One of the busiest shopping days of the year is black Friday. Parents are out shopping for their children, and others are shopping for their friends and family. But is there a rhyme and reason to approaching black Friday? The answer is yes! Stores will send out black Friday ads in the mail or newspapers up to a week before the sale starts. Keep these sale papers as they will be your map to shopping. If you use coupons, then don't stop using them on black Friday. You can rack up some awesome deals if you have coupons for the items that are on sale. Make a list of things that you are going to shop for and then search all of the sales ads for those items. Once you find what you are looking for, circle it and write down the store beside the item. Check all the stores you want to shop at to find the cheapest price. When you have your list completed, go to sleep early the night before black Friday so you are well rested for the crowds and shopping. Once black Friday arrives, take your sales ads, the list of things you want to buy and your coupons if you have them. Make sure you get to the store early so you don't have to wait in line. This will also ensure that you get what you are looking for before they are sold out. When the doors open, make your way to the first items that you want to buy. Start with the things that you know you want to buy before you get anything else. If you waste time looking at things that you don't really want to buy, then you might not get what you do want to buy. If there is an item on your list and it is sold out, then try finding something similar that you can substitute it with. Sometimes you can find things that are cheaper this way because no one else wants them. Be prepared for the crowds and plan to spend at least your morning shopping on black Friday.