Conquering Black Friday 101

November 8, 2012 by Kenmore

Black Friday shopping is not for the faint of heart or the casual shopper. You have to be fully dedicated to getting the best deals, even if that means using your camping skills outside of your local department store. Whether you’re new to Black Friday or a veteran of the post-turkey day shopping wars, it’s always great to be prepared for what will be in store. Use these helpful tips to survive the biggest shopping day of the year.

  1. Rest up and Get Energized. Somewhat opposing points of advice, but trust us, they’re both necessary. Make sure you get a good rest in and then energize with a protein-rich breakfast before you head out. You’ll need that energy later after hours of lines, scouring for items and getting a month worth of shopping done in a matter of hours.
  2. Don’t leave things to chance. Black Friday is like the Olympics of shopping, and if you don’t do your training, you’ll fall short. You’ll want to know exactly what you’re going out for and plan out which stores you’ll need to head out to first. So write out your gifts lists and make an itinerary for all the items you need. Be sure to keep an eye out for different sale times, and don’t forget to print out any coupons or emails for additional discounts.
  3. Prioritize your purchases. Those big-ticket electronics can wait; buy the items you need instead. It’s easy to be distracted by flashy items just because they’re on sale. While Black Friday is the best time to knock out those gift lists, it’s also an excellent time to get major items you actually need at a deal you won’t find any other time of the year.
  4. Bring a Friend. This isn’t really a necessary tip, but it’s always nice to have someone to keep you company while waiting in long lines or someone to help you scout out the purchases you want.
  5. Be Tech Savvy. Thanks to the Internet, now you don’t even have to leave your home to get great deals if you don’t want to. Forget camping out at 3 a.m., and shop online “door buster” deals that are offered. More and more stores are offering some of their best deals even before Cyber Monday. Keep tabs open on your items you’re interested in, have promo codes and your payment card ready, then kick up your feet and shop in your slippers!

Will you be heading out on Black Friday? Do you have any tips or tricks out on the shopping battlefield? Let us know in the comments!

Kenmore

The Kenmore brand represents 100 years of trusted performance, backed by exclusive features and innovations that no other brand can bring to the table. We’re always evolving to ensure day-to-day tasks are taken care of with faster cooking, better cleaning and more living throughout the home.