Buttoned Up’s Best Bets for Black Friday

There are those who hate the idea of Black Friday shopping. The crowds, the packed parking lots, and the long lines at the register keep some at home, but the fact remains that Black Friday is the mother of all shopping days. It might require a little extra planning, or even some alarm setting (midnight shopping sprees, anyone?), but it’s worth it to snag the bargains and the best loot way in advance of that Christmas deadline. Besides, if you don’t hit the mall, how else can you say you worked off that extra piece of pie sprinting for the toy department? Take a little time now to plan your Black Friday attack on the stores and you’ll be rewarded. Oh, and yes, it’s ok to feel a little smug that you got some, most, or even all, of your shopping done in less time and for less money than your best friend.

Here are five more organizational tips to tame the Black Friday Beast:

1. Social Media.

It’s not just for embarrassing high school photos anymore. Everyone has jumped on board the social media bandwagon, especially big box companies. Make a short list of your favorite stores and then log on for the savings by checking Facebook and Twitter and “liking” them or following their tweets. J.Crew, JCPenney, Target, and Sears are just some of the stores who share exclusive, insider information with their online community. Sign up and you’ll find yourself part of the “in” crowd when it comes to news, discounts, and coupons.

2. Visit www.getbuttonedup.com/tools.

The team of organizers at Buttoned Up has designed some free downloadable tools for busy people looking to get through their holiday shopping efficiently and without over-spending. Black Friday is definitely not the day to browse, so go in with a well-organized plan and you’re less likely to blow your budget or end up with items that you don’t need or want.

3. @black_Friday_Ad.

Follow this “person” on Twitter to stay on top of Black Friday offers available at the big box retailers like Wal-Mart and Target. Who doesn’t want extra savings at these spots where you can find everything and anything?

4. Sign up for @woot.

Nobody said Black Friday shopping had to be in a store. This cool alternative to hitting the stores is a techno-geek’s (and those who love and gift them) best friend. Featuring a new and cool techy product each day, this blast lets you browse and buy in your pajamas. Just be sure to check it early in the day!

5. Wrap It Up.

Yes, you’ll be tired from all of that shopping but for a complete Black Friday triumph, sign your cards and wrap those gifts right away. Trust us. You might be tired tonight but you’ll feel terrific tomorrow knowing that you’ve shopped and wrapped til you dropped and it’s all done.

The biggest shopping day of the year is almost upon us.

Will you be one of the thousands (maybe even millions) of shoppers hitting the stores as early as 5am to get your hands on spectacular deals before they’re all gone? Regardless of whether you’re one of the hardy souls who plan to be out there early or one who plans to take it all a bit more slowly, if follow these basic tips, you’ll stretch your dollars further on Black Friday (or if you’re shopping from your computer, on Cyber Monday).

1. Start with a List and a Budget

Know what you can spend before you start shopping. Do not, we repeat, do not walk out the door to go shopping without having taken this step. Allot a specific dollar amount that you can spend on a gift for each person. If you’re budget is tight this year, don’t forget to include dollars you may have sitting on unused or half-used gift cards. Credit card points are another source of hidden ‘dollars.’

2. Brainstorm and Research

Don’t give someone the gift YOU want to receive. Take the time to figure out what THEY want to receive (within your budget constraints, of course). This is the really fun part. Take a few moments to put yourself in the shoes of the other person. If you’re feeling ‘stuck’ log on to a mega retailer’s site like Amazon.com, grab the stack of catalogs that has been accumulating in your mailbox, peruse the circular ads in your most recent newspaper, and search for gift guides online from bloggers you love. Have fun, let your mind go! The beauty of the internet is that it’s so easy to get ideas and make sure those ideas are in the right price range.

3. Research Deals

Once you have your list, then go to a comparison shopping site like Shopping.Yahoo.com – one that lets you see the items in a grid that lets you compare the features/prices for products. Another good one is bizrate.com. See quickly what stores are carrying the items you want for the lowest price. Also, check out www.BlackFriday2009 and www.RetailMeNot.comto see if particular retailers are offering deals or coupons for the things on your lists. Please, please beware of deals that are advertised as “limited quantities.” That could mean that there are as few as 1 or 2 items at that price in each store. For example, CNNMoney.com reported that while Sears has not officially revealed its Black Friday sales, the company confirmed that two of its post-Thanksgiving deals include a Samsung 40-inch 1080p LCD HDTV for $599.99, “Only while quantities last, minimum three per store, no rainchecks.” That means if you’re not first, second or third in line on Friday morning, you probably won’t be getting that deal. Read the fine print and plan accordingly. No gift is worth getting hurt over in a stampede.

If you want to skip the research and wing it. Download a nifty little iPhone App for free called SnapTell. It uses the camera feature of the iPhone to snap pictures of any book, CDs or video game and within seconds gives you a rating, description and links to sites like Google, YouTube, Wikipedia, IMDB, eBay, Barnes & Noble and more. That makes it very easy to comparison shop on the fly, something virtually impossible to do before.

4. Make a Plan for Black Friday

The last thing you want to do is be running around like a chicken without a head and ending up with little to show for your efforts. Take your gift list and group the gifts by store. Identify which retailer you must hit early to take advantage of the big sales, and from there plan the rest of your excursions in a way that will be most efficient from a time and gas standpoint.

Above all – don’t stress about finding the ‘perfect’ deal. First of all, there will always be another deal on something juicy down the line. Secondly, the holidays aren’t about any one thing, but rather the joy of remembering those you love with tokens of your affection. It’s not the token that matters so much, but the affection with which it is given.

Happy bargain hunting!

Make the most of Black Friday shopping by starting with a map of what stores to shop first, second, etc… Keep a handy folder with Black Friday flyers, store hours, etc… And dont forget a gift list of who you need to buy for and budget on what to spend. This advance preparation will save you a great deal of time and aggravation during the busiest shopping day of the year.