Black Friday Shopping Tips

1. Reward Yourself Before You Shop

Now's the perfect time to think about how you're going to pay for all of your holiday purchases. You'll see a lot of advice telling you to use store credit cards for an extra 10% off, but don't fall for this time waster and credit buster. Instead, take some time now to apply for a cash-back card with a 0% APR for 6 or 12 months. You'll make back 1% (or more) on all of your holiday purchases, and have an instant layaway plan. To find more information on credit cards, see WalletPop's Credit Card Section.

Next: Tip No. 2

2. Recalculate

Successful Black Friday shoppers have a plan, and an alternate plan, and an alternate alternate plan. Program your GPS for your intended destination (or use an old-fashioned map), and then figure out some other way to get there if the traffic is horrible and there's no parking. Plan your excursion so you stay on one side of town, and if possible, in one parking space for your entire trip. Think about taxis, public transportation or getting dropped off. Don't be too ambitious about how many stores you can hit. Pick one or two that are close by and call it a day.

Next: Tip No. 3

3. Bust The Door

It might sound like a burden to shop at 2am, or to get up at 5am to get in line at Wal-Mart, but it's just one day a year. If you're serious about bargain-hunting ' and you have to be to even head out of your house on Black Friday - just do it. Why else are you going shopping on such a hectic day if you're not going to dig in and save the most money? And don't just think about the mall for this day. Outlets will be offering some of the best deals this season -- and the best late-night deals in particular, like Ralph Lauren's already announced special evening plans. So drink some coffee and get out there either late or early.
Next: Tip No. 4

4. Be Selfish

The best thing to shop for on Black Friday is all of the clothing on sale. In fact, retailers will be desperate for you to buy clothing, with the department stores gunning for your dollars with doorbusters and store-wide clearance sales. You should see great deals from Sears, JC Penny and Kohl's, and the mall stores like American Eagle, Gap and Victoria's Secret. The best way to shop for clothing is in person. So browse the deals and pick up a few things for yourself and then for the other people on your list. Just make sure you know sizes ahead of time, so you can just grab the right sweater and move on.
Next: Tip No. 5

5. Put Down the TV

Is this the year you're upgrading to a big-screen HDTV? Don't do it on Black Friday. You might think you're getting some extra-special deal, but you're probably not. Circuit City, for one, is liquidating 155 stores, but its prices haven't come down. Retailers will be trying to move HDTVs and other major electronics all season, so this one day will not be the rock-bottom. Besides, can you imagine the kind of service you're going to get on a busy shopping day? If you're plunking down over a grand, you want to ask your questions and get the attention you need - something you won't get on Black Friday.
Next: Tip No. 6

6. Be the Squeaky Wheel

Oh, you think retailers put those price tags on items because that's what they expect you to pay? The recession has brought back bargaining, so find the item you want for less somewhere else, print the ad, and show it to the manager. The store might not have an official price-matching policy, but you could still walk away with a discount just because retailers are desperate to keep customers. If that doesn't work, just ask for the (reasonable) price you want, especially if you are having something delivered and want that charge tossed in for free, or if you are buying a major item like a washer/dryer combo.

Next: Tip No. 7

7. Dress Lightly, Carry a Big Calculator

Leave your coat in the car, dress in layers, have snacks in your pockets and make sure you bring some kind of mathematical device to add up your purchases. The most important thing you can do so you don't blow your Black Friday budget is keep track of what's going in your cart, either with an electronic device or notepad. That said, the other important thing to remember is that you need to set a budget limit for yourself before you set foot out your door. Don't just go and graze, like you would at an all-you-can eat buffet.

Next: Tip No. 8

8. Facebook Your Gift List

You've gotten used to social networking, so apply that approach to your gift list. The point: be like Santa and make a list of who you want to buy for and who you don't. Black Friday is perfect for impulse buys, but you don't want to load up your cart with a lot of gifts that have no intended recipient. You can't just see some shiny bauble and think it will make a great gift for someone, and two years later still have it. A good list includes all the major family members, plus all the extra people: your co-workers, babysitters, mailmen, etc. Think about everyone you know who might be expecting a treat and make sure they are covered.
Next: Tip No. 9

9. Get Proof

Face it, you're not going to like everything you buy on a whim on Black Friday. Things won't fit, you don't really need them, or you'll find cheaper ones a few weeks later. You need to be consistent about getting receipts and keeping them with the merchandise (not shoved all in a pile in your desk). Try keeping the receipt in the bag, taking the bag directly to the closet and stashing it until you need it. This season that is especially important because prices will drop, and you'll want to make the most of your discount by returning items for a lower price. Just beware of restocking fees and other hitches to your return.
Next: Tip No. 10

10. Fly Solo

That may sound like no fun, and most advice on Black Friday says to pal up for the day. But unless your shopping partner is more of a personal assistant to follow you around and do your bidding, shopping with another person (or worse, a group) will only slow you down. You'll spend time chatting and browsing on another person's agenda instead of your own. If you get separated, as will surely happen, you'll spend too much time trying to track down the other person. Carpooling, on the other hand, is a great idea. But just go with the expectation that you'll split up and meet back at the car at an appointed time.
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More on WalletPop.com:
Latest on Black Friday Deals

Now that you've seen our Black Friday shopping tips, check out our early roundup of the Black Friday deals you can expect to see while you're there.

Next Gallery:
Black Friday Scorecard 2008