11/18/2018

How to Get The Best Black Friday Deals, Without Going Crazy

Thanksgiving is only a few days away! That only means: fat pants and getting ready for Black Friday shopping madness. With the madness does bring some legit deals, though. Are you ready? Here are some awesome tips and tricks to make sure you get the most out of your Black Friday shopping.

Pre and Thanksgiving Day Shopping Tricks

Here are some tips for the shoppers who prefer not to venture out on Black Friday (hats off to you).

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Start Early

You don’t have to wait for Black Friday, a lot of retailers are starting earlier with deals – both online and in stores. If you’re in the mood to shop early, you’ll be in good a position to avoid the rush and get plenty of stock before everything sells out.

One of the best ways to know what stores are having early sales is to subscribe to their newsletters. Look for deals in your inbox and check for sales that surface the night before or early hours of Thanksgiving morning. Obviously, you may have to slip out for a bit during family festivities but they may understand if it’s for a good cause. 🙂 You can also follow them on social media to hear of any special sales or coupon codes.

Early Bird Gets the Worm

Arrive early, but don’t be one of those die-hard shoppers who set up camp in front of the door in her snuggie the night before. If you have to wait overnight to stand in line, you may want to rethink your strategy. I have personally never done this, and from what I’ve seen the outcomes are generally disappointing and total chaos. Avoid that drama at all costs and just arrive early. Getting trampled is never worth a $20 waffle iron.

Black Friday Shopping Tips

The following suggestions will help you make the most of your Black Friday shopping experience without getting sucked up in the frenzy.

Scope it Out

Check out the deal sites listed below or visit BlackFriday.com for LEAKED sales ads. Get your list in order so you know exactly what you’re grabbing

Bring Your Ride or Die

Don’t go alone. Bring your bestie with you to help you navigate the store and grab what you’re looking for quickly. Make a list and split up. Two pairs of eyes and hands are better than one when you’re trying to scoop up the deals before the big rush arrives.

Make it an Adult Function

Kids and parents are not a good situation during Black Friday shopping. Not only will they see what you’re buying but we know how this goes. Too many chefs in the kitchen mean a whole lotta different agendas. Make arrangements with a friend or family member to take turns watching the kiddos while you shop till you drop.

Basic Tips to Consider When Shopping Black Friday

Whether you decide to take advantage of the bargains on Thanksgiving Day or Black Friday, you may want to keep the following in mind.

Create a plan of attack:

Which stores will you be visiting?
What’s on your shopping list?
What’s the budget?
What’s the timeframe for your shopping trip?
Bring more than one credit card or bank card
Are you maximizing your cards for points and rewards?
Make sure your cell phone is fully charged

These are just a few suggestions you’ll want to consider before venturing out. Otherwise, you could risk forgetting something or missing out on extra perks. Also, add a granola bar or something to snack on and put it in your purse. You never know how busy you might get and grabbing a bite might not be possible.

Time Management
A bulk of Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday sales are only held for a few hours at a time, creating time constraints for anxious shoppers. You should also know select retailers offer several deals throughout the day, so you may have to visit the store more than once to pick up the items on your list. Therefore, it is ideal to map your driving route and allocate time for traffic jams to ensure you will make it to the stores in time.

Get Receipts
You never know if you’ll have to return it (doesn’t fit, the wrong color, doesn’t work, etc.) Save the receipts in a safe place and keep them organized. I create an envelope for them so they are easy to find.

How to Find The Best Deals

The deals on Thanksgiving and Black Friday may not come around till next year, so take note: here’s how to find them.

Subscribe to their Mailing List
Along with loyalty program members, mailing list subscribers often receive exclusive discounts and promotional codes not extended to the general public.

Follow Their Social Media Accounts

A lot of retailers will drop exclusive codes for shoppers who plan to shop online.

Sunday Paper Ads or Mailed Sales Circulars
Check your mailbox and Sunday papers for local sales ads. You never know what deals may be found in there. You’ll also get a chance to price compare and find out which stores you want to hit first based on selections and prices.

Online-Exclusive Deals
A lot of people are forgetting the in-store shopping experience altogether and opting for online shopping only. It’s easy to see why (no drama). Check out newsletters and websites such as:

Amazon – their Black Friday deals already started dropping a few days ago! I think I saw a Dyson for $199 😳
Offers.com
Brad’s Deals
The Krazy Coupon Lady (Coupons galore)
SlickDeals
Fat Wallet
Totally Target: best deals offered at Target each week
Deal News: Shares Black Friday predictions, where to shop for the best deals
RetailMeNot (Coupon finder)
Honey (browser extension that finds coupons automatically)