Simplified Bee

Black Friday. Just days away, it’s the biggest (and craziest) shopping day of the year. Limited “doorbusters” attract massive crowds and can create endless lines. In many cases bargain items are snatched up in the wee hours of the morning.

So what does one do to best navigate Black Friday Sales? This is the HomeGoods and POPSUGAR mission this week for #TheGifter.

I’m not one for massive crowds, so when I hit the stores on Black Friday I plan ahead and so should you. Here are some of my strategies on how to best navigate Black Friday sales.

Create a List

Be organized.  It’s faster and less stressful to get in and out when you know what you are shopping for. Create a comprehensive list of specific items and how much you want to spend. This way you will avoid impulse buying and going over budget.

Check Return Policies

Make sure you read the fine print regarding returns before buying. Often times, deep discounted items are final sale and therefore not ideal to give as gifts.

Go Where You Know

Valuable time can be lost when shopping at stores for the first time. For this reason I only shop stores I know on Black Friday. Being familiar with the layout, helps you locate items on your list more quickly.

Say No to the Doorbuster

This may be a little controversial, but I find it’s much easier to navigate store aisles if I avoid the “doorbuster.” These items tend to be in limited quantities, yet attract the masses. I aim for less-coveted deals that still provide real value.

Shopping at HomeGoods gives you Black Friday deals  on ever-changing products anytime.  And during the holidays, they allow you to be the ultimate gifter by offering the best value on designer gifts for everyone on your list. Here are some of the remarkable in-store items I uncovered this week at my local HomeGoods…

Acrylic is a huge trend in home decor and can be very pricey. This chic acrylic bamboo style chair caught my eye and the price stopped me in my tracks. It’s a high-end designer look, without breaking the bank.

Large-scale black and white photography or artwork is a perfect way to accessorize and elevate your interiors. It also makes a fabulous gift. This beautifully framed large-scale zebra art was a steal at $199.99 compared to $400 at department stores. Love it!

This exquisite hand-painted serving dish made in Portugal would make a fabulous gift for the cook on your list. Found at HomeGoods for only $20.90 … a HUGE savings from the original $60 price-tag! Now that’s a doorbuster!

It’s your turn to get in on the action and be entered to win a $500 TJX gift card!  Simply tweet your Black Friday tips or a gift idea to any of the TJX brands (HomeGoods, Marshalls and TJMaxx)  using #TheGifter.

Happy shopping!

Cristin

*Disclosure: This post was sponsored by TJX through their partnership with POPSUGAR. While I was compensated to write this post about TJX #TheGifter, all opinions are my own.