The Biggest Shopping Day of the Year: Black Friday Survival Tips

Black Friday, which falls the day after Thanksgiving, is the biggest shopping day of the year. As a result, many retailers have specials and sales that are only available on that day. Since things can get pretty hectic, we thought we’d share some of our favorite Black Friday survival tips with you.

The Biggest Shopping Day of the Year Gift List

Don’t shop before you create your gift list! At the very least, create a list of everyone that you need to find gifts for. This will prevent you from impulsively buying things you don’t need. Remember, returns are a considerable hassle and it’s a much better idea to get it right the first time.

Set a Budget

How much money do you have set aside for the holidays and the biggest shopping day of the year? Before Black Friday starts, you should set a budget for how much money you have to spend that day. Then, divide among those you need gifts for! While you’re shopping, make sure you don’t exceed these amounts. You wouldn’t want to get into debt over the holidays because you overspent. The goal is to use Black Friday sales to maximize your gift-giving. Know the return policy on every item you purchase. You don’t want to be stuck with it and not be able to get a refund.

Have a Plan of Attack

Once you decide whom you will be buying gifts for and how much money you have to spend, you need to have a plan of attack. Start by viewing the flyers for any stores you plan on visiting to identify the sales and see how long they’ll be happening. You wouldn’t want to miss a great sale due to poor planning! You’ll also want to do the same thing for your favorite online retailers, who also tend to run sales during Black Friday and Cyber Monday…so planning ahead is key!

Create a Survival Kit

Let’s face it – Black Friday shopping, even if you do it exclusively online, can be stressful. This year, try putting together a survival kit to get you through the day! Here’s a list of some things you can put in your handbag to make your life easier:

Reusable Shopping Bag

You never know when you’ll need an extra shopping bag! Look for bags that can fold into a small rectangle so that they can easily fit in your handbag.

Snacks

Don’t let yourself get too hungry! You wouldn’t want to leave that long line you’ve been waiting in to grab something to eat! Keep snacks, such as protein bars, nuts, and dried fruit in your handbag so that you don’t need to stop and eat lunch while on a time crunch. These healthy snacks will give you plenty of energy to keep going!

Water

Shopping actually burns tons of calories, which means that you’ll need to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Pack a small water bottle and keep refilling it whenever you get the opportunity.

Mint Gum

Keep your breath minty fresh by chewing mint gum throughout the day. Chewing gum is also a great stress reliever.

With a little advanced planning, the biggest shopping day of the year can be much less stressful! Don’t forget, online gift-giving is always an option. Gift baskets, chocolates, and cards make gift giving easy.

 

Photo by Max Fischer from Pexels