The turkey has been carved, the pie has been served, the leftovers have been put away. Thanksgiving is over and now it is Christmas’ time to shine. (Okay, so Christmas’ time is actually immediately following Halloween, according to Starbucks red cups and any store that put up holiday displays in October.) What better way to kick off the holiday shopping season than stand in a line around the block to get a video game console or a flat screen TV for a deep discount? The concept of Black Friday sounds horrible out loud, but any seasoned holiday shopper knows it is necessary to participate. Here are 10 things only Black Friday shoppers understand.
1. A plan must be put in place and followed. Careful calculations of store opening times, purchases to be made at each store, where items might be on display in a store are needed.
2. Paper ads are still the way to go. Your phone screen is only so big. You don’t want to carry around an iPad. Get a stack of ads to browse and circle with permanent markers.
3. Tackling each store with a group is ideal. One person can hit up electronics, another can hold a place in line, another can get those $5 kitchen appliances everyone will get under the tree. Divide and conquer.
4. Shopping on Thanksgiving Day is necessary. There is no sleep between Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday anymore. You’ve accepted you will head out the door as soon as you’ve finished your pie.
5. Black Friday-related injuries aren’t uncommon. You’ve taken a shopping cart to the ankle, an elbow to the chest, a body shove while waiting in line. These are your battle scars.
6. Layers are necessary for maximum adaptability. Waiting in line for a few hours? You’ve got some layers on. But not too many so you get sweaty while running around inside a store.
7. It’s important to be able to spot a good deal from a mediocre one. Sometimes there’s a reason why things are on sale.
8. It’s fine to indulge in a good breakfast or maybe some leftovers when you’re done shopping. Because TREAT YO’SELF.
9. If you don’t get what you need/want on Black Friday, there are more opportunities to buy and save. Cyber Monday? Basically any day before Christmas or Hanukkah?
10. If you get all of your shopping done in one day, you can truly relax and enjoy the holiday season. You can spend that extra time baking cookies, finding a sweet ugly sweater, watching Christmas movie marathons, drinking egg nog or hot chocolate or peppermint mochas, etc.
