My Very Own Black Friday

Oh to hear the sweet sounds of “is it Friday yet?” brings music and joy to my ears. Only, this week it’s for totally different reasons than being burned-out and waiting anxiously for the week to come to and end so that I can enjoy the weekend. No, this week it’s for totally different reasons. I’m so excited and can’t wait until Friday because it’s – - – Black Friday!!. The one and only official day where it’s ok to spend (maybe even overspend), find incredible deals, shop until you literally drop and go home with awesome savings and a bag full of loot. Yes, Friday is almost here and it’s almost time to have big fun folks!

Black Friday has long been heralded as one of the few if not the only day of the year where retailers turn a massive profit that puts them in “the black” for the rest of the calendar year and maybe even their fiscal year. Luring the consumer dollar is the goal of many retailers as they showcase their wares throughout their stores convincing consumers that they “need” this or “have to have” that. There will be many enticing sales to lure you into the spending web, so be prepared to perhaps lustily peruse that 52-inch plasma television set or the Wii gaming system or even a big brand new car!! There are going to be enormous deals available on the infamous Black Friday. What are some things you can do to stay in control and have Starbuck’s money when you’re done? I’ll share some great tips with you that I’ve been able to use for the past few years and that work great for me:

Have a plan. When you leave home, have a list of things that you are specifically looking for and don’t stray from the list. Easier said than done right? I’m sure. IF and only IF you do stray from the list, make sure the purchase is an item that you had already planned to purchase. Which leads to,

1. Beware of emotional spending. Don’t buy something because of the deal only (no, not every low-marked item is necessarily a good deal). If you find a cordless phone that’s on sale for only $159.99 and was regularly $499.99, that is definitely a deal. But, do you really need another cordless telephone?

2. Again, be aware of emotional spending. Stay clear of purchases that make you feel good or that you feel that you must have because of the sale. An example of this would be a pair of Baby Phat jeans at an incredible price but is only one size smaller than what you wear. All you have to do is lose that last 10 pounds. Guess what? The jeans will still be in your closet this time next year. Sorry.

3. Go shopping alone. Yes, it is considerably more fun to shop with a friend but choose that friend carefully. Some friends can cause you to overspend or you may find yourself overspending in order to keep up with the “Joneses.” If you must take that freedom friend, let them know up front that you only have $XX amount to spend and when that runs out, your spending spree is over. After that statement, they may not want to hang out with you then anyway.

4. Dress comfortably. This shopping day is not for the faint of heart. There are going to be a lot of cutthroat and professional shopper’s out. So as you’re perusing the store’s wares and flipping through piles and buckets of merchandise, you want to be sure to be as comfortable as possible so as not to physically exhaust yourself prematurely. Dress light and carry your money and credit cards on you instead of a purse, backpack, a man bag or a large wallet. Not only do you need comfort but you need to discourage thieves as well.

And remember, the most important thing to remember is to have fun. Taking a few of these precautions should help you do just that. And, maybe even have some funds left over afterwards so you too can enjoy “Black Friday.”