Keep the Change: Navigating Black Friday

Welcome to the Enhanced Version of this month's "Keep the Change" written for the Shawnee Outlook:

As we near the holidays, we simultaneously approach the biggest spending time of year and the biggest savings. Of course, it’s well known there are great deals to be had on what is known as Black Friday. However, this can be a tricky day, especially for new savers. For those who’ve wanted to take part in the sales, but have been too scared to dive in, here are a few tips to getting some deals and keeping your sanity.

First, know what you’re getting. Browse ads on-line at sites like blackfriday.com or bfads.net. Be aware – just because something is in the ad does NOT guarantee it’s a great deal. If your savings will be less than 30%, you may be better off simply waiting for a coupon.

Next, grab a partner (you can split up to hit the store hot spots) and get there early, but not too early. True, if you want the hottest electronics, you may need to stand in line for days. Otherwise, 20-30 minutes is probably early enough to snag most deals.  Also, if you're shopping Wal-Mart, you can find a map of your local store on their website so you know where to head to get the things you want - often the Black-Friday-specific sales items are NOT located where you might expect (DVD's in the Dairy Section?!), so go in prepared!

If you’re not an early bird, keep in mind some stores which offer price-matching still honor this policy on Black Friday. This means you can take one store’s ad somewhere else, where everyone isn’t competing for the same thing, and still get your awesome price – and you don’t have to be there at 3am. Likewise, many stores also offer their sales on-line – so you stay can stay home and do your shopping in your pj’s (though be prepared for these to sell out quickly) – or even wait for Cyber Monday the following week.  If you're shopping on-line, be sure to use a site like Ebates or Shop at Home to get further cash-back on your purchases!

Finally, be sure to head out to your favorite local business the following day in honor of Small Business Saturday – keeping our spending local helps everyone!

Black Friday Deals

Having been sick recently and trying to get everything ready for celebrating Thanksgiving, I don't have time to post much about Black Friday, so instead, I'm redirecting you to a blog I follow who has done a quick compilation of her favorite in-store deals for this Friday.  As previously mentioned, if you want to see the actual ads for specific stores to see what's more specifically on sale, check out blackfriday.info.

Black Friday: To Shop or Not to Shop

It's hard to believe we're already to the end of November.  This week we will celebrate Thanksgiving and along with that comes the biggest shopping day of the year: Black Friday.

I would hardly consider myself an experienced Black Friday shopper.  While I have risen before the sun on this day for the past four years, I do not try to kill myself or others beating down the doors, especially not for the hot-ticket items.  I've done clothes, movies and low-grade electronics.  Therefore, I may not be qualified to dish out much advice for shopping on this day, but I'll give you what I know.

My best advice for Black Friday is to plan ahead.  You can find most Black Friday ads on-line these days.  BlackFriday.info is a good place to start.  If you're a tangible person, you can wait until Thanksgiving Day to peruse the print ads that arrive in the paper.  Find what you want, make a battle plan, be prepared.

Here's a tip I just learned last year: Wal-Mart honors their price-matching policy even on Black Friday.  So if what you want is something you can find at Wal-Mart, buying there rather than Target or other stores might give you a bit of an edge as the other Wal-Mart shoppers may be focused on the deals only found in the Wal-Mart ad.  Shopping at Wal-Mart on Black Friday can vary by store.  I've been in a store so well-prepared we were in the store by 4:45 (15 min before "opening") and out by 5:30.  I've been in other stores where we were in at 5:15 and out an hour and a half later.  So, it really depends on if it's worth it for you.

The other thing about Wal-Mart (and possibly other stores) is that their big deals are most likely not in the department you'd think.  Last year, we found our portable DVD player in the frozen foods section.  They try to strategically place the pallets to save from traffic flooding any one area.  So, ask an associate when you get there, they all have maps depicting what is where and can tell you exactly where to go.  Also, because most Wal-Marts are 24 hours, you can typically get in the store before the 5am start (this year some of Wal-Mart's sale prices start at MIDNIGHT!), but you are not allowed to touch the sale merchandise until 5am exactly.  Which leaves you standing right in front of the item you want, staring at it and listening to the other shoppers bash the associates who are trying to keep their greedy hands at bay.

Be prepared for snark (but remember Who you represent and try not to give in to the petty nature of Black Friday shoppers).

And finally, the most obvious, be prepared to WAIT.  Most of your Black Friday "shopping" time will be spent waiting in-line.  Remember the above rule, stay patient and always reflect a Christ-like attitude.  Remember: in the end, it's all just STUFF.  And none of us NEED stuff.  Keep a good attitude and honor Christ in all you do :)