The biggest shopping day of the year is the day after Thanksgiving on November 23rd. Get your running shoes on and be ready for some serious Black Friday bargains. Here are some tips to help you stay on top of your game, keep your energy up to grab those deals.
Before You Shop
Get online and get the early price scoop. Go to BFAds and BlackFridayGottaADeal to get a updated on the what store is offering the best deals for Black Friday.
Compare prices at BlackFriday.com, Bizrate.com and PriceSpider.com
These sites list sold items for the past 6 months. Check them out to be sure your getting the best deals. At PriceSpider you can even get instant price drop alerts.
Make Your List and Check it Twice
How many time have you set out to shop and came home with a few gifts short or over spent on others you really should not have bought. Check out HouseholdMangagement101.com to get an organized budget friendly gift list. Fill in your information, names, gifts and how much each will be. Print it out and take it with you.
Grab a Sale Early
Speaking of price drop alerts, you can also contact your credit card company and ask if they offer price protection. Say you see an item you want that is going to be on sale on Black Friday but you want to purchase it now to avoid the rush, or possibly a store running out of that product on Black Friday. Your credit card company can refund you the difference once that item is on sale.
Take the Ads With You
Big stores like Target and Sears want to attract customers and make sales. Take all stores ads with you and if you are at say for example, at Target and see that Sears ad has the item you want for less, ask Target if they will meet the other stores sale price. They want your business and better to give it to you for a lower price then lose a customer.
Check Availability on the Products You Want
Have you ever stood in a line that went for blocks waiting for the store to open on Black Friday? You know exactly what you want, but the person that is way up the front of the line and possibly the 50 behind that one want that same popular toy for Christmas. By the time you get in the store, what you want may be gone and you just wasted your time. Look up the special store hours for the Black Friday sale and find out how many of the product/products your looking for will be made available. If the store you are waiting at has only 20 of that one important item you are looking for, you chances are slim, but if another store has say 100 of that item available, that is the first place you should be waiting in line. Go where the availability is the best for you.
Be Smart with Your Cell Phone
You can download apps and purchase right from your phone. Check out ShopKick.com or look up or call your cell phone provider for QR Apps. This App lets you scan bar codes for items and compare prices. Sear’s was ahead of the game last years by putting up Gift Boards in bus stops. All you had to do while waiting for the bus was scan the code and by online.
Watch Your Cart!
Sale day, crowded store and hardly enough room to maneuver your cart through the aisles. Take the stress of shopping away by bringing a friend or family member. Have them be the designated cart watcher. While your running around grabbing up the sales, take your eyes off your cart and you may get to the check out with less then you thought or your cart may simply disappear. Grab a smaller basket you can carry and have your cart watcher stay off to the side and bring your items to the cart and go back for more.
Like Running a Marathon
Its busy out and you still have more gifts to shop for. Don’t let fatigue set in. Keep your energy level at its best. Make sure you get a good nights sleep and allow yourself time to get up and have breakfast before you head out to the stores. Grabbing a cup of coffee and a doughnut will not cut it. Put some sort of protein in your system like scrambled eggs and toast or a protein substitute like a Tofu scramble. That coffee and doughnut will wear off in no time with that sugar and caffeine high, making you feel tired. Still out and about for lunch time or want a snack? Grab a salad with nuts or cheese, or a slice of pizza for a quick pick me up.
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