Don’t Make These 8 Common Black Friday Shopping Mistakes
Planning to shop on Black Friday?
So you’ve decided to brave the storm of Black Friday?! 😱 Before heading out this Black Friday 2018, be sure to check out our list of EIGHT common mistakes to avoid at ALL cost!
1. DON’T wear uncomfortable clothes.
Yes, that dress and those heels were adorable during your Thanksgiving get together, but no one is checking your outfit come Black Friday. Instead, swap out your party attire for cute and comfy leisurewear staples like leggings and comfortable sneakers. Be mindful of layers if you plan to try on clothes, though Black Friday’s not the ideal day to spend time in fitting rooms.
2. DON’T go without a plan.
Before you step foot out the door, make sure you’ve got a game plan. Start by checking out our Black Friday Cheat Sheet and figure out what deals you’ve gotta have and what stores you’ll want to hit up. Also, write down the store hours.
Then list out the Black Friday deals with their price under the specific store, noting if it’s available elsewhere in case inventory runs out. Lastly, make a list of non-deal items to keep an eye out for if you plan on getting all of your holiday shopping covered in one fell swoop. Map out the most efficient route, and you’ve got all your bases covered!
3. DON’T rely on a coffee shop.
Don’t leave the house without eating breakfast and drinking coffee (and bring a few snacks for later)! Every other shopper venturing out on Black Friday will likely be visiting a coffee shop, too. All this does is creates long waits to get your energy fix and cuts into your precious shopping time.
As a bonus, you can buy some extra stocking stuffers with that coffee money you saved. 🙌🏻 Oh, and remember to pack lots of snacks for later as shopping burns lots of calories! 😉
4. DON’T forget to make a spending plan.
A spending plan is an absolute necessity. Some people like to bring a set amount of cash to keep spending under control. But if you carry too much cash, you might just be more susceptible to thieves. On the other hand, if you don’t bring enough, you could miss out on the deals you really wanted to purchase.
The cash-only method also overlooks store card discounts or credit card cashback, which can really add up! An alternative would be to use a debit card with a set amount of money available and work in store/credit cards as you see fit.
Follow along with your original game plan to avoid overspending.
5. DON’T bring the kids!
Kids + high-stress environment = well… you do the math. If you can find a sitter or sweet talk your loved ones to watch over the kiddos while you’re cruising the aisles, your sanity will thank you later. Plus, if your kids are like mine, they’ll want to stay at home in their cozy jammies anyway!
6. DON’T be rude.
This should go without saying, but trying to complain to a store associate to get your way will get you nowhere. They’re not working because they love the throngs of excited shoppers; they’re probably the newer employees who don’t have the seniority to request the day off. Make their morning (and yours!) better with kindness and a smile. ❤️ They might even open another register or check the backroom stock if you’re nice enough!
And, if you’re wanting to make a friend or stranger smile on Black Friday, consider these random act of kindness!
7. DON’T buy because of “the deal.”
When approaching a sale, ALWAYS ask yourself, “would I pay for this if it were actually the retail price?” Retailers can bump up the original price to make savings seem more significant. For big-ticket items, like TVs and computers, do your research to make sure it’s right for you.
The models promoted with huge discounts may appear as top-rated products, but if you check the model numbers they’re not the same. Black Friday offerings are typically watered down versions and lack some of the features that give high-quality products their value.
8. DON’T rush your Thanksgiving.
This time of year is about being around the ones you love, so why would you want to rush that? Make sure your plans include enjoying your Thanksgiving dinner AND dessert, along with plenty of rest. No doorbuster deal is worth missing out on precious moments shared with your loved ones.
…and if you want to avoid the craziness all together, just stay home and shop on Cyber Monday!
No matter how you go about your shopping, remember to smile, make memories, and score the right buys that work for your loved ones AND your budget!
We’re staying on top of all the best Black Friday sales so you don’t have to!
Be sure to bookmark our Black Friday deals page and our Black Friday Tips and Tricks page! In addition, head here to browse the latest Black Friday ad releases.
Hello Colin, Need suggestion to buy an Apple laptop Touch Bar and Touch ID with 2.2GHz 6-core 8th-generation Intel Core i7 with 256GB Storage. Can you suggest me the good deal and where to buy.
Thank you.
I assume this is the 15″ one. There are no really good deals right now on that. Best Buy has some sales, BH Photo does + they don’t charge tax. If you have access to AAFES they have few sales. Otherwise – check facebook marketplace, you might find something there.
I hope you will see this. here’s the deal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FK9H65N?tag=slickdeals&ascsubtag=e570e330ed0411e8a2ff2211e560f7e80INT
Amazon currently has really good sales and they are authorized seller – the prices come directly from Apple!
Number 8 is the best one 😀❤️
Absolutely! They need to go back to the midnight opening!
I like that one too!
Was gonna post the same thing. #8 🙂 !!!!
Sorry couldn’t understand? Is that a shop?
Love that coffee cup, where did you get it?
Thanks, Angela! You can grab it from Amazon.
Thumbs up!
My favorite tip ever… BRING CLOTH BAGS or giant IKEA bags because stores often run out of carts and this is the best way to carry things around!
I am only using gift cards, so I can only spend a certain amount. Have to hit the clearance racks, sale items.
Great advice for everyone! Thanks for the post 😊
You’re SO welcome!
#8 is the best!
Love your tips! I really appreciate that it’s not all about the shopping/deal. I’m tempted by carters first 100 reward cards promo but they open thanksgiving day at 5! Your post helped me to allow myself to skip it. Family time is invaluable and you have to balance the other “costs” like your time for yourself or family!
SO true! You’re very welcome, Christy! Glad to hear you found the post helpful! Happy Thanksgiving!
My BFF and I have a tag-team approach. We decide what we want and who is going to hit which store and for what items. We are usually four hours apart on Thanksgiving and Black Friday so if she can’t find one of her/my/our wants, I can hit the store in my area at the time. Has worked like a charm for the last 3 years.
How fun! My mom and I have shopped Black Friday that way too! Thanks for sharing with us, Amy!
Thank you for posting this! I am a department store manager. Several store employees are brand new seasonal help. Many employees start months ahead of the start of the season and several start the week of Thanksgiving. Many retail locations hire for months and continue to hire up until the actual holiday. It is not ideal, but the employees are there to help. Please be kind and patient :).
You’re very welcome, Jenna! Thanks a bunch for taking a moment to comment! We sure appreciate it!
I work at a department store. Please remember to be courteous to employees and other shoppers. We have to be there and you are choosing to be there, it’s a big difference. But kind customers always make me smile. Happy Thanksgiving.
Thanks for the reminder, Fran! Happy Thanksgiving!
Hello Colin , looking good deals for iPhone XR or iPhone XS max unlock phone . Can u please suggest any good deal,when n where to buy
My mom always said Please and Thank You go a long way. She was right! Store employees are trying their best and being nice and polite to them is the least we can do. Have fun out there, everyone!
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