The Black Friday survival guide

It’s the most anticipated shopping day of the year, but to make the most of your Black Friday there are a few things you need to know.

From planning to execution, follow our tips to keep you savvy on one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

1. Plan to win

Do you know what time you’re waking up on Black Friday? How about which stores you’re going to tackle, and in which order? If you think you’re going to just waltz into your local mall on Black Friday and walk out with a whole lot of bargains, it’s probably time to get a better strategy. Right when the sales are announced, you can start planning what you are buying, from where, and what time to line up. If you have your eyes on a big-ticket item like a television or laptop, know that you will have plenty of competition from fellow shoppers, so pick a store with a layout you are familiar with and set your alarm nice and early so you can shave precious moments off your shopping time.

2. Pack like a champion

Arm yourself with the following essentials. A water bottle to stay hydrated some nibbles to survive the long queues. A light book or your favourite newspaper to keep you entertained. And wear sensible shoes. You may need to run to beat someone to that last double-door fridge, and you will definitely walk a lot. A stampede of shoppers could separate you from your shopping partner. Use a whistle and a laser pointer and just follow the light.

3. Resist the impulse purchase

When those doors open on Black Friday, you will be thrown into a world of retail temptation. But since you are armed with a plan, you will be able to resist any sudden urges and have a productive shopping day. Have all the items you want and their prices listed and budgeted, and be sure to stick to it. You don’t want to blow your budget on impulse buys before you have crossed everything off on your list. “Self-control” and “Black Friday” aren’t two things that necessarily go together, but you can really trim your holiday spending by just getting what you really need. Its also a good idea to check your daily card limit to avoid the “Sorry, nè” expression from the teller.

4. Choose your battle field

If you have to choose between shopping online and in-store for Black Friday, you should know that there are plenty of “doorbuster” sales that are only valid if you actually show up to the store. These are usually high-end products with huge markdowns, like top-of-the-line televisions, gaming systems and cameras. The good news is that the items that are on sale are usually announced well in advance, so you will know what to expect before the big day. Be sure to look at what stores are offering and see which sales work for you.

5. Shop for big-ticket items first

Black Friday offers some deep discounts on certain items, but for others, there are better sales out there at other times. With this knowledge, you can strategise on the smartest things to buy on Black Friday and what to skip. Smaller products, such as toys, will also continue to be discounted well into December as the holidays get closer.

To make the most of Black Friday deals, you have to prioritise the biggest items on your shopping list, because these are usually the first to sell out. Wait until later in the day to shop for smaller items since they go on sale far more frequently, and the money saved isn’t nearly as much as on a big-ticket item.

6. Outsmart the enemy

Watch out for people jumping in on the sales frenzy with items marked sale that are the same price as they always are. Do your research to avoid being duped.

7. Never leave a fellow shopper behind

Use the buddy system. Shopping alone on a Black Friday is like drinking alone. You shouldn’t do it. Grab your bestie and keep each other safe. If you are shopping for some of the same items you could divide and conquer, which will mean less time in queues and less chance of missing out.

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