As holidays are getting nearer, trips to the stores and shopping malls can’t be avoided. Black Friday has become a much-awaited annual event for bargain hunters. They draw up their purchasing plans days or even weeks before, get their cash or credit cards in order to make sure they have money to spend, and store up enough energy to be able to wade themselves through the crowd and get a lot of items they want in a short span of time and move on to the next store to continue their shopping.
Shopping on Black Friday requires a lot of planning, according to veteran Black Friday shopper Raquel, whose shopping list is drawn up more than a month before the date. “I always plan ahead. Aside from knowing what to buy, I have to know what items are on sale in a particular store. There are stores I visit first, then move on to the other stores when I can’t find the things I want to buy.” You also need to know the stores’ opening hours – as not all stores are open at midnight.
Having a companion when you go shopping can also be an advantage. “I always bring a companion with me when I go shopping on Black Friday, someone who is also a bargain hunter. That way, we can both grab whatever we need, and then one of us can queue up while the other get whatever items we still want to buy,” Raquel adds. Besides, having a companion can add to the fun, you get to share your experience and advise each other on whether the item is a good buy or not. “A companion is also excellent when you have to wait for the stores to open as usually I get there before the stores open,” according to Raquel.
Prices vary during this day. Retailers such as Wal-Mart, Best Buy and Target stick to the Black Friday tradition by giving great deals on a host of items like household appliances, kitchenware, etc. The amazing deals can be irresistible and the tendency is to spend a lot – more often beyond your budget. Raquel advises shoppers to save up before this big day. “There is nothing like being prepared financially. When you need to buy a lot during Black Friday, then you need to save months before. I have to save a little of my salary each month and that takes a lot of self-control. I always persuade myself that I can get the items cheaper during Black Friday and that stops me from buying,” Raquel says.
As most people say, Black Friday is like a national holiday. There is so much fun finding the best deals but other than feeling frustrated because you can buy what you want when stores are on big sale, being prepared physically and financially for the big day can add to the fun.
