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I have a confession: I haven't started my Christmas shopping yet. I know! Can you believe it? But I've been thinking quite a bit about shopping, particularly how you can work Black Friday, which is the traditional start of the Christmas holiday season (do you hear that, retailers who started playing carols in the stores on NOVEMBER 1?). Are you ready to shop? Let's talk strategy.
Even Santa makes lists. You need one, too. Write out EVERY SINGLE PERSON you are shopping for this year -- family, friends, teachers, office staff, the woman at TJ Maxx who hides things in the back for you when the shipments come in. Everyone. Come up with a short list of gifts for all of them, two or three options, just in case your number one choice turns out to be everyone's number one choice.
Do your homework. Use the power of the Internet to browse what's out there. There are several Black Friday ads sites, which share both released and unreleased circulars for upcoming sales (I will leave you to Google that yourselves); you can also browse the store's site to see what's in stock and on sale. But keep in mind that what a retailer shows on a web site and what will actually be sitting on the shelves on the Friday after Thanksgiving may not be the same thing. Keep your eye on Want Not this coming week for good e-deals. In fact, you should be reading WantNot ALL the time, if a bargain is your thing. Because Mir does all the work, and you don't have to get up at four am to go to the store.
Shop in your underwear. See something on the 'net that would be PERFECT for Aunt Janie? Buy it on the 'net. Many retailers will match in-store deals at their web sites on Black Friday; in addition, many will offer free shipping, either with a minimum purchase or on specific items. Take advantage of this -- curl up on the sofa with your coffee and shop away.
Have a backup plan. If you're going to shop Black Friday from the sofa, be aware that holiday shipping, particularly the free variety, may take longer, and that it is always possible that your purchase will be out of stock and won't come in time for Santa to leave it under the tree. This may not be an issue for some gift recipients, but if a rain check isn't an option for your three-year-old nephew, be sure you have some other way of getting that Flamenco Elmo in time for the first night of Hannukah. And yes, the back up plan may involve actually GOING to the mall. God help you.
Put your running shoes on. So if you DO have to go to the mall on Black Friday, start with the basics: dress comfortably -- Black Friday isn't a fashion show, it's Serious Shopping, and you had better be ready. Wear layers, but nothing bulky; you will have to carry everything with you while you shop, and a big puffy coat will be a big puffy hassle after about fifteen minutes. And if you are really planning to be at WalMart at five am, skip the hair and makeup. This is the ONE time that it is actually a good idea to leave the house in your ball cap and yoga pants (you heard me).
Focus, don't wander. Black Friday is not the day to go window shopping at the mall. Get out your list and shop ONLY for the things on it. Prioritize; if Flamenco Elmo is going to sell out fast, go to the toy store first, and THEN to the kitchen store, because honestly you may be the only one buying a grapefruit zester this year. Kitchen store doesn't have the grapefruit zester? Don't browse; go to the next thing on your list of gifts for the office gourmet and buy that instead. Do not waste precious time looking at La Creuset cook sets when all you want is a pasta measurer.
If it's not on sale, pass it by. You can buy at full retail price any day. You got your over-fed, turkey-tired self up this morning to shop the sales, so do ONLY that. Corollary: It's
