Black Friday Madness

 
After we all enjoy that delicious Thanksgiving feast, it’s SHOPPING TIME! This year, many malls are not opening for Black Friday, but instead are opening Thursday night before midnight. It seems as if Black Friday has turned into Black Thursday! The shopping day of mayhem is a huge tradition for all shoppers worldwide. From hours of lines to hours of driving around in circle searching for parking, Black Friday has become a tradition for families to stay up for nearly 24 hours and shop until they drop.

Last year, nearly 35 million shoppers visited stores and store website on Thanksgiving, up from 28 million the previous year. According to the Nielson Holiday Shopping Survey, 22 percent of shoppers say they’ve already started their holiday shopping! Some deals have already been publicized from some of shoppers’ favorite stores…better get looking!
For those of you who plan to shop early and join the 250 million who will shop online or in stores on Black Friday weekend, you’re definitely going to need a game plan…and maybe a few backup plans as well. To help you have a slightly less stressful and more enjoyable Black Friday, we provide for you 10 important tips to remember to help you prepare for this day of deals and sales!

Here are a few good tips:
1. Don’t wait for Thanksgiving– Good deals are already out and are being offered currently. To find out about Thanksgiving deals or current sales, visit retail websites or coupon sites.
2. Research research research- One of the most important things to remember about Black Friday are price comparisons and matches. Many companies will price match if you happen to find a cheaper price at a different store. Don’t miss out on the bargains!
3. Prioritize- Many stores offer doorbuster sales to draw in the customers. These doorbuster deals won’t last long (purposely) so be sure to choose your stores wisely; for you don’t want to miss out on a MUST-HAVE deal!
4. Plans of Attack- If you plan on online shopping, make your accounts ahead of time! It’ll save a ton of time when trying to snag a hot deal before it sells out. If you plan on venturing out into the world of shoppers mayhem, be sure to know where exactly to go once you step through the entrance doors of the shopping center/store.
5. Keep an eye out for extras- Don’t purchase those expensive warranties on products. Studies show that they’re rarely ever used! Instead, sometimes credit cards offer warranty on products bought, so keep an eye out!
6. Take the ads with you– Stores such as: Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, etc. offer price-match for items. To make sure you’re getting the best available offers, bring in some ads and try to find the cheapest stuff!
7. Don’t go alone- Numbers is your answer. When dealing with excruciatingly long lines, having a friend there with you doesn’t hurt! Besides, shopping alone can be well…lonesome!
8. Dress for comfort- For all of you ladies out there, don’t go carrying a bag full of bricks! If you’ll be shopping for hours, be sure to pack lightly and wear some comfortable shoes!
9. Don’t drink too much- If you know you’ll be in a line for a long time, don’t lose your spot by going to the bathroom! It’s not easy to take a potty break so try to take healthy amounts of water without going overboard!
10. Stay safe- There’s no need to push and shove people. Try your best to avoid anyone running or pushing – you don’t want to get trampled!