As you are well aware, Thanksgiving is right around the corner which means good food, time with family, rounds of "thankyous" and....Black Friday! Yes ladies, the most gloriously dreaded day of shopping out of all 365 days in the year yet we all still partake in the viciousness and bitchery that is the Bargain Shopper. Since I am a professional shopper I feel it is my duty to share with all of you in cyberland how to get the most bang for your buck, and the most joy to your heart during this black day of all days.
1st The Early Bird Blues-It is true that at alot of stores (especially larger department stores) there is an "early bird special" ...however, alot of stores offer the same exact sale again, or often times offer the sale the weekend before black friday as well. My tip would be to go the weekend or couple of weekends before black friday and ask the stores you know you will be shopping at what kind of sales they will be offering on black friday, then use that to compare to their current sale or sales of other stores on black friday.
2nd The Brainfart Gift-If you are dead set on shopping during black friday but had no time to make a list of presents, there are some essentials that are very universal and also usually always on sale during black friday. Bath and Body works always has an amazing sell on their signature lotion and their antibacterial stuff. Lotion makes for a great stocking stuffer or even last minute gift for someone who bought you something and whoops, didnt get them anything. BOOM!!!! Warm Vanilla Sugar body lotion. Merry Christmas. Other great universal gifts include calenders, gift cards, and Hallmark knick-knacks.
3rd So much stuff, so little time!!!-Again, these sales seem great because they are new, but in all actuality most of black fridays morning sales not only last all day but all weekend as well. And during the holiday season retail stores are not about to let one day go by without having some kind of something on sale. So be patient. If you spend 9 hours at the mall on Black Friday and only got half of your list done, dont worry. There is still time, and still great sales to be had.
4th Know Who Youre Buying For-Crowds are so much easier to fight if you are on a mission. So on Black Friday, do not dilly dally around every store until a brilliant gift idea hits you, know what you need to get and get in and get out. This not only makes shopping easier and more enjoyable for you but also for the 8billion women who are surrounding you also trying to get to the size 6 jean rack at Sears. No time to sit and ponder lady, you will probably get beat down!
5th Only the Must Haves-All sales will be posted in the paper or catalog or magazine, so dont go to the mall on Black Friday to get your childrens picture made with Santa Clause. Dont go into the Buckle when everything you already know you need is in Hollister. Make a checklist of item and store (if you know the information) and once your Must Haves are gotten you will have more of your day left over for creativity and gift-brainstorming (preferrably in the food court and not in front of that mean old lady at Sears waiting to get to the jean rack)
6 Boys will be Boys-Most men wait until the very last second to do gifts. Too bad usually by then what you want is already out of stock. A clever way to get around this is to a.take your guy shopping and be sure to point out everything that you want to him "Oh honey look at that necklace isnt it beautiful?" "Oh babe you see that red sweater? I have been wanting one for weeks I cant believe it is on sale for only today!" If he doesnt get the hintsssss (or would drop dead before going shopping with you) then use your black friday shopping time to gather a small, simple list of what you want and where you want it. Give him the list and tell him there is no excuses this year :) then smile and kiss him atop the nose for being such a wonderful boyfriend. Lastly, something that never runs out of stock is giftcards. If you see several things in Journeys you would love, just tell him to get you a gift card for there. If you see things in every store you want then tell him to get you a mall giftcard.
Remember, holiday sales do not just last during Black Friday-so dont freak out. Also, just because a store is having a sale doesnt mean you have to get all of you stuff there (or any of your stuff if you genuinely dont need it). And making a list (and checking it twice) is a sure fire way to get the most bang out of your buck, and put the most joy into your heart this Black Friday. Join me next time for some serious holiday styling tips.
Happy Shopping,
Meg
1st The Early Bird Blues-It is true that at alot of stores (especially larger department stores) there is an "early bird special" ...however, alot of stores offer the same exact sale again, or often times offer the sale the weekend before black friday as well. My tip would be to go the weekend or couple of weekends before black friday and ask the stores you know you will be shopping at what kind of sales they will be offering on black friday, then use that to compare to their current sale or sales of other stores on black friday.
2nd The Brainfart Gift-If you are dead set on shopping during black friday but had no time to make a list of presents, there are some essentials that are very universal and also usually always on sale during black friday. Bath and Body works always has an amazing sell on their signature lotion and their antibacterial stuff. Lotion makes for a great stocking stuffer or even last minute gift for someone who bought you something and whoops, didnt get them anything. BOOM!!!! Warm Vanilla Sugar body lotion. Merry Christmas. Other great universal gifts include calenders, gift cards, and Hallmark knick-knacks.
3rd So much stuff, so little time!!!-Again, these sales seem great because they are new, but in all actuality most of black fridays morning sales not only last all day but all weekend as well. And during the holiday season retail stores are not about to let one day go by without having some kind of something on sale. So be patient. If you spend 9 hours at the mall on Black Friday and only got half of your list done, dont worry. There is still time, and still great sales to be had.
4th Know Who Youre Buying For-Crowds are so much easier to fight if you are on a mission. So on Black Friday, do not dilly dally around every store until a brilliant gift idea hits you, know what you need to get and get in and get out. This not only makes shopping easier and more enjoyable for you but also for the 8billion women who are surrounding you also trying to get to the size 6 jean rack at Sears. No time to sit and ponder lady, you will probably get beat down!
5th Only the Must Haves-All sales will be posted in the paper or catalog or magazine, so dont go to the mall on Black Friday to get your childrens picture made with Santa Clause. Dont go into the Buckle when everything you already know you need is in Hollister. Make a checklist of item and store (if you know the information) and once your Must Haves are gotten you will have more of your day left over for creativity and gift-brainstorming (preferrably in the food court and not in front of that mean old lady at Sears waiting to get to the jean rack)
6 Boys will be Boys-Most men wait until the very last second to do gifts. Too bad usually by then what you want is already out of stock. A clever way to get around this is to a.take your guy shopping and be sure to point out everything that you want to him "Oh honey look at that necklace isnt it beautiful?" "Oh babe you see that red sweater? I have been wanting one for weeks I cant believe it is on sale for only today!" If he doesnt get the hintsssss (or would drop dead before going shopping with you) then use your black friday shopping time to gather a small, simple list of what you want and where you want it. Give him the list and tell him there is no excuses this year :) then smile and kiss him atop the nose for being such a wonderful boyfriend. Lastly, something that never runs out of stock is giftcards. If you see several things in Journeys you would love, just tell him to get you a gift card for there. If you see things in every store you want then tell him to get you a mall giftcard.
Remember, holiday sales do not just last during Black Friday-so dont freak out. Also, just because a store is having a sale doesnt mean you have to get all of you stuff there (or any of your stuff if you genuinely dont need it). And making a list (and checking it twice) is a sure fire way to get the most bang out of your buck, and put the most joy into your heart this Black Friday. Join me next time for some serious holiday styling tips.
Happy Shopping,
Meg
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