Black Friday Shopping Tips & Deals Round-Up
My Top 8 Black Friday Shopping Tips
If you are planning to brave the stores on Friday (or even as early as tomorrow as many stores are opening their doors on Thanksgiving), then here are some tips to increase your chances of survival. 😉
(1) Be prepared. Before you head out to the store, research the Black Friday ads (you can click here to find many of the Black Friday ad scans) and outline exactly what you would like to purchase. And to be extra prepared, you can even research the layout of your store, so you’ll know exactly where to head to grab the items on your list. For example, Walmart has made available store-specific maps on Facebook. To access the map, shoppers simply need to find their local store by clicking on the “My Local Walmart” application on Walmart’s Facebook page.
(2) Be ready to stand in line for quite a long time. Wear comfy shoes and appropriate outerwear and consider leaving the kiddos at home (if this is not possible, bring toys or other items to keep them entertained while shopping).
(3) Know your store’s hours (some stores are opening on Thanksgiving night while others are waiting until the wee hours of Friday morning). See my outline here for store openings and hours for quite a few of the most popular stores.
(4) Familiarize yourself with each store’s price matching and/or coupon policy. Keep in mind that many stores have created special price matching policies specific for Black Friday (see more details here).
(5) Make a list! This will keep you focused and will definitely help to prevent you from being tempted to purchase additional items that are not on the list.
(6) Remember to ask yourself whether the great deal you see is actually a great deal for you. Check out this post for more on this topic. You may also want to research online prices versus in-store prices, as you can often snag better deals online even when you factor in shipping costs. Plus, think about the time and gas saved when shopping online! Love that!
(7) Keep those receipts! After the adrenaline rush is over, you may realize that you got caught up in the Black Friday craziness and purchased items that you really do not want. As long as you have the receipt, you should be able to return them and get a full refund.
(8) And my favorite tip of all… skip Black Friday and wait for Cyber Monday instead! There is nothing better than snagging *HOT* deals from the comfort of your own home in your favorite PJ’s! 😀
Feel free to share your tips in the comment section below!
Round-up of Black Friday Deals
Rite Aid Black Friday: 11/24-11/26
CVS Black Friday Deals 11/24-11/26
Walgreens Black Friday Deals 11/24-11/26
Macy’s: Black Friday Deals (11/25-11/26)
Target: Black Friday 2-Day Deals (11/25-11/26)
Walmart Black Friday Deals (11/24-11/25)
JCPenney: Black Friday Deals (11/24-11/25)
Toys R Us: Black Friday Deals 11/24-11/26
Old Navy Black Friday Deals: 11/24-11/26
Radio Shack: Black Friday Deals (11/25-11/26)
Staples Black Friday Deals: 11/25-11/26
Lowe’s: Black Friday Deals (11/25-11/28)
OfficeMax Black Friday Deals: 11/25-11/26
Best Buy: Black Friday Deals (11/24-11/26)
Sears: Black Friday Deals (11/24-11/25)
Kohl’s: Black Friday Deals (11/24-11/26)
Click here for all you need to know about Black Friday store hours, price matching policies and more! …And for a round-up of all the best Holiday Restaurant, Entertainment & Retail Deals, click here!
Also, go here for my personal take on Black Friday and the thoughts of over 400+Hip2Savers in the post entitled Black Friday: A Couponer’s Dream or A Couponer’s Nightmare (What do YOU Think?)
wow already …that’s crazy!
I am so with you CYBER MONDAY:)
I like #8 you are funny! Thanks for all your help this year for the kids. I am going to skip BF this year. 🙂
I love tip #8!!!! 😉
me too 🙂
Tip #8 Is PERFECT! 🙂 I think it should be tip #1. Hehe… However I guess its great that there are people out there without anxiety when it comes to big crowds and mass chaos around them. I’ll be enjoying my turkey induced coma during the madness. 🙂 Happy Thankgiving and Black Friday!!
Here’s a tip, don’t be trampling, hurdling, etc. over people to get something.
Lol agreed.
You know I have never seen this. Every year that I have been everyone is so nice and friendly. I stand in line and meet/talk to so many different people. BUT I am going in a different town this year than normal so hopefully I don’t see this.
