Black Friday Shopping Tips: The Year Of Bricks & Clicks [Infographic]

Tomorrow is the big day! Black Friday shopping is a tradition for many people, and some will start the madness tonight even before midnight. Most people I know don’t usually like getting up early the day after a holiday, but Black Friday is different. I have friends who jump out of bed like it’s Christmas morning just to grab a cup of coffee and head out into the Black Friday shopping madness.

I thought I might offer some Black Friday shopping tips to anyone who is planning to brave the stores tonight. First, you want to be sure that you’re comfortable. This is no time to try to look cute with your new heels. Comfortable shoes (like running shoes), gloves, a bottle of water and your smartphone are all Black Friday shopping essentials.

Make sure you know where you are going and what/who you will be shopping for before you leave the house. This will not only keep you from overspending, but it will help you stay on track and not lose time. You’ll also want to have a centralized place where you put the receipt after each purchase. If you allow them to get lost in the bottom of the bags, there is a chance some will get lost. I usually put them all in my back pocket and then transfer them to a drawer when I get home.

Another thing you might want to do today before you start your extravaganza is fill up your car with gas. The last thing you want to be doing at midnight is stopping at a gas station, especially if you’re alone. The best Black Friday shopping tip I can offer you is to have a positive attitude and keep smiling throughout the experience. This is the year of “bricks and clicks” meaning that most people will do a combination of online and offline shopping this year. If you plan your day right, you’ll be able to hit the deals on both places. This infographic by Sortable called The Dark Night Rises: Black Friday Madness covers the history of Black Friday along with some Black Friday shopping tips. Good luck!