Maybe it’s the same in your house. Thanksgiving is filled with food, family, fun…and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The arrival of jolly Santa at the end of the parade marks the beginning of the Christmas season in our house. With the arrival of Christmas, comes shopping. Every special person on your list deserves the best you can get them. So why not save a few pennies in the process?

The day after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday because it is the day most stores finally start making a profit for the year (hence the term “black”). What that translates into is a ton of sales. For you – crowds. Many people choose to skip the Black Friday craziness all together, but if you are like me, there are simply some deals too great to pass up. Here are some tips to make your Black Friday shopping a bit easier.

1. See who has what. Many stores have their Black Friday ads online as of Thanksgiving day. You can also try to get a paper the day before Thanksgiving, but it’s hit or miss as to whether they will be there or not. Take your list and compare it to the ads. Target the more expensive gifts on your list and see who has what and how much. If you know you are getting a great deal, make a note.

2. Check the times. When sorting through your sale fliers, make of note of any special times on the sales. Black Friday is known for it’s doorbusters, so some items may only have that pricing for a short time. Pick your battles and go after the items you want most.

3. Keep an open mind. A lot of people are just getting into the Christmas spirit, the lines are long, and parking is horrific. Be open to the fact that you might get there after the item you want is sold out. Be prepared to stand in-line for an hour, easily. Be kind to the salespeople – they have likely been up since hours no one should be up at.

If the idea of Black Friday gives you chills, don’t worry. Thanks to the internet, Cyber Monday will give you many great deals of its own (and you can do it in your pajamas!).