Black Friday offers some of the best deals of year and kicks off the Christmas shopping season. It’s clear to anyone who has been shopping on Black Friday that the name foreshadows the dark and taxing shopping experience.
The term “Black Friday” comes from the 1960s. Before computerized databases, accounting records were kept by hand and red ink indicated a loss, and black indicated a profit. The term “black” refers to stores’ move from the “red” to “black” during the Christmas season. Retailers began to realize they could draw big crowds by discounting prices, and soon Black Friday became the day to shop.
Over the years, large retail chains have been gradually moving Black Friday closer to Thanksgiving Day. Some retail chains like Walmart open as early as 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, adding more build-up to the already hyped shopping day.
Despite the chaos and controversy, some students just cannot stay away from Black Friday.
“It’s become like a ritual with me and Mom. We’ll wake up at 3 a.m. and go to stand in the shopping centers,” said Adi Genosar, a sophomore nursing major from Suwanee, Ga.
Genosar is a veteran Black Friday shopper and explained how benefits outweigh crowds.
“I like going. You get really good deals on things that would normally be expensive. Also, you meet some interesting people standing in line and you feel like you know them by the time you leave the store,” Genosar continued.
Genosar’s family has a unique Black Friday strategy they use to save time.
“I go with my mom and sister, when we get into the store one of us goes and stands in line while the others go to shop then when we’re done we switch. That way by the time we’re we don’t have to wait another hour and a half in line.”
For those students who, like Genosar, still want to brave the Black Friday crowd, here are some steps to optimize your shopping experience.
Plan ahead
To make your shopping experience as simple and safe as possible it is important that you plan ahead of time.
1. Make a list. Take some time beforehand to make a list of the items you want to buy and where you want to buy them. This will save you some time when you’re in the store because you won’t be wandering around, and it will also help avoid indulging on unnecessary items.
2. Check out the stores. Head to the stores you listed and to check out prices on those items. This will give an idea of whether you’re getting a good deal on the day. Survey the layout of the store, note the distance between where your desired items are placed in proximity to the nearest register. Doing this will save you from frantic shuffling through crowded aisles.
3. Lock in a friend. On other days of the year, shopping alone can be more efficient, but it’s better to bring someone along on Black Friday. It will be safer bringing someone along, and can provide entertainment and an extra pair of eyes to look for deals.
4. Budget. Check out the ads for the stores where you want to shop and clip coupons if they are available. Finally, think of what you’re ready to spend overall and make a budget. It’s easy to splurge when you see big red signs next to something you’ve been eyeing for a while, but making a budget will help you determine which items are necessary.
Prepare the day before
Take some time out from giving thanks and prepare for what’s to come.
1. Map out the plan of attack. There are many things to consider when mapping out your guide for the day, like store proximity, size and necessity. Which store is closest? How large do you expect the crowd to be? How badly do you want the item you plan to purchase from this store? It’s important to think of all these things when making a schedule for Black Friday. Remember to schedule some breaks for yourself. We all think that we can handle a full day of shopping, but it’s important to take time to recover—for your own sanity.
2. Pack your bag. Make sure to pack a bag ahead of time rather than on the way out the door so you won’t forget anything. Cross-body bags are great for Black Friday because they are compact and hang close to the body, reducing the likelihood of pickpocketing. Pack a few snacks for the day if you don’t think you’ll be hungry for days after stuffing your face on Thanksgiving. Nothing makes a shopping experience less enjoyable than a growling stomach.
3. Take out cash. It’s easy to get so caught up in savings that you forget the budget. Even worse: A glance at your account balance at the end of the day. Take out the amount of cash that you plan to spend, plus an additional $20. Having a tangible representation of how much money you’re spending makes you aware of going over the budget. Bring a card along but leave it in the glove compartment or hide it at the bottom of your bag; that way you’ll have time to think about whether or not you need what you’re about to purchase.
The day
The day is here. Now what? Here are a few things you can do on the day to make it as enjoyable and productive as possible.
1. Fuel up. Make sure to eat breakfast before leaving the house or pick up something on the way. Being hungry can cause distraction and irritability, so it’s important to eat breakfast before you start shopping.
2. Keep Calm. Being in a frantic environment can cause a lot of stress and anxiety; it’s important to be calm to have the best shopping experience possible. Remember to stay focused don’t allow others or the hectic environment to distract you from your goals. A good idea would be to bring some headphones to drown out the chaos.
The Alternative: Cyber Monday
If you read all these tips and you still don’t feel like you’re ready to overcome the Black Friday crowd, all is not lost. Cyber Monday takes place the Monday after Black Friday, and will have the same if not better deals. There are clear advantages of shopping online, including unlimited purchasing power (because you don’t have to physically haul the materials), no hectic crowds, and you can do it all from the comfort of your home (sans pants if that’s what you’re into).
The thing you have to be careful with Cyber Monday is how much you spend and the amount of items you buy. Online shopping forces you to use some form of electronic payment, which can lead to overspending your intangible funds. It also leads misperceptions of how many items you have purchased because you don’t have a visual of all you’ve bought until it’s at doorstep.
To avoid over-indulging, complete the same steps for preparation as you would if going Black Friday shopping.
