If you didn’t already know, Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving. It is a day where stores kick off the holiday shopping season with special deals and discounts to attract large numbers of shoppers. I have yet to see any of the Black Friday ads for this year. In years past by this time the big ads (Target, Walmart, Toys R Us, etc.) had been leaked already and posted on some of the special deal sites like Gotta Deal. Being the advanced planner that I am, I like to review the ads as early as possible and make my shopping plans for Black Friday. It’s hard to find the time to go through the sale ads on Thanksgiving Day.

There are only a few items I am looking for but it would be nice to know if they were going to be on sale on Black Friday. Otherwise, I could just purchase them now and save myself the hassle of shopping that day. Sometimes I have found that current sale prices on items I am looking for are better prior to the Black Friday sales, so I am diligently watching the sales now (especially the Toys R Us Big Toy Book as well as Target’s Toy Catalog). Both of these have discount prices that expire on November 21, the day before Thanksgiving.

I do have some Black Friday strategies that I shared last year. Here are the basics:

1. Review the ads as early as possible and compare current prices to sale prices. Can you purchase the item more cheaply now?

2. Know the store policies on price guarantees, returns, refunds, and price matching. In years past some people have done quite well on Black Friday through price matching, where one store will match the advertised price from a competitor store. Also, find out if you can purchase an item prior to Black Friday and get a refund of the difference if the price on Black Friday is lower.

3. Check to see if the store will make their Black Friday sale prices available online as well. This can save a lot of time waiting in line. We purchased our digital camera at Target a couple of years ago this way.

4. Look for items that people have hidden on the morning of Black Friday. I’ve found that people like to “hide” items to make it easier for them to make sure they obtain the Black Friday items. This happens during Target’s clearance times as well. The most popular hiding places are in the bedding, housewares, and furniture departments. I once found an Oneida stainless steel flatware set (that had gone on clearance to 75% off) hidden between the boxes of bookshelves in the furniture department.

Target is having a clearance sale on the footed fleece pajamas now including the Dora and Blues Clues ones.  Clearance price is $3.24.  Great time to stock up on these if you live where it is cold.  Consider buying sizes for next year too.

Target has several different models of car seats on sale this week. 

Cosco Convertible Car Seat:  Alpha Omega Elite with 5-point harness - $125

Graco Belmont Youth Booster Car seat - A backless booster for kids 40 to 100 pounds - $15

Graco Belt Positioning Booster Car Seat for kids 30 to 100 pounds - $39

Eddie Bauer Harness Booster Car Seat for toddlers 20 to 40 pounds - $99.

Sale prices are advertised from January 21, 2007 through January 27, 2007.