It is almost certainly time for Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year in the United States. Black Friday is the first day after the Thanksgiving holiday (November 27 this year). Did you ever want some tips or tricks in getting past the huge lines, or getting the right items without them being sold out. I have quite a few that can help get you past the front door of the place you destine to shop.

1. PREPARE - decide how much you can afford to spend, and how much items you need. Tally, mark down, prepare the list of things to get. Be ready to work quickly and you will be on your way to getting everything you need. Getting through the traffic jams, and big lines might not be as possible as I state it is, but at least you will be able to use the tactics below, and if used well - you can get things done quickly.

2. TEAM - get your team ready, if you have one, and assign them what they should get. As you all work together, communicate with each other often and do not get in a hurry. Also, know if you are using cash or credit. It does matter, because of interest on credit cards.

3. TACTICS - Look three times - but buy once. Be picky and wait for a price drop on certain expensive items. If the price is too high, wait for it to drop and move on to the next item on the list. Get impatient.

If you are communicating on a team, and the item you are looking at might be at another store where one of your team members are shopping at, then ask them to check the price. If at their store, it is cheaper, have that team member buy it.

Take an iPod, so you can have it to listen to music or watch videos while you wait in line. Lines can be very long, and are tough to handle. So, be patient and use an iPod to keep you occupied. If you have a media/smart phone, use it to have fun.

Do not get disappointed if the store does not have what you want. Just wait until Cyber Monday, and you can purchase it online. Rare item? No problem, research it online.

bump

I wish we had a similar day here in the UK, however it will soon be our January sales time and prices drop dramatically then so I'm sure i can wait a little longer....

It is a crazy time here in the US. People line up and step all over each other. It is heck on the anatomy each and every time. I went one year to black friday at a walmart store, and I waited in line for a winter coat...a winter coat. What? And then, somebody was going to take it out of my cart, until I said that the cart was mine.

Then, the checkout line, took me 40 minutes to get through, just to purchase a coat and a few other items. What a bunch of baloney.

I never wish this frightful day for anyone. All people want to do is save money, so if you are up for that, then I guess black friday is just for you. Not me, I will catch other deals if I need to on some other day. No point in going through the drama just to get a few items.

No doubt. It is indeed frightful.

Bad part is, I have to work on Friday, at a department store. Ahh

I suppose it would be worth it if your wanting to splash out on a ton of new electrical equipment, good way of saving money if you can but up with the hassle.

But for a coat.......?