Extra cash-ola is a little tight this year so, I decided to join the masses for the chaos of Black Friday. This was the first (and possibly last) Black Friday extravaganza for me. However, I have a few of my own tips to pass along to you all for next year or, for anyone braving the malls at all this weekend.
- If you have no patience for THOUSANDS of people in one place. Skip it altogether. And, you can stop reading here.
- Sleep in. The INSANE, young people go in the middle of the night. I’m too old for that and I figured…If I slept well, I’d be more mentally prepared for the pandemonium.
- Plan on it taking at least a ½ hour to park. You can only get cranky, rude, and panicky AFTER the first ½ hour-not before. This could possibly ruin your entire shopping trip. People are crazy in parking lots. CRAY-CRAY CRAZY.
- Pack a bottle of water. Maybe two depending on your endurance. I stayed for 5 hours and needed 1 big one. You don’t want to spend your hard earned $ on a $3 water bottle in the food court.
- Plan on at least one food/bathroom break. And, if you were smart…you’d plan your trip so that your ½ point is near your car so you can drop your packages and start again. I gave myself tennis elbow schlepping around those dang bags.
- Look for the sale items. I spent a good 20 minutes in 2 different stores (Under Armour & North Face) before realizing they had NO sales. All those people paid full price? Suckers.
- Wear comfortable clothes, leave your coat in the car and wear flat shoes that you can walk 10-12 miles in.
- While waiting in the 45 minute check out line at GAP, check your phone, make your grocery list, check facebook, or call your mother. It makes the wait a bit more productive. Even though it still feels like….45 minutes.
- AVOID conversations and eye contact. They slow you down and get you off track. Stay focused.
- Don’t use the same credit card more than 3 times. Otherwise your bank will call you to report “unusual activity” on your credit card. THAT is a huge time sucker.
- *Bring someone with you who doesn’t drink. This way, they can drive you home after you stop for a few refreshing and imperative, adult beverages. (this rookie had to wait to get home before she could enjoy her beverage when, she really needed it like an hour before hand.)
- Happy shopping!
*critical to staying in a pleasant mood, not needing a nap and not yelling at your family when you get home.
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