Sunday, November 18, 2007
Black Friday
| By Lynn Forgy The alarm clock beeps at 3:00 a.m. You jump into the shower while the coffee is perking and in record time you're showered, dressed, fully caffeine-ated and ready to go! Why the hurry? It's the day after Thanksgiving -- Black Friday! The day most people begin (and for some end) their Christmas shopping. Sales, discounts, coupons abound. Crowds of bleary-eyed men and women pushing and shoving their way to the display case only to be told by the salesperson that whatever item you are looking for is gone, and in fact disappeared off the shelves 2 minutes after the store opened. I must admit, however, that last year when we went shopping on Black Friday, it was a lot of fun. Yes we were tired, and yes there were some not too happy people that did not wake up early enough to beat me to the last I-Dog, but it was nice to be surrounded by Christmas decorations and songs, Christmas shoppers, and Christmas cheer.  This year, our Christmas presents cannot come from the store so there is no need for me to shop on Black Friday. In fact, my Christmas presents will all be bought online. (In case you're interested - we usually have "themes" at Christmas when exchanging presents. One year all items had to be bought at thrift stores. One year the presents could not cost more than $5. This year, however, is the ultimate test - all items have to be free. The only restrictions are it cannot be alive, dead, or smelly. ) If you are venturing out this year for the Black Friday sales, there are some tips that you should follow.  1) List - You should make a list of the people you need to buy for, as well as noting what type of item you have in mind to get them. You may not be able to find the exact item on your list for a certain recipient, but at least you will have an idea of what you would like to get them. 2) Coupons - If you have coupons, don't forget them! Sale papers should be taken with you as well if applicable. Find out which stores will be offering Early Bird Specials, Midnight Madness, etc. sales. 3) Footwear - Wear comfy shoes, because your dogs will be barking at the end of the day! 4) Snacks - Pack some snacks on your bag - granola bars, crackers, a bottle of water, trail mix, etc. You will need to keep your energy level in order to survive this marathon. 5) Plan - You should plan your strategy to make the most of your time. Some stores will be opening sooner than others, or there may be a store that you know will be busy first thing but it is the only one that will be selling item X. 6) Divide & Conquer - If you have a large family, put your little army to work! Give each member of your family (or if you have small children you may want to pair them with an adult and make a team) a list and go! You could even make a contest out of it (the first team to find all the items on the list and get to the checkout counter wins cookies). 7) Reason for the Season - Lastly, remember the reason for the season. Don't get so caught up in the gift giving and consumerism that you forget the reason why this holiday exists in the first place.  Check out Black Friday ads here! Labels: Black Friday, Christmas, shopping, shopping strategy |
posted by Krista at 4:05 PM
