11.24.2010

BRAVING BLACK FRIDAY {my tips}

The day that you guys have all been waiting for is finally near! No, not Thanksgiving, but the day after…Black Friday!

Walmart-Best-Buy-Target-and-Kmart-release-their-Black-Friday-Ads

Yes! My favorite day! Why? Because I get to shop without my husband asking me what I need! For some odd reason, he NEVER questions my reasons for going out at 4:00am to shop! 

Because I know many of you will be out Friday morning, and that for a few of you this will be your first time out, I decided to share a few tips with you.  Hopefully I can help you make the most of your shopping adventure!

 

KNOW THE SALES

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Find out all the stores that are participating in Black Friday.  From there, find the stores that offer the best deals on the items you need and also find the store that offers the second best prices!

 

PLAN YOUR TRIP

I have a mall literally 10 minutes away from me.  And surrounding that mall I have Target, Best Buy, Toys R Us, and Sams Club.   I also have a Wal-mart close by, but in a different direction than where majority of the stores are.  This problem is where my next tip come into play…

 

GET FRIENDS AND FAMILY INVOLVED

Okay, so you have to go to Target for a TV, but you need a laptop from Wal-mart.  Have your friend or family member go into the other store while you are in Target.  Or how about this, you don’t really need any of the major items from a particular store, but you do want a few of their stocking stuffers, the same plan works for that too!

 

HAVE YOUR LIST READY

shopping list

 

There is nothing worst than waking up at 3:30am and having to make a list.  Better yet, getting out of the house and not being able to find your list.  Print out your shopping list and print multiples.  Give one to EVERYONE you can think of just in case you do forget it, you can call that person.  Oh and leave one in the car too!

 

CASH OR CREDIT?

credit-cards

My advice for this question…CASH! Or, better yet, DEBIT! Okay, I know that some credit cards have rewards with them and that’s fine.  For example, with my Target card, I can get 10% off with the coupon I received the other day plus an additional 5% off for using it.  They also have coupons in their ad that ends today that I can combine with those discounts.  Did I use the card? YES MA’AM!!! BUT, i turned around and paid it on the card.  See this is what I learned (the hard way), a deal is not a deal if you’re going to pay A LOT more for the item later.  It took a while, but my husband finally got through to me;-)

 

BE CAREFUL

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Here a picture of one of my carts last year.  Notice that it is still dark outside… Also, notice the guy in the background.  Nothing happened with this person, but you never know who is out there watching you.  I see a lot of people go out and put things in their cars and then head back inside.  DO NOT DO THAT.  As soon as you head inside, BAM, your car is broken into and that’s not good!  If you must go back into a store, I suggest you go to your car, act like you are leaving and then park your car in a different parking spot.  And try not to pack things into the car, but into the trunk.

 

HAVE ENOUGH ROOM

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So you get to the store and realize that getting that 42” flat screen is worth it after all.  Well, not if you’re packing into a Sebring!  My truck seats 8, but with the third row let down, I can still seat my Black Friday “crew” and my items! My back windows are tinted, but I do plan to take a quilt with me to cover my items…Be Careful!

 

HAVE FUN BECAUSE THERE IS ALWAYS TOMORROW!

I always have fun!  Even when I don’t get a particular item that I had my mind set on.  Shopping on Black Friday is really fun, but don’t forget that the sale continues on Saturday! So if you oversleep Friday, set your alarm for Saturday!

 

I hope that these tips are helpful when you get out Friday! I wonder if I’m missing anything…Do any of you have any tips of your own to share?

 

P.S, I learned from Mrs.Chic that Goodwill is participating in Black Friday with everything being 50% off! They are definitely on my list!

12 comments:

Tonia Lee Smith said...

Such great tips, but I can never get anyone to wake up or better yet spend the night in front of a store with me. Last year we were at Sears for the frontload washer and dryer and even got a ticket to purchase one of the 3 sets available only to find out it was too small for our family needs.

So another tip: Research the product to make sure it's what you are looking for otherwise it's wasted time, and you could have been someplace else.

Erika Ward said...

This has to be one of the best shopping guides on the web. I've never participated in Black Friday, but when I do I guess I'll be trailing you ;-)

Anonymous said...

These are great tips (especially the HAVE ENOUGH ROOM one :-)). I haven't been able to do Black Friday for quite a few years now because of out-of-town guests who aren't into it, etc., but maybe one of these years. I think it would fun to experience the chaos, just once. That would probably be enough.

Have a great Thanksgiving, Lakeitha!

Rashon Carraway said...

These are great tips. I dont think I have ever braved Black Friday. Maybe its because I shop all the time or maybe its because my family has never done the whole Christmas thing so buying gifts isnt big on my Nov list. I never thought of the idea of not going back to your car. Im notorious for that. I hate carrying stuff.

Really good stuff!

http://mrgoodwillhunting.blogspot.com

The Yuppie Closet said...

I luv reading folks blog posts on Black Friday. It's funny to read about how "they" do it. I must say you're pretty brave to go to Target. As much as I want to be out there at Target or Walmart. I just can't do it.

Any place that sells electronics. I walk the other way. I love Black Friday. It's fun!

http://www.theyuppielady.com

Tricia said...

Great post! I'm getting excited to shop just reading about it. Hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!
~Tricia

Janell @ House of Fifty said...

Great post and tips! I avoid these sales at all costs (and I guess that is literal as I miss out on deals!)
But with your plan of attack it MAY be in my future! :)
Janell

Unknown said...

Love your black Friday tips! I'll only be shopping one store on black Friday! lol and doing a little shopping online via Amazon & Piperline...just a few things I want to get.

Other than that my shopping is done! Yay :)

Anonymous said...

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I have a message for the webmaster/admin here at home23duncanboys.blogspot.com.

Can I use part of the information from your blog post above if I give a backlink back to your site?

Thanks,
Peter

Unknown said...

I never thought to move my car after shopping. Great idea!!

René said...

Lakeitha, I should have known that you are one of the brave souls who ventures out on Black Friday. I'm too chicken - and impatient :) Thanks for the great tips just in case I get my nerve up :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

-Rene

Megan // Honey We're Home said...

4:00 am?? I hope your first stop is to Starbuck's! :)