Your ultimate Black Friday survival guide

 
Looking to go shopping the day after Thanksgiving? Be prepared! Black Friday is the most notorious shopping day of the year, but we’ve got five tips that will help you hold your own in the crowd. 

 

Have a list of what you’re going to get. The night before you go shopping, make a list of the things you want to get. That way once you get to the store, you’ll know exactly where you need to go to pick up those items. Be sure to look at store flyers too, to see if anything you’re shopping for is on sale.

 

Have a plan of attack. Where are you going to go first? What sections are you going to stop at? Are you going to divide and conquer the store with your fam or work together to get everything? Work with your family so you’ve got some sense of direction in the mall madness that is Black Friday.

 

Get plenty of sleep. Hardcore shopping requires major energy. Be sure to go to bed early the night before so when your heading out to hit the sales, you’re running on adrenaline and not fatigue.

 

Get there early. Big sales draw even bigger crowds. Pack your patience, along with your wallet and be prepared to wait. Ask your parents about going early, because in the sport of Black Friday Shopping, early birds gets the worm...or in this case, the best deals.

 

Use your phone. Track all the sales and deals at all your fave stores. Download the TGI Black Friday app on your Android or iPhone to get the latest Black Friday shopping notifcations.Plus, you can shop for and buy over 10,000 items directly from the app. This is an especially useful feature when you're looking at a price tag at one store, but realize you can get the item for less at another--talk about handy!

 

Know which stores offer price matching. Be sure to do your shopping homework to see which store has the best price. For example, if you have your eye on something at Best Buy but Walmart has it for $10 less, you'll want to point that out to them. A lot of the time, these stores will price match and honor the same price tag thier competetive store is offering. 

Don't buy on impulse. We know it's hard to resist a good deal, but going Black Friday shopping without a set list could put you in a sticky sitch. Go into each store with a game plan and list of what you are looking for and don't buy things "just because". Save that hard earned cash for things you need vs. want. Be sure you ask yourself "do I really need it?". If the answer is no, then don't splurge. It's not worth it, promise. 

Know the return policy before purchasing. A good deal is great, but if something is marked "FINAL SALE", make sure you check every little detail out on the item. Whem something is tagged as "final sale", you can't return it--even if it has a defect of some sort. To avoid any issues, be sure to read all the fine print on the items you are purchasing, double check sizes, specs, and condition. The last thing you want is to be stuck with something that doesn't make you 100% happy.

Stay calm. Amidst the frenzy and crowds, stay calm. Hold your own, avoid altercations and most of all, be mature. There may be all sorts of crazy going on around you, but that’s no reason to lose your cool. Be patient with your fellow shoppers and try to stay in the spirit of the season.
Shop online. If you'd rather avoid the crowds and headaches that come along with Black Friday shopping, you can find deals online, too. And don't forget Cyber Monday is right around the corner which means even more deals at the click of a button.   
What are your Black Friday shopping plans, chicas?

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by Jossie Carbonare | 2/1/2016
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