Halloween is one of my favorite holidays; when I was younger, I couldn’t wait to dress up in my princess costume and race from house to house collecting as much candy as possible. But as I grow older, my favorite part of the holiday season has shifted. Now, it is the moment when the styrofoam tombstones are tucked away, and the gluttonous amount of candy is stashed, and I realize that the calendar finally tilts from Halloween towards Christmas. Still, the feast between deserves its due. Even for a Christmas devotee like myself, there is one part of Thanksgiving I genuinely look forward to: Black Friday.
As an avid shopper myself, I’ve gathered a few tips to help navigate Black Friday’s chaos.
Waking up early
Although crawling out of bed at 6:00 a.m. for a school morning can feel brutal, I have little hesitation jumping out from under the covers to indulge in my favorite part of the holiday season. It is no secret that Black Friday breeds mayhem—parking spaces are filled, aisles are overflowing with shopping carts, and the tempers of shoppers trying to catch a deal are fraying. This is why, through my many experiences, I have realized the best way to avoid these issues is to get a head start on the day. Even though sleep may tempt many when having to wake up early on a day when school is out, avoiding these problems is a reward in itself.
Researching deals
When waiting for my food to settle after a big meal on Thanksgiving, my favorite thing to do is to scroll through my TikTok For You Page and stores like Amazon or Hollister. As a “doomscroller,” I save useful posts about deals and coupons, building a short shopping list of must-buy gifts and ideas for loved ones. Black Friday is a great way to knock out parts of Christmas shopping. Going into the morning of chaos without a list of coupons can quickly lead to a day of confusion on where the best deals are. 10 minutes of research can make the day run more smoothly, cheaply, and less stressfully.
Ordering Online
For many shoppers, the chaos of Black Friday can quickly become overwhelming. Crowded stores, long lines, and limited-time-only discounts often create a stressful environment that takes the joy out of finding great deals. That is why the convenience of online shopping is such a great alternative to avoid the madness. Instead of waking up early, sleeping in and shopping from the comfort of one’s own bed is a great way to get shopping out of the way. Not only is shopping online convenient, but many stores actually have better deals online. There have been many days after waking up early and realizing that I could have gotten a better deal on something if I had shopped online. If you are not one to be in-store for the excitement, shopping tucked under covers or on a couch is a much better way to spend a day of shopping.
Black Friday may carry its fair share of crowds, chaos, and competition, but it is personally my favorite part of the holiday season. I hope that with these three simple tricks to stay organized, you can transition the frenzy into a fun time for shopping.
