How to Have a Stress Free Black Friday

With a little preparation, shopping on Black Friday can not only be stress free, but also an enjoyable way to save money and make a serious dent in your holiday shopping list.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Coffee or espresso to go
• Thanksgiving Day newspaper
• Small notebook and pen
• Energy bar

1. The day before Thanksgiving, begin searching online at your favorite stores to preview the Black Friday specials. Many stores will even honor Black Friday prices beginning after midnight on Thanksgiving Day. Imagine getting some shopping done before you ever get the turkey in the oven.

2. Thanksgiving Day newspaper is the go to for many store ads. Look through all the sale papers to find the sales that interest you according to the gifts you need to buy for the people on your list. Use a marker to circle the items on the store sales paper. This will serve as a quick and handy reminder to keep you focused.

3. Be realistic. You can't hit every store at 5 am when they open. This is the time to generate a game plan as to what stores you will visit throughout the day. Based on the stores and sale you want to hit, determine the order you will. Remember some stores offer the best deals are offered early in the morning. As you schedule the order of stores, try to hit the biggest sale items earliest in the day. For example, if a must have tv is on your list go there first as supplies are always limited on the most popular items.

4. Make a Master Plan for the day and put it into a notebook that you carry with you. Now that you have the list of items and store shopping order, it's time to get serious. Pack a bag with your notebook, a few energy bars to keep hunger at bay, a bottle of water, and maybe some aspirin for those achy feet. Be sure to get a good night's sleep Thanksgiving night (you'll be tired from the holiday festivities anyway). Set the alarm for enough time to get ready for the day.

Tips & Warnings

• Do your homework before.
• Get a good night's sleep.
• Dress in layers as the day warms up.
• Keep your notes that you've made handy.
• Grab a big cup of coffee that morning from the corner gas station.
• Be sure to eat and keep your energy up.
• Remember to have fun.
• With the proper planning, Black Friday shopping is a fun experience.
• Remember to be treat others how you want to be treated.
• A smile is contagious.

[1fstc5vette]

on 1/8/2009 great tips, planning is key to black friday! 5 stars!

[sunshine11219]

on 1/8/2009 good tips

[SharonJeanne]

on 1/8/2009 Great article, I've always avoided Black Friday shopping as I simply didn't know how to handle it. Thanks!

[sneedc]

on 12/5/2008 You can never lose with the good night's sleep and a plan of action to go on, thanks for the awesome tips. Also, I appreciate your generous comments on my articles! You're the bomb!

[Glencap]

on 11/16/2008 These are very nice tips for preparing for Black Friday, and making it a success. Thanks for sharing!