The Friday after Thanksgiving is Black Friday, the day that marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season.  Although prices drop after holidays, you still have to know how to maximize and get your money’s worth; there are many tips and tricks to doing this.

Check your local ads the week of Thanksgiving and especially on Thanksgiving Day.  This is the best way to maximize your savings.  

Some stores offer special discounts that are at a specific time such as “early bird” shopper discounts.  These discounts usually run from about 5 a.m to 11 a.m with “no rain checks.” This means that once a store has run out of a product, they are completely out.  Stores such as Best Buy, Macy’s, Kohls, and jcPenney usually have early bird shopper discounts.

After you have gone through the ads, plan your trip based on the most important things with time sensitive details offered or exclusive deals.  Also, bring the ads with you.  Most stores offer a lower price guaranteed and will match another store’s low price, but only with an advertisement of the exact same product.

Since prices are either put up the night before or before the store opens, it’s best to beat the crowd.  You would not want to get to the store and find out that the product you came for is sold out.  

To reduce how much time you may spend in a store, know what you want out of the store before you go. If you’re shopping for clothes or shoes, know what size you wear so you are able to grab it and go.  

If you plan on going early, dress warm and be prepared to wait.  Overall, be safe and have fun while shopping.

Linked below are a few Black Friday websites:

http://slickdeals.net/blackfriday/

http://blackfriday.gottadeal.com/ 

http://www.theblackfriday.com/

Tell us if you go shopping on Black Friday… What deals are you hoping for?