1. Figure out your budget. How much can you spend? How much do you want to spend per person or family? Set a limit and stick to it. A good tip to avoid more credit card debt is to take out the cash you plan to spend and separate it into different envelopes. When it is gone, it is gone!

2. What do you want or need to get from the sales? Make a list and use it as a guide when you are shopping. It is also good to have substitutions thought out so when an item is no longer available (which it will be) you have a back up plan. Try to make your shopping experience as stress-free as possible.

3. Take a look at all the store flyers and plan. What time do you need to wake up to be in line? Plan to carry just your wallet instead of a purse. It really does help to not carry much as stores often run out of carts and you may end up having to carry your merchandise. Bring a bottle of water or thermos of coffee to keep you going. You will be grateful you did. Shopping is hard work!

4. Compile the ads for the stores you are interested in. A lot of stores will be offering Loss Leaders again.  Fair warning: most of the super great deals will have a very limited supply. For instance, this year Sears is offering a smokn’ deal on a washer a dryer set, but there will only be 4 sets available per store. Keep this in mind when you shop for the great deals and understand the store limits and rules. BTW, Best Buy has a fantastic deal on a washer/dryer set . While the set is a higher price than Sear BF deal, more than likely you will be able to purchase it because there will be more quantities available.

5. Hate the rush and insanity at the stores on Black Friday? Consider shopping online. Amazon and many big box retailers will have fantastic deals online. Consider staying up late on Thanksgiving to take advantage of sales that will be online. What’s a better way to snag some great deals than in your PJ’s and a cup of hot cocoa by the glow of your computer monitor?  ;)

Here is a list of links to stores and Black Friday Websites to help get you started:

Black Friday- The Official 2009 Website

Amazon

Best Buy

CVS

Big Lots

KMart

Kohl’s

Macy’s

Sears

Target

Walgreens

Walmart (You can even get a map of your store to plan out where to go first. Yes, I am serious! And, again, they will match any advertised price during the BF sales.)

If you shop online and want to see if there are any extra discounts available, check out this great website:

RetailMeNot

You can type in what store you would like to find discounts for. If there are codes available you will find them here along with their respective success rates. How great is that?! I have been able to score free shipping and discounts at many stores I shop for online.

As for me, I am probably going to Walgreens as their toys will be 50% off and shop a little at Amazon. I am done shopping except for a few gifts and crowds are not my thang .

Happy Shopping!!