Still stuffed from Thanksgiving dinner, I contemplate Black Friday shopping. Some stores are open around midnight, while others open at the crack of dawn. It would be a great way for me to burn of the feast I just devoured, but is it worth it? Is it worth going out in freezing temps to wait on long lines, hoping to score that huge smart TV I’ve been eyeing for the last few weeks?
I’ve seen people beefing over merchandise – each trying to get their hands on that last item that everyone’s been clambering for. I can’t imagine being one of them. Don’t get me wrong; whenever I hear about a deal, I turn into a fiend. My motto has alway been, never pay full price for anything. But the question is at what cost? Is it worth my time and energy to save a few bucks? Just the thought turns me off from even attempting to shop the day after Thanksgiving.
Aside from purchasing my DSLR a few years ago on Black Friday, I’ve never shopped on that day. Besides, with my hubby working, I can’t imagine lugging around products with two kids in tow. Young O refuses to sit in a stroller and Princess would be asking for everything under the sun. So, I tend to do most of my shopping online.
I’m not saying I’ll never shop on Black Friday. Who knows? There may be an amazing deal that I can’t pass up. In that case, it’s totally worth it. But, I’d keep the following in mind:
1. Scope out discounts ahead of time. Going into a store blindly could mean wandering aimlessly with a deer in headlights look on your face.
2. Comparison shop. You may see an item you wanted somewhere else at a cheaper price.
3. Leave the kids at home. I love my children. But when it comes to shopping, they can be a distraction.
4. Bring a buddy. I notice a lot of the discounted items are huge. I can’t imagine physically fitting everything into my SUV alone. There may store clerks there to help, but that’s crap shoot. At times like this, they’re busy helping some other customer.
5. Choose stores with less traffic. There are a couple of Best Buy’s close to where we live. One gets a lot of customers because it’s located right next to a shopping mall along a main road, while the other is a stand alone on a less crowded street, and gets fewer customers. Both will get more traffic than usual on Black Friday. But, I’d go with the latter because there is a much better chance of me getting that product I’ve been hoping to purchase.
Do you think it’s worth it to go shopping on Black Friday? Any tips you’d like to share?