Black Friday: A Dad's Plan of Attack
November 23, 2011, By Steve Kissing 0 comments
For me, Black Friday used to be the perfect excuse to stay home all day and watch a “Law & Order” marathon or challenge the kids to see who can build the best blanket-and-couch-cushion fort. In fact, I would have stayed home and knelt on my knees if that’s what it took to avoid the Black Friday fray. A couple of years back, though, some arm twisting from my wife got me out of bed and into stores before the sun came up. To my astonishment, I actually enjoyed the experience, came home with some great deals, and have gone shopping every Black Friday since. Here’s some tips I’ve learned along the way to help you plan your attack, find the best bargains and make it home before dark.
Do Your Homework
Carve out time on Thanksgiving (as well as the previous Sunday) to look at all the retailers’ newspaper circulars to scout the best ads. And be sure to check out the online Black Friday deal aggregators.
Get to Bed Early
Some of the best deals of the day are those “early bird” specials, so consider leaving the house before the rooster crows. (Sears, for instance, opens at 5 a.m. on Black Friday.) Resist the urge to pull an all-nighter because you’ll be both physically and emotionally drained within hours and miss countless bargains. If your kids are coming with you, make an adventure out of getting up early. And be sure your itinerary includes a bakery run for donuts and hot chocolate.
Kids or No Kids?
If you’re doing any shopping for Santa, having kids in tow is, of course, a bad idea. Also, if your kids are young and going to slow you down, it’s best to leave them with your wife or sitter. If you have no other option but to bring young children along, be sure to pack snacks and drinks for them, along with some toys to occupy them while you wait for the next available clerk to ring you out.
Dress for Success
Don’t worry about looking good on Black Friday. Instead, wear clothes that are comfortable and that will enable you to move this way and that with the greatest of ease. Your ability to pivot on a dime could mean all the difference between getting that last toy at 45 percent off. Or not. Gym shoes are a must. Trust me.
Keep Your Head About You
Yes, there are bargains to be had at virtually every store. But don’t fall into that crazy obsessive place where you find yourself buying anything and everything that strikes you as a great deal. You’ll come home with lots of stuff that you, and likely no one you know, really wants. As I have learned the hard way, a Chia Pet at 50 percent off is still, well, a Chia Pet.
Divide and Conquer
It’s best to do the Black Friday alone, meaning not with another adult or, worse, a group. You want to be able to accomplish your plan. Having to wait on other shoppers or visit stores you’re not interested in will cut down on your bargain buying abilities. To increase the odds of scoring the most bargains, plan a different itinerary for you and your wife. You can do what my wife and I do and even make a game of it: Whoever covers the most ground or gets the most coveted items wins. The loser cooks dinner that evening. (We go into this year with a three to three tied record).
Be Flexible
Don’t be overly beholden to your plans. If conditions are overly crowded at any one store, it may be best to pull the ripcord and move on to the next location. A bargain can quickly evaporate if scoring it prevents you from getting efficiently to the next few deals. When you create your attack plan, consider your options for traveling from store to store. Think about back roads to avoid congested areas. And remember, sometimes it’s faster and less frustrating to park on a nearby street and walk to the store.
Eat
Toss an energy bar or a bag of trail mix into your pocket or onto your car’s console. Bring a can of soda or two, as well. Keeping your energy reserves up will improve your shopping stamina and make you less likely to snap at the lady trying to steal “your” parking spot. As for making a “quick run” through the mall’s food court or the nearest fast food joint, don’t. And unless you’re looking to derail your entire day, take a pass on Starbucks.
Reward Yourself
One way to keep your “eyes on the prize” is to plan something fun and relaxing after the shopping’s done. This will help keep you motivated, even in the afternoon when both your fellow shoppers and the retail help are tired and impatient. Perhaps your reward can be a movie or a nice dinner. Or maybe just some quiet time alone. In any event, having something to look forward to after the craziness that is always Black Friday will help pull you through the day.
The spoils of Black Friday go to the well-informed, the well-planned and the well-fueled. Follow these tips and you’ll fare far better than most, and save some serious cash along the way. Go get ‘em! And be careful out there, for some Black Friday, shopping is a contact sport.
