The day after Thanksgiving, dubbed Black Friday by a lot of folks, offers sales from pre-dawn to night. For thousands of people, it’s become a kind of yearly competitive sport to see who has the stamina to get the best deals and the most holiday shopping completed in one day. For others, the thought of facing mall traffic jams and crowds in a shopping frenzy has no appeal at all – especially when there is now the stay-at-home alternative of on-line shopping.

If you do decide to hit the stores on Black Friday, strategize in advance. That way you’ll be more likely to grab the real bargains and maybe even have some fun.

Your Black Friday shopping guide

Consider your shopping style. Do you prefer to go it alone so you can zip in and out of stores quickly, or will the day be more enjoyable if you invite like-minded friends and family members who love to bargain hunt to join you? A word to the wise: arrange a babysitter for young kids well in advance. Even if your youngsters usually enjoy a trip to the mall, taking them along as you maneuver through crowds, stand in check-out lines and visit numerous stores will inevitably slow you down – and tire and bore your offspring, too.

Collect ads from the Thanksgiving Day newspaper in your area. Keep a folder with other flyers and promotional materials about Black Friday specials you’ve received in the mail, too. Don’t just look at the prices of items on sale; also check to see if the ads are time-sensitive. For example, deeper discounts may apply if you shop during special extra early morning store hours. The ads will also inform you about stores’ specific Black Friday shopping times (which can start pre-dawn and run until midnight).

Map out your plan. Use the ads to note store locations. Figure out where you are going first and map out your other store visits according to what is closest. That way you won’t waste time, gas and money driving excessively and needlessly retracing your path.

Make a list and check it twice (or three or four times). Sure, you may know what holiday present you want to buy your son, your Uncle Fred and other friends and relatives. But do your homework in advance and be specific about what you are shopping for – you’ll save time if you can focus on specific items and departments.

Do your homework before you make a big Black Friday purchase. This is especially important when buying expensive items like laptops or game systems. Check out product reviews online (for example, at Consumereports.org) to see what products are highly ranked for consumer satisfaction. Remember that you may be better off in the long run if you shop for quality and spend a bit more money when purchasing a big ticket item instead of quickly snapping up a super discounted but less reliable item that’s marked way down to tempt you on Black Friday.

Is it a true Black Friday deal, or a dud? True, deep discounts and great sales abound on Black Friday but don’t assume every enthusiastic ad or supposed deal is actually a true bargain. To help you know for sure, do some pre-shopping research on web sites such as BizRate.com, Shopping.com and PriceGrabber.com to see how much items you are interested in buying should cost.

Dress for the hunt. Figure out your wardrobe for Black Friday shopping – and go for the practical and comfortable over fashion. Forget the high heeled boots. Comfortable shoes are a must for moving quickly and avoiding fatigue. Yes, you may be waiting outside in the cold for a store to open early, but don’t weigh yourself down with a heavy coat you’ll have to lug it around the rest of the day in the mall. Consider a warm but lightweight sweater you can take off inside and tie around your waist or throw in a shopping bag while you’re inside the stores. Don’t drag a heavy purse around, either. Opt for a light weight purse you can wear across your chest or a uni-sex "fanny pack" for your waist.

Don’t forget to bring ads along. You aren’t finished with your Black Friday ads after you’ve mapped out where you are going. Fold them together and take them with you. The reason? If you have an ad handy, you can avoid any disputes over how much an item is supposed to cost on Black Friday. Having the ads is useful at stores promising "lowest-price" guarantees if you’ve found lower prices elsewhere and can verify this with ads.

Extras to help Black Friday shopping go smoother. It’s also a good idea to stick an empty envelope in your bag to keep receipts together in case you need to return something. If you’ll be heading from store to store in your car, keep some bottles of water or juice and easy to eat high protein snacks, like nuts, handy if you get hungry and want to avoid long lines at snack bars and restaurants on Black Friday.

Do your Black Friday shopping from home. More and more online retailers, from Amazon.com to major department stores and computer outlets, are embracing Black Friday as a day of sales. If you hate crowds or the weather is bleak, surf around and you may be able to find Black Friday bargains from the comfort of your home. Be aware that some online sales kick in the minute after midnight on Thanksgiving, so check out your favorite sites in advance to plan your online Black Friday strategies. It might be an unusual way to spend the early hours of the morning, but you’re guaranteed not to get trampled in a crowd or spend valuable time looking for a parking spot – plus you can shop in your jammies.

Sherry Baker is a writer from Atlanta, Georgia. She last wrote the article How to Read and Decipher Food Labels for Synergy.