Enjoy a Stress-free Thanksgiving Weekend with these Black Friday Tips

by Cheryl Price

The holiday season is upon us. I’m not sure how this happened, considering it seems like yesterday that we welcomed in 2013, but of course they do say that time flies when you’re having fun. I guess there’s no reason to complain then, right? This is the time to be thankful, give thanks and eat a lot of turkey in the process. For many of us, we will be celebrating Chanukah simultaneously with Thanksgiving, which is exciting and gives the holiday extra meaning.

Then if course there’s Black Friday….So it’s the time to be thankful for what we have and then trample fellow shoppers who are scrambling for a good deal….in order for our family and friends to have more to be thankful for this holiday season.

I’m not one you’ll find camping out for Black Friday deals. Is that because I’m not a fan of sleeping in my wheelchair on the sidewalk? Or perhaps is it because I don’t want to be knocked out of my chair as a stampede of people rush the Toys R Us entrance? Maybe it has more to do with my love of shopping online, actually, and less about the sleek new Ti-Lite that I use for mobility.

Who needs to lose sleep after a big day of turkey, anyway, when there are sales to be enjoyed online? If you haven’t tried online shopping, I suggest you do. You will thank me later. 

The Black Friday website has many links to great deals: www.theblackfriday.com. You’ll find such limited offers as a $100 Starbucks gift card for $81.20, an extra 20% off regular priced small appliances from Best Buy, as well as links to Black Friday ads from stores such as Macys, Belk, Origins, Staples and much more.

Amazon.com is a hub for anything and everything that you may even need. I happen to be a member of Amazon Prime, so that I have a choice of millions of items with free 2-day shipping. With Prime, you also benefit from unlimited instant streaming of over 40,000 movies and TV episodes, as well as over 350,000 Kindle titles to borrow for free. During the holidays, the free 2-day shipping is a definite bonus. Amazon has wonderful Black Friday deals, which they’re kicking off early. To view these deals, visit www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=384082011.

24/7 Wall St. compiled a list of the best Black Friday deals for 2013: www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/11/20/black-friday-deals-markdowns/3650555. There’s an Xbox 360 at Walmart marked down from $179 to $99; a Sony Wifi Blu-ray Player at Target, originally $105, and reduced to $55 on Black Friday; and a Nikon L320 Digital Camera at Target as well, original price listed as $229 and on Black Friday will be $99. These are merely a few examples of where you can save a considerable amount of money!

For those of us looking to save on travel, Black Friday and the week surrounding it also offers discounts for the jet-setters. Peter Greenberg, Travel Editor for CBS News, published the thorough article, “The Ultimate Guide to Cyber Week Travel Deals: Black Friday, Cyber Monday & More” (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-greenberg/cyber-week-travel-deals_b_4305593.html). Here you will discover that resorts, spas and hotels around the world are offering deals that will make you want to pack your bags immediately! The article provides links to the hotels and specific details about the deals as well.

These days many of us use our Smartphones for…everything…which includes shopping! There are many apps which aid in your shopping experience, and help to find lower prices than you might encounter without the virtual assistance. Adam Lewis, a tech entrepreneur and CEO of Apploi, posted, “The 8 best apps for Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas shopping,” and these tips are well worth clicking on this link: http://venturebeat.com/2013/11/19/the-8-best-apps-for-black-friday-cyber-monday-and-christmas-shopping/. While you’re already familiar with Amazon, Adam lets us know about other helpful apps such as BuyVia and Lemon Wallet. When it comes to shopping on Black Friday and any time before the holidays, these apps and more will make your experience more economical, efficient and enjoyable.

So while you are saying “Yes” to an extra helping of mashed potatoes this year, settling in on the couch to nap after your Thanksgiving meal, or sitting back and enjoying the presence of family, think about what you are grateful for and perhaps what may give your life extra meaning this upcoming year. The answer may be simpler than you expect…however if you’re having trouble with this introspection, perhaps booking a Black Friday deal to a spa will help in that quest! And while it seems hypocritical to spend a day of thanks followed by a day of indulging ones we love, at least now you can do so with good deals!