Black Friday. The day everyone stampedes retail stores looking to snatch a great deal. Like everyone. Last year, 101.7 million people shopped on Black Friday.
Which is why we hear all the crazy stories. More people = more crazies.
The people who get into fights.
The people who get trampled.
The car wrecks in the parking lot.
The people getting sprayed with pepper spray.
Last year, someone was shot in Reno during a Black Friday altercation. (And if you were thinking it had something to do with Johnny Cash having the blues, you’d be wrong.)
But never fear. There are ways to still save crazy money on your holiday shopping without going completely crazy yourself.
- Make sure you’re getting the best deal.
Download the Flipp app which has all the sales ads in one place, plus the ability to search for an item to see who’s offering the best price. USA Today created a short video that explains more about it. - Plan your day.
Start at the stores that are offering the items you want most and those with the most in-demand items, then work your way down the list to the stores with items that aren’t as popular. - Do a little reconnaissance.
Visit your targeted stores earlier and ask a manager where your wanted items will be located. This will save you from running around the store on a wild goose chase looking for your items. - Pack snacks and drinks.
You may not want to take the time to stop some where for a snack break, or you may spend a long time in one store. Be sure to pack a drink and easy snacks like granola bars or nuts to have on you just in case. - Take something to do in line.
The shopping is the fun part. Waiting in line– not so much. And you may not be next to a friend in line. So download a few podcasts, an audiobook or some great music on your phone to keep you in good spirits. - Get the same deals online.
Unless you just love the on-site Black Friday experience, check the stores’ websites to see if they offer their Black Friday deals online. Often you can use free store pickup and go get your item after the crowds are long gone. Plus, you can use Ebates to help you save even more. I have been using Ebates for about a year and have earned about $45 in cash back. You simply install a plug-in into your Internet browser and a pop-up will tell you when you have the opportunity to save at a particular site. Click “Activate” and Ebates searches for discounts to apply to your purchase. Even if there aren’t any discounts, you still get a percentage of cash back. - Don’t forget about Cyber Monday deals.
Just because a retailer isn’t offering a sale on something you want, doesn’t mean they won’t offer a Cyber Monday deal. Online businesses, especially, are more likely to offer Cyber Monday sales.
For even more tips on saving on Black Friday, check out this post from The Penny Hoarder.
What’s the number #1 item on your Black Friday shopping list? Feel free to share on the Defeating Busy Facebook page under this post.