Is Black Friday even worth it?
I’ll admit, I’m not a huge fan of Black Friday and I really don’t get the point of it. I’d much rather spend Thursday night eating my weight in Thanksgiving food and passing out than worry about getting to the mall or waiting in line for hours to get the best deal.
You can type the question above into google and the majority of the responses will be a resounding “no.” Most of the deals you’re getting still aren’t as good as their online counterparts meaning you’re essentially spending more money and giving yourself a migraine in the process. Not to mention all the yummy yummy food you’re missing out on.
Some things are worth the hassle — items like TVs, video games, furniture and appliances have the highest percentage of savings. Unfortunately, they’re also the most difficult to get. We’ve all seen the lines outside of Best Buy hours before they open for Black Friday.
The Best places to hit up
If you’re going Black Friday Shopping with nothing particular in mind, I would recommend going to an outlet mall— specifically the one off of 290. It’s an outdoor mall meaning it has more space and they’re all outlet stores so any discount you get is extra.
Moreover, they have a bunch of luxury brands so if you’re looking to splurge I’d check here first; David Yurman, Furla, Burberry and Tory Burch are just some of the amazing stores they have at this mall. They also have an array of more sensible options if you don’t want to spend quite as much.
An expert tip, if you’re a fan of Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters or Free People know that they price adjust. What does this mean you ask? Well, if you buy anything from these stores and it goes on sale within 14 days of purchase they will give you back the difference.
So stop by the week before Black Friday and drop back in the week after to get the discounted prices of the items without actually having to deal with Black Friday shoppers. I will say that none of the stores have particularly amazing sales going on but it’s still well.
1. Do your research
The first step to any sensible shopping expedition is to do your research. Research is what you do for a paper, not shopping, right? Well, I guarantee that you will save an insane amount by doing some minor research before your next shopping escapade. Figure out what you need and what you want to buy, and always prioritize your shopping cart by what you’re willing to spend the most money on. Make separate lists for yourself and ones for any gifts you might be searching for so you don’t get them mixed up, especially if you have doubles of an item. Once you’ve finalized your list, remembering to put the most important items at the top, look for the model or type you want then read reviews and look into sizing charts to find out more about the item. When you know exactly what you want, look into what stores have that item, at what price, if they price match and if they are participating in a Black Friday sale.
2. Create an action plan
Step number two is to figure out a plan of action — what malls do you want to hit and in what order? — this is crucial to using your time efficiently. I recommend going to storefronts that either aren’t part of closed mall or stores you can get into without actually having to go through the mall. For stores like Best Buy and Target this isn’t really an issue, but other stores like Macy’s and Dillard’s can be harder to get around. Big department stores like Macy’s are the only clothing stores usually worth the hassle, so make sure you go to one with an outside entrance so you don’t have to brave the crowded hallways in a mall.
3. Come prepared
Step number three, go prepared. Remember to wear comfortable shoes because you will be walking and standing a lot. Also bring a bag you can comfortably carry with a zipper on it to make sure no one steals anything amidst the chaos. I’d also recommend taking some water or something to drink because you’re not going to want to look for something during the craziness. Lastly, bring some bags for all of your goods — this is crucial. For the most part you’re helping the environment and if that doesn’t get you going bringing your own bags means you can probably put them over your shoulder and they will have thicker straps meaning you won’t have to loose all circulation in your lower arms and risk not being able to swipe your card at the next store.
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