Thank you to Diane at SavingsMania for this awesome guest post. Be sure to check out her blog for awesome savings tips.
My family and I have been going out Black Friday shopping for at least 10 
years now. We enjoy getting together, doing a little shopping and then enjoying a great lunch! If you are headed out Black Friday shopping this year (or shopping online), be sure to read up on our tips to maximize your savings (while keeping your stress in check!)
Preparation starts weeks in advance
Head over to BlackFridayInfo.com and BlackFriday.org. Sign up to receive an email alert and you will receive an email when they have a new ad online. Keep an on-going list of the deals you are interested in and compare them to other stores. Once you've decided what items are top on your list, map out your locations. You will need to factor in time to drive, find a parking space, and additional crowds and traffic.
Sign up for email alerts
Your favorite stores will send you coupon codes and printable coupons. Plus, you’ll be the first to learn of their upcoming sales. I recently signed up for Pottery Barn’s email list and received a free shipping coupon code.
Free shopping
Cash in your points from point programs for gift cards and enjoy some free shopping! I’ve been a member of Mypoints.com for several years now and cash in my points in October, so the gift card has plenty of time to arrive before Black Friday.
Print out those coupons
Check online for printable coupons for your favorite stores, before Black Friday and print them off. I also like to organize them in a folder to make sure I don’t lose any coupons.
Pre-Black Friday sales
Recently retailers like Toys R Us, Walmart and Best Buy have begun the Black Friday sale early, by offering deals on their web site on Thanksgiving Day. So, after enjoying your Thanksgiving dinner, be sure to log on and check out the deals.
Not up for fighting the crowds?
Most retailers now offer the same deals online. So instead of heading out 5 am the day after Thanksgiving, relax at home and shop online. I highly recommend checking out Amazon's Black Friday Deals, Toys R Us and Walmart. And be sure to check out CouponMountain before doing any online shopping!
A Deal Isn’t Always a Deal
Black Friday sales prices aren't always "deals". Sometimes stores label merchandise as a Black Friday deal to increase sales. A few months before, research the price of the item(s) and you'll see if the Black Friday price is really a deal.
Compare prices
Spot a good deal in an ad? Head over to a price-comparison Web site to determine whether you can get it cheaper. Some sources worth checking: Bizrate, Nextag, and Pricegrabber. Also, I’ve noticed Amazon beats other store’s prices much of the time. Plus they offer free shipping on $25+.
Don’t forget about return policies
Especially when making a big purchase, you’ll want to be aware of the store’s return policy. Most are for 90 days, but may be shorter for electronics. Some merchants extend the return period for holiday purchases, but they reserve the right to refuse to take back anything without a receipt or gift receipt, especially if the item was bought with cash. Even if a store agrees to take an item back without a receipt, you’ll probably receive a gift card or store credit only. And you’ll get back the lowest price the item actually sold for, not necessarily what you paid for it.
If you'd rather shop online, be sure to stay up to date with Coupon Mountain's Black Friday & Cyber Monday page. We'll keep making updates from now until the big events!
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