Black Friday Shopping

O.K You're off and running. You have your map laid out of where you want to go. What you need to get where. Your budget of what you can spend. The car is gassed up and ready to go.

Now......step back and take a deep breath.....it's a mad house out there and you need to have patience. Remember, the hottest toys of the season are hard to find right now so make certain you have an alternative gift ready. If you are looking for that particular item and you get there and step up to the shelf to get it and someone else is reaching for it at the same time......take the high road and let the gift go. It's not worth any exchange of words with someone else and just maybe you weren't suppose to have it anyway.

When you are driving, PAY ATTENTION. There are a lot of crazy drivers out there right now. Today is not the day to go postal. Road rage is not on the agenda. Everyone just play nice in the sandbox. Every year I hear on the news on Black Friday how there was some type of shopping riot here or there or a multi-car pile up, etc. I don't want to be hearing about you on the news tonight, So take it slow and steady. If you start getting stressed, take a time out and go buy yourself a cup of coffee and relax.

Now when you are in the store and the signs are shouting 50% off, check the regular prices closely. Is the regular price the same as you would find at the next store. A lot of times stores jack up the prices and then take 50% off of the inflated price. Not a good deal. But you are prepared for that right. You have done your homework and have your calculator in hand.

Finally.....don't overspend. The stores are decorated so pretty and it is so easy to overspend when you are caught up in the wonder and beauty of the holidays. Look at it this way.....you are hunting the items on your list. Those are the only things you need and you goal is to find them, bag them and get the heck out of dodge. Be realistic and stick to your budget. If you planned on spending $10 on a certain gift for a certain person and you find something that is oooohhhh so cute but costs $15, PUT IT BACK. All of those extra $5 dollars here and there add up faster than you can remember and the next thing you know, you have blown your shopping budget and you still have 6 people to buy for. Shop within your means....it's not a competition.

Sooooo have fun, be safe, take breaks, stay on track and on budget.

Happy shopping and maybe I'll see you out there in crazy land. And if you're stressed, I'll buy you a cup of coffee.