Are You Ready for Black Friday?

With businesses like WalMart, Target and Toys R Us announcing that they will open on Thanksgiving Day, the lines of Black Friday shopping have blurred into the Thanksgiving holiday. Amazon has announced that they will be providing Black Friday style savings that started last week and will continue on.

Some families are turning it into a tradition of eating early, napping, and then going shopping for the best deals.  For some, it’s a way of making their limited budget go farther.

Some stores hold items back and then have a large unveiling for Black Friday.  It’s still a good idea to scope out the stores, where they have merchandise, and create your plan.
So in today’s blog, we’re going to provide some resources so you can make your plan whether it’s online, or waiting in line.

BFADS

The granddaddy of all sites is bfads.net.  It was founded by a CalPoly student who would get ahold of Black Friday circulars before they were made available, and he would post them on his site.  In the beginning, companies would hit him with a cease and desist order, but over time, they realized that it was a great way to get people excited about shopping, and now, he provides the circulars starting November 1st.

 Other Resources

• blackfriday.com
• blackfriday.fm

And you can also find out more about deals on the websites of the businesses you’re interested in.

Things to Remember

• Create your list of who you’re buying for.  If it’s clothing, make sure you have their sizes and color preferences as items may not be returnable.  It could be exchange only.  And if it is returnable, it will only be for the amount you paid.
• See if you can shorten your list.  Talk with your friends about exchanging cookies or letters of how much you appreciate one another.
• Decide on your budget and be firm on it.  It’s easy to get caught up in the moment of what appears to be a great deal, but you don’t want the credit card hangover in January.
• Consider bringing only one credit card or the cash in your budget.
• If you bring someone else, help each other to stay on target.
• Make sure you budget something for yourself.   After all, you’re the one out there.
• Be safe.  If there’s a donnybrook over the last Giggle Me Something Doll, you really don’t want to be a part of it.  Better to wait and pay a bit more later then pay for medical bills now.  And watch out for crowds that surge. You don’t want to fall down and get stepped on.
• There will always be jerks.  Remember to breathe and don’t lower yourself to their level.
• Bring water to stay hydrated.
• Wear comfortable shoes.

And don’t forget to plan in Cyber Monday when companies have additional sales!
Do you save up to buy something major during black friday?  Or do you just do your holiday shopping?  Or do you stay home and enjoy the quiet day?