Does the thought of shopping on Black Friday give you chills? Does the thought of standing in line at 4am to get your door broken in makes you sick? Or get your engines revving, with the thrill of victory.

If you are willing to put up with crowds and are willing to apply to have door smashers, here are some tips for you.

• Make a plan before you get to the store. Study the sale ads closely by comparing prices of similar items at different stores! Pay close attention to items that seem too good to be true, sometimes they have a little note saying “minimum 5 items per store”. Decide ahead of time if it’s worth queuing up to get it. Best to bring a friend or two. You may need help finding your items, transporting them, and getting in line to buy them. If there are two stores you want to shop at that are open at the same time, split your group or decide which deal is the best and lose the others. If your plan is to visit store after store looking for open doors, look for a mall or mall that contains all of those stores in one location, or most of them in one location. This will save you driving time. Also, if you’re going to multiple stores, be sure to pay attention to the time as you shop. You could even assign someone as a timekeeper. A good idea is to have a member of your team check out ahead of time so you don’t have to stand in long lines. In your plan, assign your team members a specific item to obtain and a backup item. Separate when you get to the store. Use cell phones, or even old-fashioned walkie-talkies to talk to each other. If possible, head into the store the day before to familiarize yourself with the different departments where your sale items can be located. Sometimes the staff will give you the details of where the items will be located on Black Friday. Don’t forget that many stores place door-breaking items in the aisles. Always check the aisles on your way to the department in which the item is usually found.
• Wear comfortable shoes and clothing. In case you have to run, carry something heavy or stand in long lines, it is best to go comfortably. Leave your coat in the car so you don’t have to carry it. The blinds will be hot. Obviously, if you’re going to be standing in line outside for hours before the store opens, you might not be able to leave your coat in the car.
• Your bag: It should be quite small, and preferably one that hangs over your body. Worst case scenario, get your fanny pack out of the back of your closet. You can’t afford to use your hands to carry a bag, you’ll probably need those hands to carry your merchandise. Better yet, carry only the necessary credit cards and identification you’ll need in your pockets.
• Carry one or two large bags with shoulder straps. You may not find carts in a crowded store, but that can work to your advantage as you can get around faster without one. Obviously, if you are shopping for a large, bulky item, you may need to purchase a cart.
• If you have room in your bag or pocket, bring dirty paper or just clippings from the items you’re looking for. This will give you the sale price, the exact item for sale, and a picture to show sales associates if you can’t find the item. It will also come in handy at the checkout in case you run up the wrong price. I usually save these listings for a while after Black Friday, just in case I don’t receive the item that day. I use the ads to compare sale prices at a later date. There have been times when the item was cheaper after Black Friday, but not very often.
• Grab everything you can. When you go shopping, grab as many cheap items as you can and cut back later, either at the store out of the way of the crowds or at home. Before you narrow it down, think about all the potential gifts you need. Tote bags, work groups, postman, hairdresser, secret Santa, neighbor, etc. Check the stores return policy to make sure you can return it if you buy too many. Most importantly, don’t forget the gift receipt!
• Trunk space. If possible, drive a big car with a big trunk! Make sure your trunk is clean before you go and that the gas tank is full. If you have an SUV with a retractable cover for its cargo area, make sure it works. When your vehicle is filling up with gifts, you can pull the lid to determine the theft. If you don’t have a retractable cover, bring a large dark blanket, it will serve the same purpose. Pack light snacks and water in the car for a quick energy boost between purchases.
• Above all, use common courtesy and don’t try to get ahead of people who have been waiting in line for hours. It’s not worth fighting for, plus he’s not in the Christmas spirit. Wait in line until their line dies down or get behind them.