Black Friday 101

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BB Readers' Top 10 Tips:
1. Go with friends/family. The trip is always more fun. Plus, if one needs to go in a store for 5 minutes and there are no parking spaces, the other can always circle the parking lot. This has saved one reader TONS of time and frustration.

2. Leave the kids at home with the husband.

3. Plan ahead. Figure out the night before which stores you need to shop, what time you want to leave the house and be at the stores, and the most comfortable clothes you want to wear.

4. If you have to shop when the doors open at Wal-Mart or Target at that early hour of 4 or 5 AM, enter through the Automotive or Garden departments instead of the front doors. It's less crowded and easier to get to the electronics and toy departments. Also, there might be a shorter check-out line.

5. DO NOT get there when the door opens and expect for you to be in - there are police and people who have been there since 3 am in the freezing cold. If you want the good stuff you have to wait it out. AND don't PUSH!!

6. Bring blankets, something to read, something for your toosh, COFFEE, and stop by McD's - they are open for breakfast on black Friday at 3AM(confirm at your location). Make sure you can fit whatever you need under your cart - you need space for those sale items! They give you carts when the doors are about to open - gives you time to pack up, stretch and get pumped up!

7. Go to the store the night before and scope it out. Usually they have the items in boxes ready to be unpacked for the sale in the spot they will be the next day. That way you know where to go when they let you in.

8. Get more than one newspaper. Some stores let you use more than one coupon and if not you are with a buddy so you want them to get a discount too!!! And it also helps to separate your coupons in baggies - that way you are not fumbling around at the counter.

9. Keep a cell phone on you at all times.

10. AND always have a spot to meet if you do shop separate. No one likes to be lost - especially in that chaos!!

Big thanks to the BB Black Friday shoppers who submitted their tips!