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Survival tips for the reluctant Black Friday shopper

The five-day period that starts on Thanksgiving Day and ends on Cyber Monday will bring about two-thirds of Americans out to shop. 

Black Friday remains the busiest shopping day of the year, with roughly half Americans leaving their homes to take part in this consumer ritual. 

Two types of shoppers will be out, said Michael Breazeale, an associate professor of marketing at Mississippi State University, said in an article on the nonprofit website The Conversation. 

If you read those statistics and think, “Bring it on!” then you are likely a social shopper who enjoys the thrill of the hunt and finds crowds energizing. 

If instead, you react to those numbers by booking a root canal so you don’t have to hit the stores, then you’re more likely a task-oriented shopper who prefers to get in and get out with the items you need. You are also more likely to be annoyed by the physical closeness of strangers that is a hallmark of competitive shopping. But don’t call the dentist just yet – there may still be ways for you to comfortably participate in Black Friday and its bargains. 

First, make a list of everyone for whom you would like to find a gift. Then do your research on the sales that might help you achieve your goals. Both of those tasks should appeal to the need for organization that task-oriented shoppers tend to exhibit. 

Next, recognize that the majority of Black Friday devotees are going for the big bargains first, and that means that they’ll head for the big box and department stores. Instead make your first stops the local boutiques and smaller shops that won’t get as much traffic early in the day. 

By the time you’ve taken care of those items on your list, the larger stores will begin to clear out and you can head in. Try avoiding malls and go where you can park close to the store you actually want to visit. Doing this will allow you to feel some degree of control and alleviate some of the stress you feel when you don’t have direction. 

By the end of the day, you can check some things off your shopping list and feel good about the bargains you were able to find, all while maintaining your sanity.

And if you’ve read this far merely to better understand why your significant other doesn’t want to join you on this most special of consumer holidays, just acknowledge your psychological differences. You go ahead and tackle Black Friday with the enthusiasm of a natural-born social shopper. Don’t worry about those who resist – they can always snag Cyber Monday bargains from the comfort of home.