Same here, the worst I’ve seen is grumpy people complaining about lines…no meanness 🙂
I had people trying to steal stuff right out of my cart last year. I was so amazed that people can get so crazy about a “deal”
I am with you All about Cyber Monday:) thaks for all your tips_
I normally don’t do black friday, but want to get my daughter an ipod touch at Target. Do people actually stand in line before the store opens? It’s not worth it to me to wait in line. I’d rather pay $30 more and have it delivered to me an home.
Yes and I suggest if you want one that you are standing in line at least an hour before it opens. Lots of people have those on their lists. Good luck!
Yes they do and some for hours!!! CRAZY, isn’t it!! I live in MN and more often than not it is COLD…I went once about 10 years ago just to try it and never again!!! But to each their own. Most people are nice but lots turn into selfish, greedy deal seeking animals who treat others like dirt. No thank you, not worth it to me but for those of you who are going out GOOD LUCK, be safe and I hope you get the deals you want!!
for those people who were asking about certain Target deals being online, I would not count on their site even functioning on black friday. with as slow as it’s been since they “upgraded” their site a few months ago, I bet it crashes!
i may be wrong, but I don’t think there’s any way to know what is going to be posted online for deals on cyber monday or black friday. well, I did see JCPenny posted on their site which of their deals will also be available online I guess.
Electronics go quickly. Check the ads…many people will have those on sale…I would definitely go early if you want one. It also may be worth calling today to ask how many they have in stock, and if they are anticipating getting more for black Friday. If they only have 10 or so, you’d be better off buying online. However, last year I made the mistake of trying to buy online AFTER I tried buying in store….by then they were all gone! Many people wake up at store opening time, purchase online, then go back to bed! Little did I know!
If you order it online, you can have it engraved for free! 🙂
Is it possible to have it engraved if you don”t buy it from the Apple sight?
no
Thank you – Happy Thanksgiving:)!
best to scope out your store today and see how many are in stock. I avoid buying electronics on black friday, most are made with cheaper parts and don’t last more than 2 yrs. I have never noticed Target offering a “great” price on Ipods and such, usually same price as usual sometimes just with a gift card as a bonus.
If you want one of those, you will need to race to electronics the second you get inside the store…and, yes, wait in line at least an hour or two before they open. Last year Target was the worst…actually, they’re the worst every year…we’re skipping them this year, the lines last for HOURS before you can get out of there!
Oh yes their lines are the worst…..worse than toys r us too!
Thanks for all the advice. I have decided NOT to try to go to Target on Friday. If I don’t find a good deal on Cyber Monday, then I’ll just buy it from amazon.com. They have them for $189 right now.
Apple is having an online sale tommorrow; i’m not sure what the discount will be
Wow Collin! Thanks so much for your hard work and loss of sleep on our behalf!
I agree… wow what a list… Thanks Collin… Lots of hard work. The only thing I plan to get are the poinsettia’s at Lowes. I go every year. No problems.
my question is can use your coupons on cyber monday that you have for black friday stuff example walgreens shopping or cvs shopping ect.
Question… Does cyber Monday have better deals than black Friday? Should I save my $ and wait until Monday? I’ve never done cyber Monday. Is there a cyber Monday preview?? I need toys, a camcorder, toddler cloth etc.
Childrens place just posted 30% off , free shipping no minimum with the code TURKEY. Checkout had some technical issues (site is overloaded w. shoppers), but I got through eventually
Thanks Collin. I’m waiting on Cyber Monday deals and not dealing with the crowds! I can’t believe the Tanger outlets are opening at 10pm tomorrow…what’s next..noon on thanksgiving?
Going to try cyber monday for the first time. Any tips? How does it work?
If you have to take kids with you, don’t bother going.
