It’s been a while since I’ve done the wake-up-at-5AM-and-go Black Friday shopping routine. While I enjoy the rush, it’s difficult to get going so early (especially after eating a huge meal the night before), and potentially not worth if you don’t have a strict list of objectives for early morning shopping. This year, I’m going to help you (and myself) prepare.This year I want to shop smarter, and here’s how am I going to approach Black Friday.

First, there are a number of sales already going on. Many department and warehouse stores are having early Black Friday sales to get us shopping earlier.

For example, Amazon is now offering “Lightening Deals” every day on everything from electronics, to toys, to books, to movies. Despite all of these great deals, their best deal seems to be the “penny-pincher” sale of smartphones (excluding iPhones) for $.01 with a new contract.

If you want to further investigate the sales this season, one of my favorite online tools lays out all of the best deals on electronics in one place.

Gizmodo’s Ultimate Black Friday Gadget Cheat Sheet allows you to shop by store, and more specifically by category.

Alternatively, if you’re feeling restless on Thursday night, many retailers have announced that they will open at midnight, and some will even open at 9-10PM on Thanksgiving evening.

If you plan to take advantage of any upcoming sales, be sure to consider what types of things you should and shouldn’t buy on Black Friday. Smart shoppers will focus on mostly new electronics including TVs, computers, and even kitchen appliances. We suggest avoiding older technology and clothing, as there are better times to shop for these items. Just make sure you’re buying things you need/want, rather than items available for a particularly low price that you may not have any use for.

We recommend doing your research before you hit the stores or do any online shopping. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the different types of items you’re looking for so that you can save time when you decide to make a purchase.

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It seems that the morning rush on Friday is quickly becoming a thing of the past with retailers focusing on online sales and promotions. Stay tuned for Make It Work’s Black Friday online sale! If you’re not already signed up to receive deals and our newsletter, you can sign up here.

Want more tips?

Read TV & Home Theater | Make It Work’s Holiday Shopping Guide Part I
and Computers & Tablets | Make It Work’s Holiday Shopping Guide Part II

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