1. Know When to Shop

The first thing you should know when planning your Black Friday adventures is that it's so much more than just Black Friday! Retailers are starting earlier and earlier, because they want your business! In fact, Amazon is promoting Shop Early Black Friday Deals! You can count on the sizzling sales to start the weekend prior to Thanksgiving and Black Friday. JCPenney and Kohl's Black Friday deals will drop as early as 12:01 CT Sunday and Monday respectively. Then plan on staying up late Wednesday evening as retailers flip the switch and make their Black Friday deals and (many) doorbusters available online! Note that doorbusters online sell out in SECONDS! In-store deals start Thanksgiving day as early as 2pm then again early on Black Friday. Check out our Black Friday Store Guides for specific times.

2. Decide Where to Shop

With so many flashy ads and loud commercials, the retailers are trying hard to get your attention. For some, it can feel overwhelming. Don't fret! With a little time and the right tools, you can easily determine where to get the most bang for your buck. Let's start with an awesome tool... our comprehensive Black Friday ADS Comparison spreadsheet. Use it to price compare who is selling what, and for how much! Remember that you don't have to spend time, gas and camp out in front of stores to get the best deal... we'll help you prepare and plan your Black Friday shopping strategy more below.

3. Online Shopping vs In-Store Shopping

Waiting in line for hours on end to get the best Black Friday deals is not the only way to save big bucks this holiday season. In fact, we simply don't recommend it! Unless you're saving an additional 40% or more by standing in line shopping to get an in store doorbuster, then consider that it may NOT be worth the savings! PLUS, since the majority of retailers release all their Black Friday deals (and in most cases, doorbusters) at midnight (varies by time zone) you can stay up late and try to score those deals online first. You might not even have to go to the store! Check out our Black Friday Store Guides to research your favorite stores.