Six Tips for Surviving Black Friday in Scottsdale

Hi everyone, my name is Jenny and I am the newest contributor at Scottsdale Mom’s Blog. I’m a self-proclaimed shopaholic and there are very few things that get me excited as a big sale. It is the perfect time of year for me to come on board since Black Friday is this week!

I’ve heard from a lot of people who claim they’ve gotten amazing deals by shopping on Thanksgiving evening, but I’ve never done it. I personally love taking the day off, eating a ridiculous amount of calories and dozing off on the couch while watching football. But when Friday morning rolls around, it is GAME ON. I’m ready to save some money and make some serious progress on my gift list. We’ve all heard the horror stories, so here are my tips for surviving Black Friday shopping in Scottsdale:

1. Avoid the big box stores. Unless you REALLY want a big ticket item, stay away from places like Target, Costco and Best Buy. If you ask me, these stores are why Black Friday gets a bad rap. I generally prefer sleep instead of waiting in line for a store to open to save $20 on a TV or video game. I also prefer to avoid altercations with unruly shoppers who may have spotted the last <insert gift we probably don’t need anyways> at the same time as me. Take my advice – avoid these stores at all costs on Black Friday. I find that you can get almost the same pricing online on Cyber Monday from the comfort of your own couch.
2. Hit up the outlet malls. I’ve done Fashion Square, Kierland, Scottsdale Quarter and the Biltmore on Black Friday in the past and found most mall stores typically offer extra savings on Black Friday. However, my absolute favorite Black Friday shopping destination is an outlet mall, either the Anthem Outlets, Tanger Outlets in Glendale or Premier Outlets in Chandler. I drove down to Chandler last year and found every single store had HUGE discounts on top of their already low outlet prices with most offering additional discounts before noon. Which brings me to my next point…
3. Consider the clock. Let’s put it this way, I have A LOT of years of experience shopping on Black Friday. I personally think the best time to shop is between the hours of 6 a.m. and noon. You can get a full night’s rest (let’s face it, our kids typically are up by 6 a.m. anyways) and then hit the stores to find some sales. Most mall stores offer an additional percentage off your purchase before noon. Through my vast experience, I’ve also found that by noon the crowds start to roll in. Plan to head home by noon and avoid the chaos.
4. Go in with a plan. I know, I’m starting to sound crazy, but honestly, this will make sure you get things accomplished. Write down every single person you need to buy for, set a budget, and ask for gift ideas before Thanksgiving. This will help you figure out what shopping centers you should go to and what stores to visit. I’m easily distracted by any additional percentage off sign, so my list helps me stay focused. It also helps me avoid accidentally shopping for myself (does anyone else have this problem??).
5. Scout the ads and selection ahead of time. A lot of the big box stores have had their Black Friday ads out for a few weeks, so you no longer have to waste precious time on Thanksgiving Day deciding if the bargains are worth the hassle. Also, if your mom loves a specific store, browse the website ahead of time to come up with a few ideas of things she might like in your price range. It will save you time on Black Friday aimlessly looking at tables of sweaters trying to come up with gift ideas.
6. Leave the kids at home. This is by far my most important tip for Black Friday survival. Put your hubby in charge of the little ones and grab your mom, girlfriend or head out solo for some shopping fun. Any mom will undoubtedly agree we are about 400% more productive without a screaming toddler repeatedly asking for fruit snacks in tow!

Who else is a Black Friday shopper? Do you have some tips to add? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments!