The time is near, Christmas will soon be here and Black Friday is just around the corner. But with tons of sales going on already, is it worth getting up at 4 a.m., battling traffic and beating through other customers just to get the greatest deals?

With the economy the way it is, shoppers have actually limited their shopping sprees and started saving more money. Malls everywhere are trying everything they can to get customers back into their stores. The coupons are already filing into Erie mailboxes, and there are ads galore in newspapers trying to lure consumers in.

In the end, a sale is a sale, which always puts a smile on a savvy shoppers face. So in order to prepare for the hectic Black Friday: take a shower the night before, set out your outfit for the next day, get all your coupons in a row, and put your keys by the front door.

The most important thing to do is to not panic. Black Friday usually means that the latest and greatest electronics will be lowered in price, and there’s usually a limited supply. If you begin worrying about whether or not you’re going to get that Blu-ray player for your dad, that’s about the worst thing you could do. Black Friday is supposed to be the kick-off of the holiday season and you wouldn’t want to start off the season stressed would you?

Try calling the store you’re after and see if you can order anything ahead. This will relieve you of some much unneeded stress if you know you’ve already secured what you need. If electronics is what you’re after, get up early and get in line. Just remember, no matter how bad the day is, as soon as you get what you need you can go home and go back to sleep.   

If you’re just shopping on Black Friday for anything interesting for friends or family that might be on sale, then take your time. Most of the sales will be going on all day and for the rest of the weekend, so there’s plenty of time to shop for sales. If you’re not in a hurry, relish in taking your time to just meander and admire the Christmas decorations in the mall.

Although it’s always fun to go to the mall “just because,” on Black Friday it’s important to do your homework. When you know what you’re after, you need to know when your sales are. Some go from 4 a.m. to midnight, while others are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Do some holiday shopping research to find out the hours of certain stores. Then you’ll be set to go.

Another important piece of research involves clipping coupons. As I said before, many coupons have already begun appearing in Erie mailboxes and front steps. Don’t overlook them! You may be surprised by how many coupons you can get your hands on, which makes bargain shopping that much better. You may even find just what you’re looking for in a coupon. 

Before you begin your Black Friday adventure, make sure you take back-up, seriously. Going shopping with friends or family members can make the whole experience ten times better. Your comrades may even know of other sales you may have overlooked, or they might have some extra coupons that could bring you some top deals. Plus, if stores start to get really hectic, you won’t be in it alone.       

To answer my beginning question, it is worth it to get up at 4 a.m. for the best deals, only if you know exactly what you’re looking for. Other than that, sales will be going on continuously this season, not just on Black Friday. Budgets may be a little tighter this year, but Black Friday continues to make it easier to shop and save more than ever. Shoppers, enjoy!