A survival kit for Black Friday 2013.

thSome people are wondering whether Black Friday is dead. I wouldn’t order funereal flowers just yet.

Sure, some retailers have been testing the waters with early-November sales and are planning to jump the gun with “Gray Thursday” doorbusters. In addition, shoppers are getting savvier; knowing that not every “sale” price is in fact the best price, we’re less likely to blow the entire holiday budget immediately after Thanksgiving.

Yet some of those Gray Thursday/Black Friday/Cyber Monday loss leaders really are pretty splendid. For example, you’re not likely to find decent-quality bath towels for $2 at any other time of the year.

That’s why we have deal-finding apps: They help us sort the wheat from the chaff. This week’s giveaway is sponsored by FatWallet.com, a site that combines online coupons, cash-back shopping, and a community of fierce deal hounds who delight in posting the best possible combinations of low prices, cash-back and rebates.

The FatWallet Black Friday app lets you search by category (towels, Barbies, camouflage) or by retailer. You can filter by price, search all doorbusters, inquire about rebates, collect e-coupons (no clipping), look for free shipping and even purchase the items immediately from your phone.

(Those of us who don’t own smartphones can access the app on our treadle-powered laptops. Woo hoo!)

What’s this got to do with surviving Black Friday? Good question.

The folks at FatWallet have put together a mock “survival kit” for those who plan to shop early on, whether that’s at home in your sweatpants or lining up at a store on a chilly November night. The kit includes:

  • FatWallet T-shirt: Let others know that you are strong with the deal-seeking Force.
  • FatWallet pens: Maybe you, like me, still read the print ads. If so, circle away.
  • A double-walled, BPA-free tumbler, also with a FatWallet logo, that can be used for hot beverages or cold drinks: It’s important to stay hydrated during your shopping trip, after all, or to warm up if you’re visiting actual rather than virtual stores in a cold climate.
  • Snack items: These will help keep up your strength whether you’re on foot or online. The treats include chocolate chip cookies, cheese crackers, granola bars and candy.
  • FatWallet zippered tote bag: Shaped like a typical gym bag but it also has a shoulder strap. Use it to carry some of those bargains home vs. asking for paper or plastic. It’s great to be part of the solution (vs. being part of the precipitate).
  • FatWallet stress ball: Don’t let the holidays freak you out. If you feel yourself tightening up, squeeze the living daylights out of this thing.
  • $25 Amazon gift card: You already know what that’s for, right?
  • Mardi Gras beads: These frankly puzzle me. But they sure look festive.

Incidentally, the app already contains Black Friday ads from more than 60 major retailers, making it easy for you to determine whether something you want/need will be available at an unbeatable price.

If you were about to buy appliances, technology, clothing or some other item, run the info through the app and see if anything resonates. This may be the best time all year to buy camouflage Barbie towels.

To enter:

If you do any (or all!) of these things, please leave separate, additional comments to get credit for each entry.

The deadline is 7 p.m. PST Tuesday, Nov. 19. If I don’t hear back from the winners by 7 p.m. PST Wednesday, Nov. 20, I’ll pull another name.

Note: Due to the high cost of international shipping, a winner outside the United States will be given a choice of gift cards in addition to the Amazon gift card; the bag o’goodies will be sent to another reader.

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173 thoughts on “A survival kit for Black Friday 2013.”

  1. I’ve read your pieces since the original 12K a year post – mostly because I was that broke or worse! I’d love that goodie bag!

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  2. Hummmm. Makes me wonder if I will end up in the black Friday fever now. I do like to get clothing deals on black Friday. People aren’t usually frantic over men’s jeans at Wal Mart. 🙂

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  3. I like Gray Thursday/Black Friday/Cyber Monday as long as I can shop from the comfort of my home on the computer! Dealing with the crowds no longer appeals to me, and I would rather just go without that “must have” item.

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  4. With 6 less days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, as opposed to last year, I have already started picking up a few things to help make shopping a little easier. I do not like the fact that some stores are opening on Thanksgiving because I will opt to stay home and continue our holiday traditions with family, but I will feel like I am missing out by not venturing out to the stores. In the end, everything will work out and I will get the gifts I need. I just do not want to see Thanksgiving overlooked just so we can catch a deal and I am afraid that will happen in years to come.

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  5. Nice work Donna and thank you! From all the hard workers at FatWallet.com, we so appreciate the Black Friday call outs and wish everyone the most savings they can possibly get this year!!!
    …btw, I’ve been scouring through all the ads and like ’em or not, the Best Buy and Walmart Black Friday deals are very impressive and as good, if not better than last year’s pricing. The best part of this year’s offerings, for all us penny pinchers, is that there’s thousands of choices for great gifts under $20 and several stores are including substantial gift cards with the bigger ticket items like iPads and iPhones (…a smart, and perhaps only way for retailers to offer a discount on Apple stuff!). Have a great holiday everybody! Brent

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  6. Would like to win…but Black Friday doesn’t hold the same magic as it once did for DW and I. DD1 has a family of her own now with her own set of traditions that does not include departing at 4AM to go shopping. And DD2 is away at college this semester on the “left coast” and won’t be home as she has her own plans. Tis a sad Black Friday indeed!

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  7. Slickdeals, Oakley Vault, Steepandcheap, mypoints, St Vinnies, Goodwill, and sewing. Oh yeah, I’ve got gift coverage for my large Gen X offspring clan. Can pinch a penny and make it yell. Can always use a little help! Great commentary, and love the column.

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  8. Sounds like a good kit… although i will be working on both Thanksgiving and Black Friday. Bracing myself for it now by making casseroles ahead of time.

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  9. Wow !, lot’s of comments already. Give a way looks like it would work just as well for those of us that have to work on Black Friday too. : )

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  10. Loved that pun about “be part of the solution, not part of the precipitate”! And I thought I’d forgotten high school chemistry. thanks for the laughs!!

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  11. Maybe this is just what I need to get into the BF mood. Cuz I’ll tell ya… I’m just not feeling it this year! (I follow on Twitter.)

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  12. Does the app work on our treadle powered desktops as well as laptops, for those of us who are REALLY from the dark ages? I follow you on Facebook and on your blog. Hoping for the random generator to strike twice!

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  13. I still love those paper ads! I like sitting at the kitchen table with my morning mocha reading the paper and circling the ads 🙂
    someluckydog at gmail dot com

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  14. I follow you on FB. Also, is it just me or is dragging Black Friday into Thursday a crappy move on the part of the retailers? I loved hitting the stores at 5/6am on Fridays.

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  15. This is a great giveaway! I usually try to make it out for Black Friday, but with a newborn this year, I just might be shopping more online. Although I’d still love to get out for a little bit 🙂

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  16. I just subscribed! Thanks for the chance to win, I have been following you on MSN for a while and hadn’t seen you in a bit so I ‘binged’ you today and found you site! Good to see you again!

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    • Thanks for looking for me! And keep coming back, because I have a giveaway every Friday. (And good articles the rest of the time!)

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