Tips for the First Time Black Friday Shopper

Thanksgiving for me is time well spent with my family. We always get together at my dad’s and eat until we almost explode. After dinner the guys continue their talks about the morning hunt and the ladies hit the papers. The sales papers that is! I have compiled a list of tips for the first time Black Friday Shopper. Please, put on your sense of humor caps. Black Friday shopping is like going to the Opera, you either love it or you hate it. You will know which one in the first 15 minutes.
1. Get a map! When you get up on Thanksgiving morning, before you start your cooking, you need to go get yourself a newspaper, or better yet, send your hunting husband to get it. You need to get it early because they will sell out fast. We call this a map because you will know where you are going and what time to be there from the sales papers.
2. Time out! Take time to go through these sales papers. Take this time seriously because this is your one day a year! You need to search out what you’re shopping for and write it all down. Some sales will end early and some will start late, you will need a …..
3. Game Plan: Know where you’re going. Think of it like this, if you were a quarterback you wouldn’t want to go into the game without knowing your next play; you don’t want to go shopping on Black Friday without knowing where to go.
4. Dress in layers! It may be cold outside the store but when you get inside and the adrenaline starts pumping and you start finding those deals you will want to take off some layers.
5. Get a lineman (linewoman): Plan on lines. A linewoman can go ahead and get in the line when you walk in the door. You can go through the store and get what you need then find her in the line. Take turns your on the same team! You will then be the linewoman while she goes to get her hot ticket items. You can meet all kinds of fun people in the line.
6. Check out! Don’t take checks PLEASE! This is for your sake and the sake of the shoppers behind you. It takes too long….go ahead, swipe the card (debit card).
7. Crunch time! This is when the line is too long to wait in and you need to get to another store before a sale ends. Hide it! Okay, maybe I should say rearrange it. Take your items and place them in another area. The little boy section will work. Generally, not many folks are clothes shopping for little boys. Then when you get through at the other store you can go back and get your hidden/rearranged items.
8. Hysteria: This is what you will feel after your shopping is done. You will think it’s 3 o’clock in the afternoon and you will look at your watch and it will only be 10:30 am. When this sets in you may need to have lunch. A second wind will come. If you have some girlfriends with you (and you should not shop alone) expect some giggling.
Okay, I realize some of you may think I’m crazy for taking part in this madness. Maybe I am, but I can tell you that over the past ten years I have had some of the best times with my friends and family. We have such great memories of this day. I take great pride in being a Black Friday Shopper.
I hope that you get to spend your Thanksgiving with the people you love telling stories you will always remember; making memories you will never forget.