The holiday shopping season has arrived, and it’s going capital B big. According to a RetailMeNot survey, the average American will spend $1,128 on holiday shopping this season. This is $141 per person, for eight people. Translation: On November 27, expect your neighbors and friends to be out in force looking for the best deals. Below are my top tips for Black Friday shopping. These tips will help you not only survive, but also score the best deals with the least stress.
Get the latest news
This may give you enough time to research the items on sale so that you can make an informed decision.
Select the best line
There’s nothing more annoying than searching for the perfect gift, then standing in line for over an hour to get it. This is something that anyone who has ever visited Ikea will know. There are two things you should keep in mind. First, if there is a single line that runs from the back to the registers, it’s a monster line. These lines are known by queuing theorists to be serpentine lines. They run the longest, but they also have the fastest lines. According to Raphael Rosen’s “The Math Geek”, you might be more comfortable heading to the left if you have to choose which line is best for you. He writes that 90 percent of the population are right-handed and tend to head to the left. It is worth trying to head left.
Map the store
There is nothing more stressful than walking into a big store and having to navigate through crowds to find what you’re looking for.
Bring snacks
Consider Black Friday shopping as an endurance sport. As you will likely be walking for long periods of time, it is important to be quick and smart. Bring your own snacks to save time and avoid waiting in line for subpar soft pretzels, or barely warmed frozen pizza. While you wait, grab some trail mix, granola bars or almonds.
Grab a great parking spot
It’s easy for you to lose your time and patience searching for a parking spot. The key is to not follow a woman shopping with bags in her car. You’ll waste your time if she cuts across the lot even a row. Don’t try to find a spot next to the store’s entrance by circling, hoping it will open in a flash. According to the International Parking Institute, your best option is to commit to a row and then pull into any available spot. Even though it may be farther than you expected, you will spend less time walking to the shop than if you were trying to find a spot closer. It will be easier to open your shop in a positive, not rageful, spirit.
Increase your purchasing confidence
Download RetailMeNot’s App before you shop to get the best deals. You can instantly access any coupon available at thousands of stores. You don’t need to clip or print. To instantly save money, simply flash the code from your phone to the cashier.
You can just buy gift cards
it’s not the most beautiful or glamorous gift, but it might be the most thoughtful. The National Retail Federation reports that six out of ten people would love to get a gift card. This makes it the most requested gift for nine years. You can order them online or pick them up while you shop for Thanksgiving dinner. This means you can enjoy Black Friday at home with your loved ones.
Avoid the crowds but don’t let that stop you from grabbing every great deal
Cyber Monday is always available. If you own a smartphone, tablet, or computer, you can shop the sale from home in your pajamas. No lines, no crowds, no stress, Have fun.
