Black Friday Shopping Tips

'Tis the season to be shopping! With Black Friday right around the corner, if you're like me you're probably gearing up for some pretty serious shopping. Holiday shopping, especially the day after Thanksgiving, can be hectic and crazy.

Here are my tips for getting what you want at the great post-Thanksgiving day sales:

1) Have a plan. Unless you like to spend all day cruising parking lots waiting for a spot, standing in line for hours, or fighting thousands of other shoppers for the last sale item, it's best to start with a plan. Peruse the ads of your favorite stores, make a list of where you want to go and at what time, and stick to the plan.
2) Prepare to get up early. It's no secret that most of the really good deals are gone well before noon. If you plan on saving some serious money, be prepared to get there when the stores open. Sometimes, that's at midnight. Other times it's at 6 am. A little research will help you know.
3) Decide whether it's really worth it. Sometimes, the hype of Black Friday sales is just that--hype. That's why it's important to know what you want ahead of time, and then look to see if it's on sale anywhere. If you've had your eye on a new $800 flat-screen TV or want to stock your closet with rocawear and find out that the TV you want is now $400 and all Rocawear is 50% off at your favorite boutique, then by all means brave the crowds and the craziness. But if you're standing in line at 6AM so you can save $10 on a toaster, you may want to rethink your motivation for shopping.

These are just a few ways you can keep your sanity and get what you want during holiday shopping!