Are you like me? Do you set a game plan, get up at 4:00AM, hit the ground running and come home with countless bags, ecstatic about all the money you’ve saved? Or are you like Michelle, who uses the day more as a reason to start (and maybe even finish) her shopping. Maybe you’re more like my neighbor, Christine, who stays home and looks up recipes to make using all her Thanksgiving leftovers.

Whatever your personal feelings and strategies, we want to set you straight about Black Friday so that you can arm yourself with all the facts you need to make smart buying decisions.

Just for Fun, a Little History

Back in the early 1860s, President Lincoln decided that Thanksgiving was to be observed on the last Thursday of November. He overlooked the fact that sometimes there are five Thursdays in the month.

This became a large problem in 1939 when two things happened: Thanksgiving fell on the last day of the month and the country was recovering from the Great Depression. The government needed people to spend money to stimulate the economy, so FDR decided to move Thanksgiving to the second to last Thursday of November. Even back then, the government was looking to create “doorbuster anticipation” for the holiday shopping season sooner rather than later. This change lasted only two years though, because US citizens were confused about the date. So in 1941, the fourth Thursday in November was established as the Federal Thanksgiving Day holiday.

Now, here’s the modern-day truth about certainly the craziest shopping day of the year.

Myths Debunked

• It’s the busiest shopping day of the year. No, that’s the Saturday before Christmas. 
• Camp out for the best deals. Go ahead and stay home. Many of the exact same deals are available online.
• Check our ad in the newspaper. Actually the best places to find out about what’s available and on sale are Facebook, Twitter and websites dedicated to Black Friday deals.
• Black Friday prices are the lowest of the season. Normally prices continue to fall as the holidays grow closer. Also, some stores have been known to raise the prices of certain items, then discount them so you think you’re getting a good deal.
• We’ve got great DoorBuster deals. Not all stores stock the on-sale merchandise or they stock just a few so they can run the ad.
• You’ve got to go to the actual store to take advantage of the deals. These days, many of the same deals, plus others, are available online. It’s easy for retailers to adjust their online prices to match whatever the competition is offering.
• Cyber Monday (the online version of Black Friday) is THE day to shop online. Just like the brick and mortar stores, many online sites offer sale prices early, some as early as Thanksgiving Day.
• Money Back Guaranteed! Even if that’s their normal policy, some stores put restrictions on merchandise bought on Black Friday. You may only be eligible for store credit if you want to return something. Be sure to check on this before you buy.

What’s our advice? Do your research and try not to get swept up in the craziness of it all. And please pause to enjoy the true holiday the day before. 

Sources:
Cracked.com - http://www.cracked.com/article_19572_5-black-friday-myths-media-wants-you-to-believe.html
Deal News - http://dealnews.com/features/The-Facts-Behind-15-Black-Friday-Myths-/510992.html
Money - http://money.howstuffworks.com/black-friday-shopping1.htm
Xfinity - http://xfinity.comcast.net/slideshow/finance-blackfridaymyths/myth-seven/