by Maggie O'Leary

Created on: December 31, 2008

Each year, millions of Americans rise before dawn the day after Thanksgiving, and go stand in long lines in the cold and dark to find the best deals on their Christmas shopping. There are a few simple things you can do to reduce stress and find the best deals on Black Friday.

First, check out all the Black Friday shopping ads from home, to find out where the best deals are. There are several great sites that you can visit to find where the best deals will be near you. Not only will this save you time, but it could potentially save you massive amounts of money. In today's economy, everyone is trying to cut corners wherever possible. The first site is

http://www.blackfriday.info/ The second site is http://www.theblackfriday.com/
You can also check out your local newspaper for store ads.

Next, make a list of everything you'd like to purchase, and what stores the items can be found at.
This will help you map out your shopping trip, to help save on fuel costs. Go to the stores closest to home first, to save on fuel. If you aren't worried about saving gas, go to the stores offering the best deals first. You might also want to make a note of what time each store opens. This will help you ensure that you get to the stores you want to visit early enough to get the best deals.

Perhaps most important is to get a good night's sleep. Go to bed early, set your alarm, and help yourself to wake up by taking a warm shower.
This will enable you to be and able to concentrate on all the shopping ahead. Going out groggy can make you a hazard to yourself and other motorists, so you want to make sure you are fully awake before you get behind the wheel of a vehicle. According to the Air Force Safety Center, driving drowsy is as dangerous as driving drunk.

It's always best to start your day with a full, nutritious breakfast. Make sure you grab a cup of coffee to take with you on your excursion.
Not only will the coffee wake you up, but it will be a good companion while you stand in lines waiting for stores to open.

If you are in a location that experiences cold temperatures on Thanksgiving, make sure you bundle up in warm clothes before you head out. You don't want to freeze to death during your shopping trip.

And above all, stay calm and relaxed. You are probably going to run into other shoppers who are less-than-friendly.
Just stay calm, wish them a happy holiday of your choice, and move on. It's not worth getting upset over, or stooping to their level.

Have fun shopping, and be safe!

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