4 Black Friday Shopping Tips for Success {INFOGRAPHIC}

There is a lot of preparation that goes into my Black Friday shopping every year. When you are out shopping on Black Friday, remember that it is different than every other day of the year.  In fact, it is more like a competitive sport than a shopping day.  There are some tips you can use to ensure that you get the best deals and get out alive.  Use these on your next trip and pay attention to how much more smoothly your Black Friday goes.

4 BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING TIPS FOR SUCCESS

PREPARE IN ADVANCE

You should spend a little time looking at the Black Friday advertisements so that you can develop a plan of action.  This day will go a lot smoother when you know what you are heading out to get.  Make a list of the stores you want to go to and write down the times that they open so that you can plan which order to go to them in.  Keep a list of the items you want to get at each store so you can quickly get in and out.

SHOP ONLINE

If you want to save time, get at least some items online.  There are no lines to wait in and the inventory is almost always better, giving you a better shot at getting the items you want.  You can often start online shopping on Thanksgiving day so it will not interrupt your in-store shopping and it might save you the trip to a few stores.

COMPARE PRICES

More than one store is likely to have an item you are looking for.  Look at all of the different sale advertisements and see which store has it for the best price.  This will be the first store you look at.  If they happen to be out of stock then you will know about other stores carrying it, so you have a better chance of getting your hands on the item.

BRING AN ARMY

Bringing along at least one person who can help you to navigate the hoards of people who happen to be out on this day.  There is also safety in numbers and it is important to be aware of your surroundings on a day like Black Friday.  Also, when you bring someone along, this gives you a chance to bond and spend some quality time together.  However, if you have small children, it is best to leave them at home.  It is easy to lose a child in the massive crowds that will be at the stores on Black Friday.

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GET MORE FROM OFFICE DEPOT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Office Depot has deals and so much more to help you navigate successfully through this holiday season.

Check out Office Depot's “deal center” site.

See these additional resources:

How to Prepare for Black Friday

Strategize, Save, and Survive Black Friday

What Kind of a Black Friday Shopper Are You?

Are you a Black Friday or a Cyber Monday?

Besides the fact that Office Depot OfficeMax offers the lowest prices ever, now you can also take a break from thinking about Black Friday and Elf Yourself or others. Elf your friends, elf your boss, elf your dog! Don't forget to download “Elf Yourself” on your Smart Phone today! DON'T FORGET to #ElfYourself on Office Depot‘s site!

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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.