A Cheapskate's Guide to the Black Friday Sales

I must admit:  I have some mixed feelings on Black Friday.  On one hand, the cheapskate in me loves the idea of getting a great deal.

But the introvert in me hates the crowds and commercialism.  I'm much more comfortable shopping from the comfort of my living room.

Over the years, I've developed a few strategies for surviving the Black Friday Sales.  I've shared them in a guest post over at FiLife.   Please read How to Survive Black Friday Sales.

I've also come up with a few more tips for all of you hardcore power shoppers:

Check the fine print of the ads.  You may find that the store that has the really awesome deal on a flat screen TV will only have five of those available on the big day.  You may find it's better to scope out the deals online than to fight the crowds.

If you're planning on buying a lot of stuff, grab a cart.  A cart can give you breathing room in a crowd and help you haul all your purchases to the checkout.  But if you don't need a cart, don't take one... it can slow you down!

Want to get to the deals fast?  Get there early and don't take your cart into any carpeted areas if you can help it.  Carpet slows you down!

Wear a fanny pack.  Yes, they're hideous.  But you won't have to lug a purse around and your money will be safer if it's kept close to your body.

Remember that Black Friday is just another day to test your pocketbook.  Ultimately, you need to make good choices for how to spend your money. 

Photo credit: Justin Marty