Entry bubble Get Ready For Black Friday

By: Ginger | November 20, 2009 | Category: Money

Ginger in her Black Friday commando gearMy Black Friday shopping expedition last year was a little intense. I can understand that my Black Friday commando-camouflage could seem a little odd and possibly raise some eyebrows, but really? Apparently, some folks find a woman shopping in a mall with branches taped to her head to be a little threatening, but being tackled by a mall security guard and forced into a straight-jacket seemed a little extreme! Well, I have learned my lesson and I won’t be doing that anymore!

From now on, I will stick to more acceptable methods for preparing for Black Friday. Because of the economic downturn, a lot of stores and other businesses are really offering significant savings to draw in shoppers the day after Thanksgiving. A lot of experts recommend that you do your homework when shopping this holiday to get the most for your money. Know your budget and do research ahead of time to find the best prices. You may even want to plan to get to some stores early. Some stores offer early bird specials and extra discounts to folks that get there first.

Here are some resources that I found that have some useful shopping tips and offer information on some great Black Friday deals:

Note: For those of you who are concerned that I am crazy… I didn’t actually go to the mall in that get up. Well, I did play out that scenario in my head and it was pretty funny, but I am, more or less, sane. Just ask my good friend Harvey. LOL!

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Entry bubble Black Friday Commando

By: Ginger | November 28, 2008 | Category: Money

I have never gone shopping the day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday), but this year my mom is visiting, so we will join the madness. Since this will be my first Black Friday adventure, mom and friends shared some shopping strategies and horror stories with me. My mom told me of the “Cabbage Patch Kids” riots of ’83 when shoppers ran through the store when the doors opened and fought over dolls. My friend, Laura, got into a smackdown over a Teddy Ruxpin on a Black Friday.

Ginger in camouflage gear ready to shop on Black FridayI’ve come to the conclusion that this won’t just be shopping; this experience will require “extreme shopping tactics.” That’s right; I will be morphing into a Black Friday Commando. Since I’m not very athletic, I think dangling from wires above my purchase targets or attempting ninja moves will only result in pulled muscles. Instead, I will be camouflaging myself to sneak around for the best deals.

If these tactics sound a little overboard, I suppose you could just stick to normal shopping procedures. Not as fun, but probably more effective. The federal government has some holiday shopping guidelines and tips. ConsumerAction.gov offers General Buying Tips, a section on Gift Cards, and if you do have purchase problems, tips on how to complain and a sample complaint letter.

Preventing Holiday Shopping Headaches, Tips for Smart Holiday Shopping, and Holiday Shopping are good resources to read prior to hitting the malls.

If dealing with crowds, payment lines, and hunting for parking isn’t your thing, here are two resources that offer some good on-line shopping tips: On-line Holiday Shopping and Shopping From Home.

My mother agrees that the camouflage will probably work, but not because it will help me sneak about unnoticed. She thinks everyone will notice and run in the opposite direction, thereby clearing a path to the cash registers. I say, “Hey, whatever works!”

| View Comments [8] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: black_friday   ginger   holiday_shopping   shopping   shopping_from_home