So although I have been incredibly bad about updating, I am putting aside all of my work and other obligations to write a post about the holiest of holy bargain days of the year: BLACK FRIDAY! Hated by many, feared by most, and loved by those select few brave shoppers who bear the insanity in hopes of finding amazing bargains… and let me tell all of you: we DO! Black Friday is the holy grail of sale days, with almost everything slashed in price or coming with extras. Here are some tips for navigating the insanity:
1)Check out circulars/ads and circle what you want- Check out all of the ads from the stores you might like, usually Target, Walmart, Kohl’s , Macys and many others have amazing deals. Look at all the ads and figure out what you want and where to get the best price—always make comparisons. If one place has a lot of things you like but another store has one item for a way better price, try to see if the first store you go to will do a price match (that way you don’t have to go to tons of stores)!
Here is a good link for some uploads of the ads if you can’t get your hands on a hard copy:
http://www.blackfriday.info/sales/
2) Make a game plan- Map out which stores open first, where has the best deals and therefore potentially the longest lines, and figure out a map of where you want to go in order. This year my mother, sister, and I are doing Kohl’s at 3AM, Target at 4AM (giving out a $10 gift card after spending $100), and the Mall after for Macys, Victoria’s Secret, Old Navy and others
3) Be persistent- There may be a line to get in the store, crowding, products running out (even potential wars over getting that last item on the shelf!), and lines at checkout. Try to get through all of it by remembering that you are getting great deals and that it is the beginning of the holiday season—try to have that holiday cheer!
4) If possible, bring a friend or family member- This can be helpful if there are multiple hot items on your list so that you can simultaneously make a run for the different departments of the stores, also their humor and company can help keep you from going insane in the madness!
5) Don’t take things too seriously— It is just shopping (yes, I did just say that). Material objects aren’t everything and aren’t worth fighting (too much) for. Treat others as you would like to be treated, especially cashiers and others in retail, because they sure as hell do not want to be there and if you make their life miserable, they will do the same to you. You never know, your kindness may get you a bigger discount!
6) Stuff to Bring- Ads, Gift lists, pens, coffee/hot chocolate, good music for the car, gloves/hats for waiting outside in line, a friend or family member, a sense of humor!
Finally, here is why I love Black Friday so much (and why I know so much about it). As a tradition, for the past 10 years, my mother, sister, and I always venture out every year on that fateful day after Thanksgiving, plans and coupons in hand, ready to fight. It is always one of my favorite days of the entire year and just thinking about it causes such an excited anticipation inside of me. I feel like a little kid again on that day and it helps bring my mother, sister, and I together in bargain bliss. Last year, as we sat in the Food Court of the mall at 8am eating pizza, we all just looked at each other and laughed hysterically. Since we had been up since 2:30am, 8 o’clock totally felt like lunch time and once we realized the ridiculousness of our pizza breakfast we couldn’t help but laugh. This is one of the many reasons why I love Black Friday and why you should too. Not only does it get our economy going and help people get great deals, but it is an experience. If you have never ventured out on Black Friday due to fear or stress, just try it once just to say you have. You never know what you’ll end up finding.
Happy Saving!
L
