Black Friday is the best time to buy gifts for your loved ones, at the best deals of the season! Going from store to store and staying out all night after filling your belly with turkey from Thanksgiving dinner is now a common tradition for many people. For this Black Friday, here are  some tips to help you determine what to buy, where to buy from, and what to avoid this Black Friday!

• Make a shopping list BEFORE Black Friday: Making a list before going shopping on Black Friday is the most important step to shopping on this hectic day. Ads from different stores come out weeks before the Thanksgiving holiday and give you ample amount of time to browse through and determine which gifts you want to buy. Having a list ready for when you get to the store also allows for you to not have to browse every item the store has out and lets you get in and get out! Also, having a list allows you to look for the best deal at the store with the lowest price!

• Look out for CHEAP products that you DON’T want to buy: Stores will put offers in their ads for new products “never seen in stores before” which have been saved specifically for the Black Friday holiday. These products are NOT the products that will give you the best bang for your buck. Just because their cheap, doesn’t mean they will work the same as a known name-brand company. Cheap items during Black Friday mainly arise in the electronics department-whether it is computers, TVs or phones, don’t fall into the trap of the cheap/insufficiently made products!

• Avoid the most popular/crowded stores: With the best deals of the year, stores will be jam-packed with people wanting the same deal as you. Waiting until the early morning or arriving as soon as  stores open is your best bet to not get stuck with the mass amounts of people pushing and shoving you to get to what they want. If the store you want to visit  has what you want available online for the same price, order online instead of having to get run down by crazy people wanting the Black Friday deals. Stores to avoid (in my opinion) would be Best Buy, Target, Walmart, Victoria’s Secret and Macy’s. These stores always have the highest consumer rate on Black Friday and the lines to these places are MASSIVE!

• Best places to get the best  BANG for your BUCK: Everyone wants a deal this Black Friday, whether it be on electronics, toys, houseware goods or just any random item that catches your eye. Here are some of the top stores to get the products you might want to catch a steal on!

• Walmart: TVs, gaming consoles, houseware goods, phones, printers, and kids toys
• Target: TVs and other electronics, games, kids toys, and clothing for the whole family
• Designer outlets: Designer outlets normally advertise their deals minimally, but they always have the best sales on items for the whole family, like clothes, shoes, handbags or perfumes.

 And of course on the next day, support SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY!: Supporting local business is always a go-to whether  it’s a gift for someone, or something for you! Local businesses can sometimes be  forgotten about during the holiday season because of the craziness of Black Friday deals. . With local businesses, you get quality and a more sentimental gift and also are helping support the business so they can provide for their families this holiday season! Bennington is celebrating small business Saturday right after Thanksgiving by offering extended hours, amazing deals and wonderful gifts for those you love or for yourself!