5 ways to get the most out of Black Friday Shopping

5 ways to get the most out of Black Friday Shopping


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Love it or hate it, Black Friday has become an institutional aspect of American culture — and an intrinsic part of the Thanksgiving holiday. In fact, according to Daily Finance, one quarter of Americans reportedly never miss or usually visit at least one store on Black Friday.

Why the mad dash to the nearest superstore at midnight on Friday morning (or, more commonly these days, Thursday afternoon)? Because there are major deals to be had — if you know how to score them.

Make a plan

You may enjoy a lazy day of casual shopping and lunch with friends, but that’s certainly not what Black Friday is about. With once-a-year deals and limited inventory, this day of shopping is anything but casual.

That’s why it’s imperative that you draw a plan of attack. If you don’t already receive the local newspaper, make sure you grab one Thanksgiving morning.

This is where you’ll find each store’s biggest deals, their opening times and any special discounts and incentives.Then, you can plan your spree based on the stores with the best deals on the items you’re after.

Checking out websites from your favorite retailers may also be a good way to determine how to spend those critical first few hours of shopping.

Take advantage of price matching

One-stop shopping on Black Friday? Yes, please. You may find a fabulous deal on a big-screen TV at one store, and an awesome discount on a tablet at another. But if you’re not looking forward to zipping all over town on the busiest shopping day of the year, look into retailers’ price-matching policy.

Many big-box stores will match the advertised price of their competitors, so come armed with the evidence — the circular or mobile ad that’s advertising a better price.

Seek the big-ticket items first

Some things are worth losing sleep over; saving $2 on a DVD probably isn’t. That’s why you should concentrate your Black Friday efforts on those deals that can really impact your holiday budget, like expensive electronics.

If you’ve already scored all your big-ticket items and you’re still in the shopping mood, you can always stock up on those cheap DVDs or Blurays.

Keep the 40-percent rule in mind

While you may want to snag those holiday pajamas or Christmas sweaters at rock-bottom prices, clothing isn’t where you historically score on Black Friday. According to Forbes Magazine, the deepest discounts on clothing actually happen during the back-to-school and post-Christmas shopping seasons.

That's why, when you’re looking for wearable holiday gifts, never settle for less than 40 percent off clothing prices on Black Friday.

Stay at home

You may love the hustle and bustle (and parking lot face-offs) of Black Friday shopping, but if big, chaotic crowds aren’t for you — or you’ve eaten too much pie to get off the couch — feel free to stay at home.

You don’t even have to miss the deals. Black Friday and its sweet sister Cyber Monday make for some lucrative online shopping opportunities. Sign up for emails and updates from your favorite stores prior to Thanksgiving so you’re alerted to the biggest sales when the clock strikes midnight.

No matter what you decide to do, make sure you stay safe this week and follow the tips listed for the best results. Kristen has a journalism degree and has experience writing in a variety of fields, including art and culture, health and fitness and financial and real estate services. Kristen has written for USA Today, SFGate and the Knot.

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Kristen Price

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