bargains. Collect all newspaper ads, circulars, and
coupon packets mentioning Black Friday discounts. Know what is on
sale, who is selling it, and during what period those items are
on sale – some stores have Black Friday sales going on all day,
but others keep them going for only a few hours.
* Develop a plan of attack by drawing up a map of places to visit in
a particular order. It is good to know what stores you need to hit
first, preferably the one with the most important items or gifts
on your list. Be sure to clearly mark those stores having sales on
only at certain times, along with the time marked clearly.
* Organize your transportation. Remember that the parking lots will
often be congested and parking rage can start early on. Are there
other solutions than taking the car? Perhaps you can be dropped
off and picked up later. Or take public transportation? Or stay
with a friend who lives near the stores, and ferry your purchases
back there before returning for more shopping?
Think laterally. It's a good idea to think about what alternative
items you might substitute for items you're seeking that have
already sold out. The chances that you won't always get the items
you've planned to buy are fairly high, especially with popular
items. Look through the catalogs for alternate, and less popular,
items, including gift alternatives if you're gift shopping.
Take along anything you need to help you. While it's important not
to be carrying too much, things you will probably benefit from
include: a watch so that you know the time, a cell phone to keep in
touch with family members and friends also hitting the shops, and
bags to carry your purchases in. Even if the stores provide bags, it
is a good idea to bring along your own, stronger bags, especially if
you plan on carrying the purchases around for a bit before putting
them in the car or elsewhere.
* Be sure to bring along your money! Do a double check before
leaving the house to ensure that you have the relevant cards,
cash, and vouchers you want to bring along.
* Check that you have your discount coupons and specials catalogs.
* Most importantly of all, be sure to bring along your list and a
pen or pencil. Find a safe and easy place to keep it so that you
can pull it out frequently to follow it and check things off.
Ensure that you have plenty of sustenance. Plan meals and snacks
into your shopping expedition. It can be too easy to forget food
amid the rush for bargains but not eating for energy will leave you
feeling tired and irritable, and more liable to blowing up at your
fellow customers as they snatch the last limited bargain from under
your nose.
* Visit your favorite food spots to fill up on water, juices, and
healthy snacks such as salads, sandwiches and rolls, steamed
vegetables and roasted meats. Given that this is the day after
Thanksgiving, go easy on the fast foods and try to avoid them if
you can.
* Fatty and sugary foods will cause you to feel a temporary high and
then a big crash, which will spoil your shopping experience.
Plan breaks. Rushing around all the time will wear out even the most
ardent shopper. As well as ensuring you're eating properly during
the day out, be sure to factor in some breaks for a breather and to
regain your sense of humor so that you avoid Black Friday turning
into Black Mood Friday!
* Read How to stay peaceful when mall shopping for more tips if
you're mall shopping.
Hit the shops! You've done the planning and you have your map. Head
forth with confidence.
* Avoid sleeping in. The early bird definitely gets the worm on this
day. Most people are up and out of the house before dawn. Most
stores open much earlier than usual. Don't think you can sleep
until 11:00 and still be able to find those Manolos for 50 percent
less – they'll be gone before 7 am!
* Have your game face on and look determined and confident. You
can't be a wuss and think that you have a fighting chance amongst
the bargain shoppers on this day; assert yourself politely if
someone barges in and takes your place in line. But be careful –
some people will elbow, kick, pinch, anything it takes to get that
last limited bargain, so choose your battles wisely – this is
only shopping after all, not a do-or-die life choice. If you don't
like people's behavior, don't push your luck because bargains
aren't worth bruises.
* Do not leave your basket unattended. When you see an item you
want, keep a tight hold on it; leaving it in an unattended basket
will be too much temptation for some and things will "disappear"
the moment your back's turned.
* If you can, try to avoid the layaway lines. You'll find yourself
in one the entire day and miss out all the good stuff in other
stores. Plus, I've heard more than a few horror stories where
items were missing or hard to find when time came to pickup your
layaway order. If it can't be avoided this shopping season, this
is something to keep in mind for next year.
Keep your sanity intact. Do a reality check now and then if you feel
yourself getting hot under the collar. This is shopping, folks, just
shopping. It is consumerism at its best (or worst depending on your
viewpoint), and while participating in it in an orderly and
considered way can reap you benefits, behaving like it's a race to
the death is neither civil nor sensible. If you feel upset,
exhausted, angry with your fellow shoppers, or as if you're about to
physically or verbally lash out, your body is telling you it's time
to go home. Bother the bargains – look after yourself and your
family first.
* If the whole idea of shopping maniacally during sales really
bothers you, participate in Buy Nothing Day instead. It's not
without reason that it's celebrated on the same day when the manic
panic of Black Friday shopping takes over a large proportion of
the population!
!! Video !!
!! Tips !!
* Check out the newspapers or online to check out the best deals and
the opening times of stores.
* Decide what you want to get the night before. Know what you want
before entering the store because there is no time when you get
there to try and make up your mind. By the time you do, everything
will be gone.
* Avoid socializing. So, you see someone in the store that you
haven't seen since high school. It's great to see them and you
want to brag about how great your life is now that you got the
braces off and lost twenty pounds. Suffice to say, now isn't the
time to do that. You have a job to do, and things to buy. Stop
quickly and get the phone number; save it for after the sales, or
even offer to catch up in a couple of hours by politely explaining
that your bargain is about to expire!
* Try to save a little a month just for this day.
!! Things You'll Need !!
* Remember to bring your list, your money, and it is always helpful
to bring along a partner who can watch your basket if you need to
do something else for a little while.
!! Related WikiHows !!
* How to Bargain Shop
* How to Shop at a Drugstore
* How to Shop for Fireplace Glass Doors
* How to Shop for Speakers
* How to Shop For Gift Cards
!! Sources And Citations !!
* How to Survive Black Friday - Ninja Consumer
!! Article Tools !!
* Read on wikiHow
*
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