Surviving & Thriving on Black Friday Weekend

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Discover our 6 essential tips for surviving the busiest shopping weekend of the year...

For those that don't know, Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving when major retailers around the country discount products to help kick off the holiday shopping season. And while the biggest sales occur in the wee hours of the morning on that Friday, Black Friday sales now extend at most stores well through Cyber Monday (which is the following Monday, and traditionally the biggest online shopping day of the year). Want a laptop, camera or TV for half the price? Now is your chance.

Some might think that tackling the weekend blindly is fine, but it really isn't if you want to score big. To make the most of the biggest shopping days of the year, consider the following to not only survive, but thrive during this Black Friday through Cyber Monday weekend:

1. Make Those Lists and Check 'Em Twice - Create two different lists of a) specific items you're looking to buy, and b) specific people you need to shop for. Be sure to check them over several times. Research the various items on your lists ahead of time to know where to go and about how much they'll be sold for. Slip the lists into your wallet to ensure you'll have them while shopping.
2. Have a Game Plan - Many stores are opening early-really early-and offer amazing door buster deals for the first few hours and along with further incentives such as gift cards and raffles. Target and several other retailers are opening doors at midnight this year. Look back at your lists and based on what you need to get and where, develop a game plan of your own so as to not miss those golden opportunities to spend wisely. Hit the stores where you can get the most items (or those where you'll save the most) first. Hit the smaller stores afterward.
3. Curb Your Enthusiasm - Be smart about your spending! Don't buy something just because it happens to be on sale. In actuality, sales will go on long after the weekend is done-they just might not be quite as good in terms of savings. A great way to avoid over-shopping and making impulse purchases is to refer to your pre-made lists: if an item you're thinking about won't allow you to cross something off on either one of those lists, put it back.
4. Shop with Like-Minded Shopping Buddies - DO NOT, I repeat, do not agree to go shopping with just anyone this weekend. Choose a friend or two who are as serious about scoring deals as you are. Make sure that you agree on which stores to hit (and in what order) before you head out.
5. Dress Appropriately - If you're going to wait pre-opening at mega retailers in the wee-small hours of the morning to score those major door busters, be sure to dress warmly and in layers! I nearly froze to death several years ago because I opted for a lighter-weight Prada coat instead of a more styledoff puffy one – big mistake. Keep in mind that Black Friday Weekend is all about shopping - not all about fashion.
6. Eat, Drink, and Try to Stay Merry - On Black Friday you can literally shop for 24 hours. Keep your energy up all day with small snacks and frequent coffee breaks. Do have breakfast and make yourself stop for lunch as well. Stay alert by drinking lots of water and you won't miss out on any of the deals.

After writing all of this, I realize that I may sound rather fanatic, but I'm probably going to end up with a sick new plasma TV, gifts for 80% of the people on my lists, and I might even have extra cash to burn on a new pair (or three) of heels for myself. Keep in mind all of the above, and you might as well.

Are you shopping this weekend? What are you hoping to score and where?

1 Comment

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  sophie KATT • 6 months ago
  I was there, 3 years ago, and it was grazy ! But for me, in the good way; I was on holliday, I have saved enough money for a crazy shopping... and it was crazy : I have bought an other suitcase ( a big one )!!!!!

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