The day after Thanksgiving, now dubbed “Black Friday” by one and all, has grown into one of the busiest shopping days in the nation – marked by doorbuster deals, long lines and (unfortunately) the occasional altercation between shoppers.
For some, Black Friday is a chance to make their holiday budgets stretch a little further. But for many others, hitting up all the Black Friday deals has become another family tradition to see who can get the biggest bargains. Still others find the whole thing an unpleasant and stressful ordeal that is just too overwhelming despite the dollars that they might save.
Don’t worry: We have your back. With this guide, you can get the most out of your Black Friday adventure, without feeling like you’re about to come unglued from the pressure.
How Did Black Friday Get Started?
The officially sanctioned mythos of Black Friday is that it’s the day retailers finally go “in the black” and start showing a profit for the year – thanks to the surge in holiday shoppers. However, that’s just a careful bit of marketing designed to encourage consumers to think of the day as a major sales event and draw them into their stores.
In reality, the term was coined by the Philadelphia police in the 1950s when hordes of suburbanites flooded the city the day after Thanksgiving in anticipation of the annual Army-Navy game. The sudden influx of people created massive traffic jams as tourists took advantage of their trip to the big city to do some shopping. Naturally, a bit of chaos ensued.
By the 1980s, however, retailers had picked the term up and rebranded it to better align with their business goals. “Black Friday” became the official kick-off day for the holiday shopping season, and retailers began to offer deep discounts, limited-time offers and special sales to compete for those consumer dollars. This has ultimately spawned “spin-offs” of the big day, now known as “Small Business Saturday” and “Cyber Monday,” which stretch the sales ─ and the potential savings ─ even further.
Tips For Black Friday Success
The Black Friday experience promises unbeatable discounts — and unbelievable crowds. Whether you’re an old hand at the whole Black Friday thing or a total newbie, it takes some skill to navigate the event without losing your cool (and spending more than you intend). Here are a few guidelines for a good time on some great deals:
1. Sign Up for Emails
You must get in the information loop to get the best deals, so sign up for emails from your favorite retailers well before the big day. This way, you are primed to receive exclusive notifications, any special coupons the retailer may issue and even early-bird discounts. A lot of retailers give special VIP access to registered customers who can get limited-quantity specials, so take advantage of these deals when you can.
Signing up early also means you have an established “customer profile” that can save you time at checkout in those stores that want to capture your contact information before you get back out of the door.
2. Have a Plan: Prioritize the Shopping List
When you want the best deals, planning is everything. A solid game plan can be the difference between snagging a super special deal and leaving empty-handed – or with a bunch of impulse buys that you’ll regret later.
Start by checking the store ads online and the offers in your email, make a note of when the stores open for Black Friday (since those hours are usually early) and organize the deals you’re targeting according to your priorities. Mapping your route from store to store can also make it easier to stay focused once the big day gets here.
3. Get a Budget: Watch Those Dollars
You go into Black Friday shopping without a budget in mind at your own risk – because the deep discounts are meant to encourage you to spend without thinking.
Decide what you can afford to spend before you go, and only give yourself a limited amount of money to spend on impulse purchases for those on your guest list or for yourself. Keep track of your receipts as you go so that you don’t accidentally put your own wallet “in the red” with your shopping.
4. Use the Buddy System: Divide and Conquer
You can’t be in two spots at once, so what do you do when there are two fabulous “doorbusters” happening in two different locations? You team up!
Partnering with a bestie or a close family member can help you cover more ground and even turn the whole day into a sort of adventure or scavenger hunt game. Since you’re planning ahead, you can agree beforehand where you’ll meet back up after the “doorbusters” are over. Then, you can tackle some places together while you swap stories of the sights and deals you encountered.
5. Take Snacks: Fuel for the Marathon
All those crowds, lines and early morning shopping can take a toll on your energy levels, especially if you’re just fueling up on coffee. Tuck some snacks into your bag or car (energy bars or granola bars are fine) and a small bottle of water so that you can fight the fatigue.
Remember: A quick snack break will keep you from being “hangry” and inclined to lose your temper with other shoppers, and it can also keep you from making poor financial decisions.
6. Skip the Cart: Stay Nimble
If you want to be able to easily navigate the aisles of your favorite store to hit your targeted items, try to skip the shopping cart. Reusable shopping bags or a shopping basket will keep you more fleet of foot.
While that may not be possible if you’re picking up some heavy items, you still want to get in and get out of each store as quickly as possible. “Just looking around” can end up costing you both time and money. As soon as you’ve snagged whatever you were aiming to grab, head to the checkout to avoid additional temptation.
Finally, once you’ve done all the shopping you intend to do, grab your shopping partner and head out for a meal somewhere. You can generally expect restaurants to be packed, so just relax and unwind while you wait for a seat. After the thrill of the hunt has passed, you’ll need a little downtime (and maybe a glass of wine) to regather your bearings. Happy shopping!
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