Some of the best deals on all types of products from computers to toys are found in Black Friday deals offered by retailers across the United States. Learn how to get the best Black Friday deals and save money on gifts for everyone on your Christmas list and even some great items for yourself.

Black Friday is known as one of the busiest shopping days of the year with good reason. Retailers pull out all the stops and offer specials and deals so low that shoppers are lulled out of their turkey induced trance from Thanksgiving and head out of their homes, sometimes at unmentionable hours, to fight with flocks of other shoppers for a chance at the extremely low-priced goods. Retailers use Black Friday to kick of their busiest shopping season and each retailer vies with other retailers for the coveted sales dollars. You can get in on this retail action by learning the steps and tricks of obtaining the best Black Friday deals.

Preparation is key for getting the best Black Friday deals. The best Black Friday deals are usually limited in supply and may be offered for only a few hours. This limited approach makes it impossible for you to casually shop from store to store picking and choosing what items you want to buy. Preparation comes in two forms: knowing what items you need to buy and researching the available deals.

1. Make a Gift List: Craft a gift list for everyone you want to buy presents for. Do not limit yourself only to Christmas presents. Consider stocking up for birthdays, anniversaries or any other gift-giving opportunity. Put down several options for every person on your list so you have some flexibility on Black Friday.
2. Research the Deal: Researching the available deals for Black Friday is one of the most crucial steps, but is now much easier than in the past. There is no need to wait until the last minute when the ads are published to start your research. Look online at the many sites devoted to Black Friday ads. Many ads are leaked weeks or even months in advance. Create a list of every item from each store you want to purchase. Modify this list as new ads are released. You will need to make a final update when the final ads are released around Thanksgiving. Remember to look on each retailer’s website for extra deals no listed in their ads.
3. Discover Policies: Contact your favorite retailers and find out if they will price match other store’s Black Friday ad offers. This information will be extremely valuable in the event some of your top items are sold out.
4. Compile Your Final Lists: Create one list of all the deals you want to purchase at each store and group similar items together and place the gift recipient’s name beside each item for reference. For example, have a section for toys, electronics and for home goods. This categorization will help you shop for similar items faster. Also create a finalized list for each person on your gift list. You will use this list to purchase your second or third choices if the first choice is not available.

No one can physically be at all the stores offering the best Black Friday deals at the same time. This is where your strategy must come in. Construct a group of friends or family members into a Black Friday deals team. Device a strategy where each person is the ‘point person’ for deals at specific stores. Decide which stores need to be targeted first and which ones wait until later in the day. Make sure everyone has a fully charged cell phone for quick communications.

Swap lists for each store and organize accordingly. One person will buy items on their list as well as on other people’s lists. Just make sure everyone is in agreement about how to settle up the financial aspect after all the purchases have been made.

Before you leave your home:

1. Dress comfortably for your Black Friday sales marathon. Comfortable shoes are a must.
2. Make sure you eat before you head out, no matter the time and take some quick snack and beverage items with you.
3. Take along some large shopping bags that you can use in case all the shopping carts are taken.

• -Plan to get to your first store at least 2 hours before the sale begins so you can secure a place in line and obtain a shopping cart. For stores that are open 24 hours a day like Wal-Mart, scour the store to know where the hottest deals are located. Many stores will place highly prized items in the middle of isles on pallets away from their normal location. Use your list to determine where to start your shopping.

• -For stores that don’t open until the sale starts, try to ask managers or staff if items have been moved for the sale. Pick up items in the front of the store first and then work your way back to avoid the extra shoppers coming in after the sale starts. Get as many items as you can, as quickly as you can. Once you have everything on your list, check out.

• -After shopping at your first store, head to the second store and repeat the process. Continually check off items on your lists as you get them and check in with your Black Friday deals team. After hitting 2 or 3 stores, regroup with your team and determine what items you still need to purchase, especially items that were sold out.

• -For the best deals that were sold out at the advertised store, go to the stores where they said they would price match Black Friday ads from other stores and purchase items. If the items were not advertised, you have a good chance that you can get the same deal on in-stock items.

• -Be prepared to take advantage of unadvertised Black Friday specials. Many stores will hand out a list of extra deals only to those people who show up in person for the sales. As long as the store you are shopping at has a good return policy, purchase extraordinary deals on the spot, even for your other team members. You may have to return the items, but you will not miss out on some of the best deals.

Many stores that have an online store will offer many of the same deals on their website as in their stores.

1. Have someone online that will purchase the hottest deals immediately. Check in with this person often if you plan to be in-store as well to make sure you don’t over buy items with costly shipping or difficult returns.
2. Consider focusing on online stores that have free shipping and you can return items easily to a physical store location.
3. Have your online Black Friday shopper buy goods from merchants that do not have a physical store like Amazon.com.

With preparation and a great game plan, you can get the best Black Friday deals.