Have a plan of attack

With Black Friday quickly approaching. Newbies and Veterans alike need to have a plan. Fortune favors those who plan ahead. My first Black Friday experience, I showed up at the store at like 9 AM... early for me, but late for all the good deals. First year I worked at Best Buy for Black Friday, my family showed up an hour before opening...... and were near the end of the line. Unfortunately those years, I didn't know what to expect, and I didn't know what to plan for. But now that I have a couple Black Fridays under my belt, I go with a plan every year.

1) Check out the ads weeks in advance. The local newspaper on Thanksgiving day will be super stuffed with all the Black Friday ads. Knowing the ads lets you be prepared on where to go. But why only be prepared 1 day in advance? There is this thing called "the Internet" and it might be huge one day! By searching Black Friday ads, you can get a 2 week head start on your opponents. Most years, ads were "leaked." (Stolen ads to be scanned and released to the public.) But this year, most retailers have put their ads online. I guess having people know what was on sale is good for business.

2) Know what you want to buy. Whether it be a new laptop, the hottest toys, or a new wardrobe, you need to know where to go. Can you make it a one stop shop by going to Walmart? Or will you have to start at Toys 'R Us at 9, hit up Best Buy at midnight, and JC Penny at 4? Build yourself a small road map of things you want to buy.

3) The More the Merrier. Black Friday shopping is hard enough. Let alone hard enough to do by yourself! That's what friends and family are for! With most retailers opening at roughly the same time, it's hard to be at two places at once. If you make shopping lists of things you would like to purchase. Then your friends and family can split off into groups and hit up different places. Get more shopping done.

4) Be prepared to wait. Lines, lines and more lines. (Ironically, that's my strategy for picking up girls at a bar.) But there will be plenty of lines this Black Friday. People start lining up outside stores AT LEAST 2 hours before opening. And with retailers opening earlier this year, that is most likely going to cut into your Thanksgiving time. That is not the ONLY line you have to worry about. Even with all the check stands open, checking out takes a good long minute as well. And then the line to get out. Traffic is a b*tch. So drive safe. (Before heading out for Black Friday, be sure to have a fully charged smart phone or tablet device. Makes the waiting much easier)

So have a plan kiddies. Sometimes spontaneity is fun....in this case, I'd rather be a boy scout.