Black Friday - A Shopper's Delight

My favorite time of the year is finally here - Holiday Season! Cool weather, cozy sweaters, pumpkin spiced lattes, cashmere scarves, carolers, family time... You name it, I love it! But the part that truly warms my heart and what is by far the most important thing to me is that this is the time to give, never expecting anything in return, just to share joy. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the face of my loved ones light up when they open my awesome, well thought out, sentimental and unexpected gift. It's delightful! Gift. Yes. I said GIFT. Not a gift card. It's a cop out. To all of you who swear by gift cards, I say to you, "You're a lazy bum. Step your game up!" Okay, I'm off my anti-gift card soap box. Back to our normally scheduled message.

Since we're all penny pinching these days, getting that special someone the greatest gift ever all of the sudden becomes the stress of a lifetime instead of a joyful act of love an appreciation. Shopping becomes torturous. But it doesn't have to be. A little research and planning goes a long way, especially when navigating the plethora of Black Friday deals.

Black Friday can be a shopper's paradise, if well prepared. For one, the most wanted gifts will most likely be at the lowest prices of the year. Secondly, it's a chance to not only get gifts for a great bargain, but also stock your home with the appliances and electronics you've been eying for months. Flat screen television, anyone? But with prices so low, you may get sucked into buying more than you expected just to "take advantage of the deal" and consequently burning a massive hole into your budget. However, if you follow a few of my Budgetista tips, holiday shopping will be a cake walk - and your wallet will thank you for it.

1. Get your friends and family's wish list. Once you know what they want, you can split their lists up in categories, just like you would when you go grocery shopping. Think of each category as an aisle in the grocery store. If you're like me, you shop for dry goods first, then get the cold items last. The same applies to holiday shopping. You want to save the easy filler gifts for last. You know, the things that are going to be at the store regardless of the holiday hooplah, that really haven't been marked down too much, etc. The "cold" items. What you want to get first are the "hot" items, the ones that you know are at a great deal and are going to go fast. DVDs and BluRays are a popular doorbuster deal and a great gift for your movie buff BFF. Even full seasons of television series are going to be listed at next to nothing. So prioritize your day by knowing what's going to be on sale that weekend.

2. Pick up the Sunday Paper... NOW! Aside from being chock full of money saving coupons, stores will be including their Black Friday circulars (FYI, if you can't get the paper most circulars are going to be listed online). From those circulars, you'll learn a few things:

• when the stores will open on Friday morning
• how much the most anticipated items will cost that day 
• how long the sale will last (doorbuster deals, weekend deals, etc)
• if items are going to be in limited quantities

With this information, you'll be able to plan your shopping trip. Will you have to be up at 3:00am? Can you just wait until Saturday and still get a good deal? What stores do you need to hit first? What on your list can be put in the "cold" category? Once you've gotten an idea of what stores are a must on your shopping trip, move on to step three.

3. Set your budget and stick to it. You may be a pleaser who feels the need to get everything on your loved ones' lists. STOP IT RIGHT NOW! Be honest with yourself. How much can you truly afford to spend this holiday season? Have you been saving up for this? If you're thinking about relying on credit cards to get you through the season, slap yourself. One day of joy is not worth a year of debt. Once you've set your budget, the best way to stick to it is by hitting the bank. Pull out the exact amount of cash you've planned on spending and leave the plastic at home. Trust me, it's a lot harder to part with a stack of twenties than it is to bust out the debit or credit card.

4. Go forth and shop! Enjoy your shopping day. It should not be stressful at all. Don't feel bad if something on your shopping list isn't available anymore. They gave you lists, right? Then pick something else. Or go your own way and pick something completely unexpected, but totally appropriate. It's not about giving the most expensive gift. It's about sharing joy.

Take the rest of the week and not only prepare yourself for the biggest shopping day of they year, but also some wonderful quality time with your friends and family. I know I am! Have a safe and joyful Thanksgiving, lovies!

♥  - The Bougie Budgetista