One thing I don’t like about black friday is I want to be 5 places at once! lol But I’d totally do cyber monday if I didn’t just want the drug store deals and small ticket items (like $1-$2 movies ect) Since I have 85% of my Christmas shopping done anyway I’m not in a big rush, but I will be at JCP with my grandma waiting for our free mickey snow globes 😀 lol but I might walk off some thanksgiving dinner by walking to the stores instead of driving 2 miles, waiting 20 mins for a parking space, have trouble backing out…blah lol Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Does anyone know what Fred Meyer’s price match policy is? I can’t seem to find anything on theirs. Also, how will we know where to look for deals on Cyber Monday? I never see much advertising for that. Thanks 🙂
Great tips! I go every year and LOVE it! You have to go with the idea that you will be waiting in line. Every year I am surprised by the kindness of strangers. One year I along with the lady in front of me began an impromptu Christmas carol sing-a-long which spread through the whole lower level of Marshall Fields. Another year a dad and his boy shared that they had this tradition, they would shop for mom and sister and be back to bring mom breakfast in bed because she had worked so hard the day before! They also brought multiple thermoses of hot chocolate to share for the crowd waiting outside! Love the holiday spirit! Yes I’ve experience the crabby people too…just makes me want to smile brighter! Tis the Season!
Awesome story! So much negativity around Black Friday that I swear it’s the thoughts making it black and not necessarily the stock market crash back in 1929 that gave it relevance. One thing is for sure, if you can find good people and enjoy yourself during this experience, then you are already have the right mindset. Good for you – go spread some cheer! If I decide to head out tomorrow, I hope I’m standing next to you line! 🙂
Ok first time waiting in line for Target deals, I wanna get a TV. When is a good time to start waiting in line? I was thinking 9 pm. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks 🙂
If you’re after a Target tv, be there at least 3 hours before they open. They only have a few and they go FAST!
I would go at 9pm I went at 10pm last year and the line was crazy long
Anyone know if the non 24 hours CVS’s switched their sales over already?
They did!! I went to my store at about 7 and totally rocked the store!
Thanks for all the great tips and list all the main stores deal for black friday. I will go to Target, Best Buy and Menard. I will not get any electronics. I wait another time for deals those. I try to be nice and be in a good mood when I’m out shopping on Black Friday. My mom goes with me and we get mostly DVD’s, clothes and other things that is not a mad rush to get right away. I need a TV but I will wait. During the super bowl is a good time to get good deals on flat-screen TV. Good Luck to everyone who will be out shopping tomorrow and Friday. I hope you all get everything on your wish list.
Thank you for mentioning TV deals around Superbowl! It’s good to remember that deals do happen more than once per year 🙂
What is a good time to line up at old navy and walmart. I haven’t yet decided between the two..idk what will be early enough but not too crazy !!
I usually do 2 hours before opening for Old Navy. I’m generally about 30 people back in line. Hope that helps! 🙂
thanks for the response. id really love the camera. so im thinking at least 4 hours “might” get me one. but that is a long time!!!
I’d bring a book for the long lines! (thats what I’m doing) 🙂
I was thinking 6 hours I really want one of them cameras. HAHA. 🙂
Not to burst anyone bubble, but I was under the impression that it was for a “chance ” to win a camera, not a guarantee
The way I understand it, it is like the MP3 player they had a couple years ago. They give them out to the first so many people. It was horrible! I was going to Old Navy that opened at midnight that year and I was there at 11:30 and they had already opened and let people in. I wasn’t happy about that.
If you are looking to get electronics on Black Friday, get in line EARLY…like, HOURS early. Trust me, I’ve been Black Friday shopping for years. Usually stores only have a few of each item(especially ANY electronics) and they don’t even put them out until they go on sale. Most employees are clueless as to how it all works and what will happen, many are new hires, so they won’t be much help. Also, smaller sale items may not be in as high demand, but many people standing in line for bigger things WILL get smaller things as well as they shop, so those things will sell out quickly too. Do NOT plan to casually browse around that day! 😉 Know what you want & do research beforehand. Do NOT take your kids if at all possible! ONLY grab a cart if you absolutely need it. (It’s easier to get around without one.) And get one right away at the door. They disappear FAST. And, in my experience, Cyber Monday deals are ok, but NOT as cheap as Black Friday prices, and you have to get free shipping to make it worth it. Just be prepared if you shop on Black Friday for it to NOT be easy to get what you want…no “quick-ins-quick-outs”, and even when you finally get your item(s), the checkout lines are LONG as well. 🙂 Bring a good, informed attitude. 🙂
Exactly! That has been my experience, too, and I’ve been going for years. Good tips. 🙂
Wonderful compilation! Thanx for sharing..
Happy Holidays!
