While most people are looking forward to Halloween and Thanksgiving, some of us avid shoppers anticipate Black Friday deals this year. Though many people fear this shopping event due to the traffic and parking nightmares, some deals are justifiable for it. To make the most out of your Black Friday shopping and avoid as much stress as possible, all you need to do is a little planning and smart thinking. Please consider these Black Friday traffic and parking tips if you plan to tackle your holiday shopping early.
Plan Out Your Route Beforehand
You should know better than to not dive headfirst into Black Friday. This often leads to people going into stores and making unnecessary purchases. Instead, you should scope out the deals and determine which stores you need to hit before leaving your house. Before you plan on running store to store to compare prices, consider using your phone to save you the extra trip. Apps like ShopSavvy, ShopKick, or RedLaser are designed to help, but you can also look on the retailers' websites.
Practice Safe Driving (& Avoid Distractions)
When traffic is heavy and people are in a hurry, the last thing you need to deal with is an accident. Please remember to put your cell phones away and leave the volume dial alone. And for extra safety, it's best to maintain extra space between the car in front of you. Lastly, please use your signal to communicate with other people in traffic where you need to go.
Park With Care
Parking can be one of the most significant inconveniences on the biggest shopping day of the year. Black Friday parking can wreak havoc between people fighting over parking spots, jam-packed lots, and narrow spaces. Here are some words of advice to take!
- Back out slowly and carefully - Backing up causes 25 percent of parking lot accidents in the U.S. each year.
- Watch for pedestrians
- Park further out - It may be a long walk to get to and from the mall entrance, but you may have it easier leaving.
- Put back your shopping car - There's nothing worse than finding a parking spot just for there to be a shopping cart left in the middle of it.
With so many people out on the road the day after Thanksgiving, you may run into some unexpected mishaps. Planning can make your life easier, but some things are out of your control. The best thing you can do is follow these tips and remain calm.
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