Black Friday is the only thing on everyone’s minds the day after Thanksgiving. This is the day where most stores give the best deals imaginable. Shoppers have to get to the stores extremely early because it can get hectic with prices so low. But not to worry, I’m here to give you tips on how to survive Black Friday.
1. Make a Shopping List
In order to prepare for the busiest shopping day of the year, it’s important to make a list of what you want to buy for others and yourself. Create a reasonable budget to be sure you stay within your price range and avoid impulse shopping. Do not be swayed by the salesperson trying to convince you to buy something unnecessary. Be sure to stick to your list! Don’t grab a new item you see and don’t need; even if it’s on sale.
2. Research What You Want Ahead of Time
If you get to the stores not knowing what you want to buy, it will lead to wasting time and missing all the sales. Do your research and compare the different prices on items you want. Just because something is on sale, doesn’t mean it’s a good deal. Most likely, retail workers will be very stressed out with the pressure of Black Friday and won’t be very helpful if you ask them about which product is better. It‘s always better to know exactly what you want. Besides, doing your own research will help you purchase wisely in the long run.
3. Only Shop the Deals
Black Friday is for the best deals, so only focus on them. There are always a few big items that are hard to resist because they’re such a great steal, so decide on a specific item and give yourself time to get it. Let’s be realistic, you won’t be able to shop at every store you want to. Take the time to manage your options and decide which stores will give you the most savings on most of the items on your list.
4. Keep Your Receipts
Keep all of your receipts! Whether you are positive you love those jeans or not, keep the receipt. If you are buying for someone else, always get a gift receipt. Most stores will automatically print it out around especially this time of year, but if they don’t be sure to ask. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Keeping your receipt will save you from headaches if you decide to return. Most stores require a receipt to return a product, and if you don’t have one, you will most likely get stuck with store credit.
5. Don’t Stress
Shopping shouldn’t be stressful, especially after celebrating a holiday full of gratitude. If long lines and big crowds are too overwhelming, take a breath and relax. Many stores have sales throughout the year. You can also just as easily shop online versus in-store. Sometimes stores have better online deals than in-store deals, so be sure to check out your favorite stores. Especially if Black Friday shopping gives you anxiety. You may have done all you could to prepare, but remember, it’s just shopping. Grab some coffee, grab your friends and enjoy the experience!
6. Cyber Monday
If the anxiety and stress of Black Friday is too overwhelming, remember there’s always Cyber Monday. This is an online event that happens the Monday after Black Friday. Much like Black Friday, prices are cut in half and free shipping is usually available on most websites. In addition to not having to get out of bed early Monday morning, you can shop to your heart’s content in your PJs, rather than squeezing through aisles trying to grab the last iPhone.