Tip for Cyber Monday: If you have the option to ship to a local store instead of paying for shipping, do it!
GREAT tip! Thanks!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!
I’d also like to add SNACKS and WATER!!! I always make sure to bring a bottle of water and some snacks (granola bars, stuff like that) because you will get tired and hungry and you need to be careful to not get dehydrated. By the time you’re feeling thirsty, you’re already dehydrated!
ooo thanks for the tip! It’s my second year black friday shopping and you do get hungry and thirsty, and grumpy and before you know it you’re buying a $2 bottle of water and a $4 pretzel 😉 so thanks for the tip!
Does anyone know if their will be any online deals for xbox kinnect? that is what my son wants for christmas and I saw it in the walmart ad for black friday but i am wondering if you can get deal online also?
I know Best Buy has it right now for $299 with a $100 GC, so $199 after GC – Walmart on Black friday has it for $50 less but you aren’t guaranteed it… First come first serve, so if you don’t want to wait in line for 6 hours then I think thats a great price.
I am looking to get household items at Walmart, my store doesn’t open till 4am and I am NOT heading out to stand in line. I was hoping to go later in the day for those items would it even be worth it to try or are most of those gone also? (like crockpot, groddle, blender, vacuum, comforters……)
In the past, those items have been gone by 9am (when they opened at 4am) So with them staying open all day on Thanksgiving, and starting to check people out with those items at 10 pm on Thanksgiving, I’d say your chances are pretty slim.
I would just like to say that a huge part of this event for many is not being represented in the photo… The SNOW:)
what I love to see are the women with their hair all done up, tons of make up on and wearing pjs! if you are going to take all that time to do your hair and make up throw on a pair of jeans or at least sweat pants
i agree toni!
no kidding! why do they not take time to change out of those awful tweetie bird pajama pants! but maybe they are there for my entertainment …. anyway, i would rather sleep in my clothes & be ready than go shopping in my pajamas!
lol love it laura! its like HELLO! it does not take that long to change clothes. im gonna be wearing comfy pants, but NOT tacky pj’s 😉
just got back from seeing an 8 pm movie with my 12 and 13 year old and we all wore our tacky snow man pjs, reclined in the leather seats and had our blankies, one vote for tacky pjs!
I hope to catch some deals online rather than fight the crowds. Happy Thanksgiving, Collin!
I’m all for #8 (hope our internet connection is in it’s best form that day!). Hope everyone finds good deals on what they are looking for if they brave the crowds! 🙂
from personal experience i have a few tips…
1. COFFEE
2. be friendly and try to make friends with the people around you in line
3. if you live somewhere cold (indiana…!) wear layers and bring a blanket!
4. if it’s cold and you have a group of people, take turns going and sitting in the car for a bit
5. unless you are buying something huge, don’t get a cart. they get in the way
6. taking kids isn’t very safe
7. don’t get too upset if you don’t get a certain deal, quantities are limited
8. have FUN!
what if you just got more sleep instead of having “COFFEE”? not trying to be rude, i just always wondered that about coffee drinkers.
Coffee keeps you warm. It also keeps you positive 🙂
if you’re black friday shopping chances are you won’t be getting much sleep lol a nap if you’re lucky (Once I come home I empty the car and go to bed! lol) but I’m not a fan of coffee (no idea why?) but I’ll be drinking my 5 hour energy drink so I don’t fall asleep in the lines :p Happy Thanksgiving!
you’re not being rude, i once thought that about coffee drinkers too, then i went to high school lol. coffee helps me get through the school day, especially if i had to stay up late working on homework…i can honestly say my grades would be lower without it. and the reason i go out on black friday isn’t really to get good deals (i’m only 15). i go to spend time with my older siblings (all college-aged and only home around holidays). it’s a tradition for us kids to stay up all night before drinking coffee and hot chocolate and watching Christmas movies, then going out at about 2am to browse and get a few good deals!
I hate drinking coffee, but I make myself drink at least 4 cups of it every day. It’s been proven in studies and medically that women drinking 4+ cups of coffee a day have lower risks of depression and several types of cancer, including ovarian and endometrial cancer. Just 4 cups of coffee can lower your risk. I hate coffee, but a lowered risk of cancer (and lessened depression) is worth the taste!
