The day after Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season. The day after Thanksgiving, which is referred to as Black Friday, is the day that retailers open early and offer big discounts on many of their best selling products.

Many major retailers will list their promotions in advance of the Thanksgiving Day holiday, but additional special offers and discounts are also made available that are not widely advertised. Preparing for the day after Thanksgiving sales requires gathering as much information about the advertised sales as possible. It is recommenced that you purchase the Sunday newspaper prior to Black Friday, visit the retailers themselves in the days prior to this shopping dayt to gather any circulars that they may have as "in-house" promotion of the upcoming sales, and also go online to view the special sale items and avail yourself of any printable discount coupons that certain retailers post on their websites.

Keep in mind that many shoppers wait eagerly for this day, so also be prepared to start early. Most retailers open early in the morning, some as early as 4 am, on that day to accommodate the rush of people. Keep a level head and remember, that on some sale items, although not all, rain checks may be offered by the retailer if the item were to sell out.

1. Go early! Find out ahead of time what time the stores you want to visit will be opening so you can beat the crowds.
2. Bring your ads with you so you don't forget what you want to purchase, and in case there is a discrepancy between the advertisement and what's in the store.
3. Make a list of the items that you want to purchase.
4. Make sure to always read the fine print in the ad for the number of items available at that particular price and whether or not rain checks will be offered.
5. Keep alert for special promotions and sales available only during certain hours. Many retailers offer extra savings on specific merchandise during the first hours of the Black Friday shopping day.