'GMA' Quick Tip: Smart Black Friday Shopping Strategies
How to make the most of your time and money on this busy shopping day.
Nov. 25, 2010 — -- For some people, Black Friday is the Super Bowl Sunday of shopping, and with all the sales and door-buster specials, it may seem impossible to find out about the best possible deals.
Wendy Bounds from the Wall Street Journal has a few tips to help you get through the madness so you can find just what you want.
Make sure you come with a game plan. Make a list of everyone you're shopping for and what you're getting them.
Put a dollar limit on each item. As part of your plan, you should have a budget in place. Once you figure out what you need to buy, then pick the stores that have merchandise within your price range.
Websites such as www.black-friday.net are a one-stop shop for retailer sales news. You also may want to consider splitting up your shopping with somebody else so you can hit two stores at the same time.
Early bird specials or door busters always seem to attract our attention with huge discounts on items such as computers. But beware: Many times there are extremely limited quantities of the product advertised, or it may be a product that you would never buy under other circumstances.
Take a look at your shopping list and see if any of the early bird specials are on your list. If they are, then go super-early to the one store you believe will give you the deepest discount. If the item has sold out or doesn't meet your needs, do not buy a similar product on impulse. This is exactly what retailers want you to do. Carry the ads describing the item you want to purchase. It will make it easier for you to compare prices across stores, and many stores are willing to match the advertised prices of their competitors.