For many people, holiday shopping begins on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. Cyber Monday, which falls after the Thanksgiving weekend is a great way to order gifts online. Many retailers will lure shoppers in on Cyber Monday with free shipping deals. Between Brown Thursday (businesses open for shopping on Thanksgiving Day), Black Friday and Cyber Monday, here are a few tips to help cope with the phenomenon after-Thanksgiving shopping has become.
- Plan ahead—Many retailers promote their ads well before Thanksgiving to allow for consumers to prepare to see who is offering which item at the best price. Planning ahead will help you have a fun experience.
- Set a budget—This is a vital step for shopping. You have to decide how much you plan to spend or you will have to eat bread and water all December and January. Seriously, set a budget and stick to it. Make your list and remember, if you said $20 each person, you really mean $20 limit for each person. There is some wiggle room with this if you find a great gift for one person on sale, the extra $5 or $10 could go to someone else’s gift.
- Check the ads—Know what retail cost is before you fall into a trap. Retailers may advertise a great television for only $150, however, what is the regular retail for that brand? Is it really a $175 television? The internet can be your friend with consumer reviews and the information is already out for the ads. Check out www.blackfriday.com for the deals and do some research ahead of time.
- Form a team—This sounds strange, I know. I have a group of friends who formed a Black Friday team. We get together and look at the ads. If I am interested in bed sheets on sale at one retailer and my friends wants some tools at a completely different store, we will divide and conquer. I will go to the tool store and she can pick up my sheets. We are able to both get what we want and essentially be in two places at once.
Holiday shopping can be leisurely and enjoyable. However, shopping on Black Friday is more like a sport. It’s fast-paced, very exciting and can also be rewarding. Follow the tips above and have fun shopping, oh yeah, and drink some coffee. It’s hard to get up at 3 a.m. and face the crowds without some coffee.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: How to be prepared for Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping