How to To Survive The Black Friday Shopping Ritual

Millions of people take part in the Black Friday shopping ritual every year. Black Friday is historically the biggest day of the year for retailers as well as consumers. Black Friday starts the serious holiday shopping season. All who like those awesome bargains know that the wait may be worth it. Black Friday is, by definition, the day after Thanksgiving, when retailers end up "in the black" for the year. Shoppers line up for hours to get first dibs at extraordinary gifts on sale. Most people purchase their gift items for others on Black Friday, as well as gifts for themselves. I personally have witnessed Black Friday as a retailer and as a consumer. Here are a few tips on how to survive Black Friday.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sleep the night before
• Patience
• Positive attitude
• Vehicle or computer
• Survival kit (as shown in Step 3)

1. 
    
   Sleep

   Prepare ahead by getting to bed early on Thanksgiving Day night. This is sometimes hard to do, with the hype of the Black Friday shopping frenzy on your mind. Put on some quiet music and relax. If you are planning on taking the kids along for your Black Friday ritual, make sure they get to bed early too.

2. 
    
   4 a.m.

   Before your go to bed, here are some tips to be ready to run out the door when your alarm goes off early on Black Friday morning.
   1. Have your shopping list ready and your designation plan written down.
   2. Take your shower before going to bed.
   3. Lay out the clothes you plan on wearing. It is a good idea to layer your clothing for this day.
   4. Pack a survival kit as shown in step three.

3. 
    
   Healthy snacks

   Here are some ideas for creating a survival kit for your Black Friday shopping ritual. In a small bag, pack healthy snacks, drinks, aspirin and any other items that you may need while standing in those long lines early on Black Friday. If you are taking children, make sure they have healthy snacks, drinks, hand held games and jackets if needed. As a retailer, I have seen little children sleepy, hungry, cold and crying, wanting to go home because they were forced to wake up too early and becoming bored from the waiting in line process of the Black Friday shopping experience.

4. 
    
   Budget

   While shopping on Black Friday, be mindful to stick to your shopping list and budget. Smart retailers have spent many months searching for the best deals on the hot items they will feature for the Black Friday ritual. Most retailers have great door buster items with the hope of creating traffic to their stores and that consumers will buy other items that are not necessarily on sale. Beware as these additional purchases could very well be impulse buys. So it is crucial to know what your budget is and to stay within your spending limits.

5. 
    
   Family and friends

   Remember that we are all in this Black Friday shopping ritual together. Be courteous to others. Shoppers get angry sometimes and act irresponsibly. We have all heard of shoppers getting trampled and wounded. Be that extraordinary shopper that is pleasant when the store says, "sorry, we are sold out". It is a good idea to have a back up location advertising the item that you were looking to purchase. One idea, if you have friends and family planning on shopping too, is to help each other out. Just make a list of who needs what and where, then plan to spread out on Black Friday morning and shop for each other. After all, you can only stand in one line at one store at a time. So team effort is very successful. A little organizing for the Black Friday shopping ritual will pay off greatly.

6. 
    
   Breakfast

   After you have shopped all of the stores on your list and hopefully had success in finding everything on your Black Friday ritual shopping list, relax and go out to breakfast. If you and family or friends were all out shopping together, but went in different directions, plan on a meeting place to enjoy breakfast together. Have your cell phones on to keep up with each other.

7. 
    
   Christmas gifts

   Go home and take all of your awesome Black Friday shopping ritual treasures into the house. Reward your hard work and perseverance with a well earned nap. Unless you are still too excited and want to get your Christmas gifts organized and wrapped.

Tips & Warnings

• Family and friends teamwork in shopping works great.
• Avoid impulse buys.
• Have your budget and stick to it.

Resources

• How to Prepare For The Black Friday Shopping Ritual
• How to Be a Guerilla Shopper on Black Friday

[WolfTech]

on 11/29/2008 I enjoyed reading this and you have great tips on how to survive the black Friday shopping spree. I didn't take part this year, but maybe next year, and I'll be sure to follow your suggestions!

[juliebmack]

on 11/23/2008 Good ideas. I tried it last year and it way to hectic for me! May skip it this year or try your tips! Thanks!

[maryellen1001]

on 11/20/2008 Awesome ideas!!

[MommyBear]

on 11/19/2008 Great article! Yes, it can be very hectic & lots of upset people. Thanks for the reminder to continue to be courteous that day (and always). I love all of these tips (especially the survival kit)! Good job. :) 5*****

[ccarruthers]

on 11/18/2008 Well thought out comments. The budget item is hardest. Thanks for this article!