Please pass the turkey, and along with that, the checkbook. Yes, it is officially about to begin, the holiday shopping season’s big kickoff: November 23 or “Black Friday.”

If you have ever gone to the mall on the Friday after Thanksgiving, you probably know that it is pretty wild out there. The first time I went was last year, and I had a blast.

Getting up early and finding all the deals that there are out there is like one big scavenger hunt, and you have to find everything before time runs out.

But if you’re a first timer, there are definitely some things you need to know before going out into the craziness of the malls. So here is a helpful how-to guide on surviving Black Friday.







1. Avoid large chain retail stores if at all possible. Big chain stores that carry food along with day-to-day items are some of the most dangerous places there are to go on Black Friday, especially early in the morning. Even if you just need something like batteries, don’t go to a big chain store--it will just make you frustrated.

So, save yourself the headache and drive down to the drugstore and get batteries there. It will be safer, not to mention less stressful. But in case you do decide to go to one of those large chains, make sure to wear your football gear so you can tackle the crowds.







2. If you are planning on waking up at about three or four in the morning to travel to shop, go to bed early the night before. If you stay up until about midnight and then get up at four, you will not be a happy camper, and that will make for a very cranky shopping day. You will have more fun if you go to bed at a decent hour.







3. Get to the mall early, especially the department stores. You don’t want to miss the deals, and you want to make sure that you get all the freebies--many of the department stores give away free things if you are one of the first people at the doors when they open.

In fact, make a trip to all of the department stores to get all the freebies before beginning your actual shopping. Remember the early bird gets the worm; and if a Mickey Mouse snow globe or a stuffed ornament interests you . . . you need to be that early bird.







4. Have plenty of chocolate and caffeine handy. Since you got up so early, as the day goes on, you will begin to wear down and get tired. To stay awake and peppy keep some change and maybe a couple of Hershey kisses in your pocket (or if you’re really tired, a 5 lb. Hershey bar). That way, when you feel yourself start wearing down, you will be able to revive yourself because the sale goes on.







5. Finally we come to the simplest yet most important thing to remember about Black Friday. You just need to remember to be patient and nice.

When you are waiting in a long line and you feel like giving the cashier a real piece of your mind, remember what you learned in kindergarten: “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don‘t say anything at all.”

You are all waiting in the same long lines with the same task at hand, so just be patient with the employees and with your fellow shoppers. The nicer you are to people, the nicer they will be in return.