Black Friday

17 days and counting...Do you know what's coming??

THE BIGGEST SHOPPING DAY OF THE YEAR, people! BLACK FRIDAY!

It's the day after Thanksgiving, the official opening day of holiday shopping. After Thanksgiving sales are famous for having the best discounts of the year, and shoppers camp out in front of stores to take advantage of the Black Friday sales. I admit, I have never actually "camped out," but I've been super tempted to take advantage of those 4am sales :)

I think it's a good practice to evaluate your shopping needs before you tackle the crowds. Black Friday is really good for big ticket items. For example, if you're in the market for a new TV- this is your chance! The sales for electronics are tremendous- some of the best of the year. So, it pays to check out the ads, plan your outing, and hit up Best Buy to grab the best deal you can. But if you're looking to get that new sweater you've been eying, it's probably easier to wait for another opportunity...the sales aren't significant enough to make the experience worth it.

UNLESS you're like my mom, sister and me- we just like to shop- so Black Friday doesn't scare us!

A few tips before you head out to spend the big bucks:

• Wear comfortable clothes and shoes (easy to slip on and off if you brave the fitting rooms)
• Bring a roomy bag where you can store snacks, a water bottle, and your coupons of course!
• Have a plan for how you will shop: this is one of those days it behooves you to consolidate your trips, so plan your outing accordingly by parking where's convenient, but also hit the stores in "order" so that you don't waste time back tracking.

And if the black cat crosses your path that day, it's good luck :) It's Black Friday after all!