I didn’t know that about the depression…I may just have to start chugging coffee LOL
2 years ago we found an awesome deal on a TV in Sears. I did not want to get up at 4am and go and get it. We went to the store 2 days before and asked for the supervisor. I said if we buy this TV today, can we bring the recipt and have it adjusted on black friday? She said “absolutely, that’s the smartest way to buy. we always adjust the receipt if the proce drops within XXdays.”. No questions asked, we didn’t take it out of the box until we got the price adjusted and all worked out. We got up in AM, had coffee, breakfast and went to Sears around 10am, of course all tvs were sold out. We got our difference adjusted. My tip to you……sometimes it doesn’t hurt to ask if you can buy in advance.
As a person who LOVES black friday and goes out to get the deals, I don’t like this. I don’t think it is fair to all of those people who stand in line and wait for the store to open. But whatever to each his own.
check out the stores online tonight or early tomorrow… I know sams club already has some things available online from their black friday ad. last year I got my laptop online from best buy on thankgiving day…I didn’t have to wait in line.
So I must have lost my mind…I was thinking I’ll just run to Target for the iPod Touch deal and go home. Then I saw this picture!!!! Ill be staying home in my jammies, there must be an equally good deal online somewhere!!! If anyone knows of one, please let me know! THANKS! 🙂
#1: Please don’t bring your little kids. If you do, and they are crying, don’t yell at them to stop crying. They should be in bed.
#2: Be nice to the employees. They had to shorten their Thanksgiving with their families so that they could go home and take a nap before their work shift. Remember they are human beings and don’t treat them like dirt.
#3: Know that Black Friday is not the only time you will get a deal! Skip it!!!!!
*LIKE*
Instead of supporting large stores on Black Friday, why not support your locally owned businesses?
Or, you could try doing hand-made gifts this year.
Remember, the things you are wanting to purchase on Black Friday are just that – things. They even have something called “planned obsolescence” so that they wear out and you *have* to purchase a new one, costing you more money in the long run. Children don’t need TVs, iPods or computers, they need your love and companionship. They will truly appreciate more if you spend time with them and do something fun instead of giving them expensive gifts.
It’s HIP to shop locally – and to save your money this year!!
Does anyone know of a good deal on the Leapfrog Leappad? I’ve been searching but nothing so far on Black Friday or any other time I can find. Email to bostonbebe782@hotmail.com if you have any deals.
This is one of those brands (like Apple) where you will rarely find a lower advertised price. I was lucky enought to snag a bonus package with $65 worth of free cartridges and downloads last month at Toys R’Us. They kept them behind the counter that day and I got the last one in my store. Keep an eye out for deals like that. Hope this helps.
i ONLY shop black friday online sales.
Last year I did all my christmas shopping then, thanks in part to you, Collin – it was great!
I’m looking for Origins discount codes, so if you hear of any codes or deals, please let me know!
Collin I was just wondering if you have any info on what to expect for the cyber monday sales?
Just expect lots of great bargains! And be prepared, as lots of the *HOT* deals will sell out fast! I will be posting the deals as I find out about them, so stay tuned! 🙂
I just got my Dyson for $279 which was one of the doorbusters, ONLINE:) I am beyond excited that I don’t have to go at Midnight.
I work at a Target in a small town…our store is considered low volume, and we had a line of over 2,500 people WAITING AT THE DOOR last year!
Which is better Black Friday online or cyber monday?
I’ll be sitting this one out, asI did last year.
Cyber Monday is the way to go…our office network will be taxed to the limit! LOL
We might even get some work done.
Will you be posting Cyber Monday deals or directing us to some informative websites? I haven’t found much online yet.
I’d like to put a word in for all those that are on disability,It’s funny how they run the deals a week bfore we get our checks,for me I live check by check and I would of loved to grab some of these deals but no money no sale.well theres nothing we can do but dream of the sales,its not fair but its ok I need my money more then more stuff to move around.
Does anyone know anything about bath and body works? I got a coupon booklet last time I was in there and on the back, it says something about a VIP bag while supplies last. Does anyone know if those are free? Or with purchase or something? I don’t have kids or the need to have an ipad so this is the best thing that I’ve seen if it were true. Plus they have $10/50 and a couple of free item coupons.