It's no secret that Black Friday is an ordeal. The waking up early, the crowds, the spending. Indeed, Black Friday is not for the faint of heart.
That means you have to be on your A-game before you head to the stores, whether it's right after dinner on Thanksgiving night or in the wee hours of the morning the Friday after. Black Friday shopping is too overwhelming an experience for newbies and vets alike to just jump into on the day of. You've got to put in the proper planning beforehand in order to avoid stress, stay on budget and generally not have a nightmarish experience. Here's what you need to remember in order to survive Black Friday shopping this year.
1. Do your research
Before you even wake up on Black Friday, you've got to know what the deals are. You're going to be too exhausted from your Thanksgiving festivities and too pressured on the big day to be able to figure out your plan of attack. Most major retailers have already released previews of their Black Friday deals, so you can look through those ads to determine which stores have the best prices on the products you want. You can also use price comparison websites and apps to see if those Black Friday deals are really worth it.
2. Bring a shopping list and stick to it
After you do your research, you're going to want to make a list of all of the items you plan on purchasing during your shopping trip. But here's the key: You must stick to the list. There are always tantalizing items nicely on display up and down store aisles and at checkout, but this is never more the case than on Black Friday. Stores want you to spend as much money as possible, and when you're already in a buying frenzy, it can be easy to pick up one — or 12 — extra items you weren't actually planning on buying. If you don't want to overspend on Black Friday, you've got to be strict with yourself.
3. Know where everything is in the store
You may be shocked to learn this, but stores sometimes manipulate customers into buying certain items by the way the floor plan of the store flows. Crazy, I know. Some of the cheap stuff you came for might greet you at the door, but that might soon give way to more expensive items that aren't even on sale, all due to the store's floor plan. Don't let the retailer control your every movement, literally. Find a map of the stores you're planning on hitting up on Black Friday and make a note of each of the locations of the items you're going to buy. That way, you can make a beeline for each of your destinations and not get distracted by anything you didn't come for along the way.
4. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes
This should be a no-brainer, but there are some fashionistas out there who insist on looking fabulous at all times. I admire your effort, ladies and gentlemen, but Black Friday is neither the time nor the place for looking good. Everyone is going to be so focused on their own shopping that they're not even going to notice your blow-out or cute outfit, so why bother? With crowds, long lines and probably having to run to snag the last iPhone 6 from the shelf, you need to be dressed for Black Friday as if you were about to compete in The Hunger Games. May the deals be ever in your favor.
5. Stay alert
Black Friday is exhausting, but you can't let the fatigue get to you for many reasons. For one, you'll just be cranky, and shopping is supposed to be a joyous activity. Another is that you need to pay attention to keep an eye on your belongings and everything you're going to purchase. With huge crowds, it can be easy for things to go missing, if you know what I mean. Another important reason has to do with the money you spend. Being awake and alert helps you make better decisions. It's when you get tired that your brain can't function properly, and that's when you'll make not-so-great decisions, such as buying that one last thing you didn't really need. To keep your energy up, have a nice, big breakfast, bring snacks with you while shopping if you get peckish and drink plenty of water during your shopping trip to stay hydrated. You're going to need it.
