Use everything at your disposal to help with your Black Friday shopping. Photo by Ivy Duongby Ivy Duong, Staff Photographer, and Bethany Pham, Staff Writer
Black Friday marks the beginning of extravagant holiday shopping, and people flock toward shopping centers everywhere for awesome doorbusters after charging themselves on Thanksgiving dinners. The frenzied aura of Black Friday makes a great deal of people nervous, but here are a few tips on being a smart shopper.
Check up on deals before Black Friday online or through advertisements.
Stores will usually have an idea of their deals a few days before Black Friday. You can opt to ask the stores in person about their deals or check them online. Most stores have 50% off their entire stores, but some stores may have different deals. On the day of Thanksgiving, try to get all the newspaper to ensure that you didn’t miss any special deals.
List out all the things you plan to buy at places you plan to visit.
As cheesy as this sounds, creating a list of what you want and where you want to get it narrows your focus onto your essential purchases. Referring to this throughout your shopping trip will end up saving you from impulse buys, overspending, time at uncomfortably crowded shops, and making otherwise unnecessary returns in the future.
Eat an early dinner or breakfast.
Fuel yourself before undergoing the terrifyingly exhausting experience that is Black Friday. Depending on what time of day you go shopping, eating before you go or bringing along snacks and drinks while at stores will keep you energized and alert.
Dress comfortably.
When Black Friday shopping, it’s important to realize that wearing the nicest top you have with a pair of designer jeans and heels probably won’t work in your favor. Opting for more comfortable attire like tennis shoes and sweats will allow you to last longer for those long hours of shopping.
Bring just enough money.
One of the biggest mistake people make is going over their budget and not realizing the consequences of it. They end up spending all their money and aren’t able to buy gifts for Christmas. By providing yourself the right amount, you can prevent yourself from overspending.
Arrive early to the store.
Throughout the week of Black Friday, you can go to stores and ask when they’ll open. If you don’t have time, you can check the time online or call the store directly. Once you have all the business hours of stores, make sure that you arrive a bit early to avoid the crowds and traffic. You should arrive at the store twenty minutes before it opens. Give yourself some time to get ready to ensure that you’ll arrive on time to the store.
