My friend Jen suggests we all go
GREEN this year for Black Friday. I agree, but my idea of going green, is spending a little of that green. I mean, don't we all want to do our part to help the economy? Here is the manual, as I know we all need some lead time.
How to do Black Friday (my manual for newbies!)
1-You must get the paper at least a week in advance so that you can be collecting and perusing the ads for Black Friday.
2-Get a notebook. Each store gets a page---you list any items looking fabulous for Black Friday! At the top of each "store" page you write what time this place opens. On each line for each possible wanted item, write the price in one column. Then you can easily compare prices of different stores!
3-Keep all the ads together! Walmart is one of the few left that price-match on Black-Friday (most stores now tell you in the fine print they will not price match on Black Friday!) So, if one store runs out of the item, Walmart is great for plan B! You can usually find it there, and if you show them the ad they will match the price!
4-You must be at a store by at least an hour and a half before it opens if you expect to get the "doorbuster"---maybe even more time. This usually means you must be up by at least 3am, and out the door soon after!
5-You have got to double-team or triple-team this event. Many people are needed to get the various doorbusters. Sometimes bribes and incentives must be used. For teenagers, (as I learned this year) taking them out for breakfast is a great bribe!
6-You will be waiting in the cold outside for at least an hour, maybe longer. It is cold. So bring your jacket, earmuffs, and I always bring some drinks as you often get so thirsty! During that hour, you can be talking with your crew about who is going to get what, where to run first, and making short-term friends in the line! Does it get better than this? Well, yes, much better, but this is the price of the harvest!
7-If you have small children, you must plan the babysitting for this event WAY in advance, as not many people are willing to come babysit at 3am. Having parents sleep over is a great way to handle this one. (Thanks Mom & Dad!!!!!)
8-The rules of the "playground" are not in effect at 3am, 4am, and 5am. Playground rules are not in effect until at least 8am, so don't expect the "Christmas spirit" to abound on Black Friday. They are nowhere to be found. So, you must have your defenses up, riot gear in place, and be ready for anything.
9-If possible, forget the cart! Carts will be a block between you and the item you desire. If possible, run to what you want and get it. However, for people like me, you have to have a cart. This is why it is great to bring a teen or two with you---they are great with their speed and agility to get your "doorbuster". If you have someone with a cart off to the side, and several people as "runners", you will do fabulously well!
10-Watch your cart and items in it at all times. As I said, the "christmas spirit" does not abound and people will be so brazen as to grab stuff out of your cart. Kourtni, who I was with this year, had this happen to her! After all that work, you definately don't want people to take it out of your cart! You can ask my brother in law about this one. Just don't ask him if he was the "taker" or the "loser" of the item.
11-Watch your purse and wallet and beware of random questions or people. Theives abound! People are so concerned with "doorbusters" that they forget about their purses, and leave them in the cart as they shop. Last year, my mother-in-law and I were at Target, in the late afternoon, and we had already made our purchases. As we were leaving the store after checking out, but still in the store, this lady kept "engaging" me about my cute baby. It seemed so odd and unnatural how she kept talking to me, so close to me. Turns out, I think, she had a friend grabbing the camera out of my bag as she was "engaging" me with her nonsense! So, do beware, people can be evil!
12-Keep your cellphone on vibrate and in your pocket. I promise you will not be able to hear a thing! You also need to check with your crew about what they have gotten, so you can make sure you are not double-shopping!
13-If the early hours scare you, just remember it is just once a year, you go "Doorbusters" crazy and hopefully you are done with all your Christmas shopping for the season!
14-More and more stores are open on Thanksgiving, so you have got to figure out the mini-plan of shopping for Thanksgiving Day. (this year it was KMART and SHOPKO) Brandon wanted to go, so he fit that in after putting the turkey in the oven.)
15-Becoming a "Black Friday" nut is HIGHLY addictive. Once you have done it succesfully, your life will never be the same. You will never go on vacation Thanksgiving weekend, so be prepared for what you might be starting for your life!
16-If you leave out any of these items, and you are UNSUCCESSFUL, you will hate black friday and be resentful of the item you missed out on, especially since you got up early. So, don't forget any of the steps, be succesful, and have NO regrets!
See you at 5am next year, waiting at Target!
(This is my post from last year, but if you are going to do it, you've got to do it right ladies and gentleman, so here are some tips. Some of the specific info is from last year, so you may want to check who is price matching this year, etc.)
After Black Friday, we will all have to share some of our purchases. So fun to compare good deals! Or compare our views of the Provo river.....if you
"go green".
Here are some of my
FINDS from last year!
P.S. I forgot to tell you, don't forget about random specialty stores like Bed, Bath and Beyond, etc. They often have toys on Black Friday for 50% off (great for some of the more expensive toys), toys you often can't get that cheap at other stores. Most people don't go there, so there is usually great selection.
HAPPY HUNTING!
