Middletown Journal

Tips to make you a wise bird when you fly off to the mall on Friday

DAYTON, Ohio — In the minds of many Americans, Thanksgiving weekend is as much about the shopping as it is about the turkey.

So we figured combining the two might make shopping tips easier to remember. Heed this advice and you'll be gobbling up bargains like a pro.

— THE STUFFING/THE DRESSING: You can't start the shopping until you've finished stuffing yourself on Thursday. If you've overdone it, you'll be wise to take along the Tums when you head out on Black Friday.

The day after Thanksgiving has been dubbed Black Friday because of the standard accounting practice of using red ink to denote losses and black ink to denote profits. The idea is that this is a day when retailers get back "in the black" after operating "in the red" for previous months.

The truth is although Black Friday is traditionally crazy in terms of customer traffic, it doesn't produce the highest sales volume. That distinction is reserved for either the final Saturday before Christmas or Dec. 23.

As for "the dressing," you'll want to be certain to wear comfortable clothing. If you'll be standing in line waiting for stores to open and cold weather is predicted, take along scarves and gloves. Leave extra clothing in the car while you're inside the store, it will just be cumbersome when you start accumulating packages. Take advantage of stores that offer package and coat checks.

— THE LEGS: These are your body parts most likely to take a beating if you spend the entire day at the stores, and many folks do just that. It's a tradition for some families to be waiting in line long before dawn. So wear your most comfortable shoes and consider giving yourself a foot-and-leg massage before starting out and at the end of the day, when you're pooped.

— THE THIGHS: Does Aunt Elsie wear a 12 or a 14 in pants? Is Henry a large or small when it comes to winter gloves? It's important to know the correct thighs for everyone on your list, so jot them all down and take them along with you. (OK, we know this one's a stretch!)

— THE WINGS: Black Friday isn't the time to "wing it." Savvy shoppers "case the joint" beforehand so they know exactly what they're looking for and where it's likely to be located. Head right for your targeted prize, then to the check-out line. You can count on it being long, so bring along your nicest disposition and your patience. Remember that this is a tough and pressure-filled time for the shopkeepers and clerks — many are up and headed to work at 3 a.m. and will work an amazingly long day.

— THE DRIPPINGS: They're great for adding flavor to the turkey stuffing, but not so great when they're come from your infant or toddler. Be sure to pack extra disposable diapers and other materials you might need during the day, including toys to keep little ones occupied in a stroller. When possible, leave the baby with someone at home; malls get pretty crowded, and little ones are likely to be overwhelmed. Some savvy shoppers leave baby at home, but bring along the stroller to use for carrying packages.

— A BREAST: For many families and groups of friends, the Friday after Thanksgiving has become a traditional annual outing. It's important to stay abreast of one another so you won't get lost. Cell phones are great in this situation, or pick a spot to meet periodically. According to Wander Wear, Inc., a parent-run company that makes items to help parents reunite with lost kids, the most common place for a child to get lost is in the mall. Include a safe form of contact information or ID on a child, and tell your children to look for a security guard or courtesy phone if they get lost. (Check out www.wander-wear.com for accessories and clothing.)

For many shopping parties, a lunch break is a highlight of the day. If you're not heading home for leftovers, pick a lunch spot ahead of time for meeting. Restaurants will be crowded, so you're wise to avoid noontime.

— EARLY BIRDS: The early bird is likely to get the limited advertised specials, so check out the ads and prioritize based on store openings. Set your alarm clock — some shoppers are in line by 4 a.m. — and head out early. Some stores — like Best Buy, which opens at 5 a.m. this year — serve coffee and donuts to those waiting in the parking lots. What nice customer service.

— THE LEFTOVERS: At the end of the day, take stock of what you've accomplished. Keep all receipts and tags, and include anything that will make it easier for the recipient to make returns and exchanges.

Meredith Moss writes for the Dayton Daily News.