The Dos and Don’ts of Black Friday Shopping

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Two-thirds of Americans, according to The Washington Post plan to shop on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving.

Less than half of those surveyed plan on shopping online.

This is one of the busiest shopping days of the entire year, and this approaching season more Americans than ever plan on shopping Black Friday sales 2014 than ever before.

Black Friday Shopping Tips

This is the day when you can get the best discounts on shopping.

There are many things you can do to make sure that you go home with the items that you want in less time so that you can relax and go home to enjoy those leftovers!

Get Your Priority Items First

You’ll be much more relaxed knowing that your most coveted items have already been purchased before you start looking at less important items and sales.

You'll be able to enjoy shopping for less vital items when the pressure is off.

Go With Friends and Family

Don’t go shopping alone. You will likely be waiting on lines for long periods of time.

One person can wait on line for big items while another grabs the lower priority items to save time. You’ll always be a lot less bored if you have some company with you!

Plan Ahead

BFAds have many Black Friday sales listed early from several stores. You can also sign up for their newsletter to get the latest news on Black Friday sales.

It is best to know about the sales as early as possible so that you can plan your shopping trips for the day.

Know which items and early bird specials are your priority and plan on visiting those stores first. Make a list of stores you will be visiting and the items that you want from them.

Most of the biggest discounts are during the early bird sales, which start early morning or even on Thanksgiving.

Some ads will last how many the store will have in stock. Some sales will last through the weekend and the Internet sales often last through Cyber Monday.

Comparison Shop

If you are looking for certain items, check a few retailers so that you will get the best deal possible.

Don’t go ahead to one store if you haven’t already checked other retailers for better prices. Some stores also offer price matching.

Check their ads ahead of time so that you know if they do offer price matching what their terms are for it.

Be Comfortable

Wear comfortable shoes and clothes. Bring a snack and a drink so that you don’t get hungry and dehydrated if the lines turn out to be extremely long.

Avoid sugary snacks and drinks and make sure that you bring protein with you. You will need the energy.

You’ll also avoid wasting precious shopping time stopping for food and/or drinks and save money!

Give Yourself Plenty of Time

Make sure that you have plenty of time to find parking and get through the line at the doors.

The traffic will be hectic so make sure that you’re not looking for a parking spot as the items on your list are disappearing off of the shelves.

Use Credit Cards as Often as Possible

Nerd Wallet advises to use credit cards on Black Friday for security.

Store credit cards often have extra discounts for shoppers using their cards, and it will also be easier to track your spending if you use your credit cards.

If there are any disputes you should have protection from your credit card company. Many stores now accept credit card payments through secure mobile apps.

Bring Your Coupons

Make sure you have your coupons ready and read the fine print ahead of time. Many stores now have their own mobile apps with coupons and there are apps that have many coupons for different retailers available.

The National Retail Federation estimates that nearly 25 percent of shoppers will be using mobile coupons.

If you are using mobile coupons, make sure that you have your phone charged.

Take screenshots just in case the mobile site is down during your shopping visit. You don’t want to get to the register and be unable to access your coupons!

Budget

Know how much money you intend to spend and check to see if your shopping list is within your budget.

If you already know what you are prepared to spend you won’t spend time at the register debating on if you can afford to purchase the items that you want.

If you follow these tips and plan out your day, you should have a great shopping experience.

You will have a much easier time with your holiday gift lists if you get as much as you can while the sales are so good, and don’t forget to get something for yourself!