Black Friday Troubles

Ah, yes!  Black Friday!  A time when all prices are going down at major department stores when you got to get real early in the morning to be one of the first customers at the store when they're open and get the best deals you can find for the holidays.  But you know how it is when you get there, too much traffic jams, over filled parking lots, couldn't find and parking spaces, over crowding, very, very long lines to the cashiers, customers fighting for the same product, some loud customers starting trouble, few customers get into fist fights (I see videos like that on youtube.), the items you wanted to buy are already sold out.  These are the Black Friday Blues.  There are certain things you need to watch out for on Black Friday muggers, con artists, pickpockets and shady people.  Here are some tips to avoid being ripped off while holiday shopping.

1.  Keep your credit cards, cash and checks on the inside coat pockets or fanny packs (just don't wear fanny packs outside your coat.   Use purses or backpacks for personal stuff only like tissue, over the counter medicine like aspirin, sinus and allergy pills, medicine prescriptions, small pack of tissues, etc.
2.  Carry a calculator with you and price each item.
3.  Know your current state tax status
4.  Don't accept any better deals from shady strangers on the streets.
5.  Keep all your store flyers with you just in case cashiers try to overcharge you.  Make sure these flyers are current.
6.  If you've been overcharged by cashiers who refuse to change the price to sales price they advertised, no need to catch an attitude, just get down the cashier's name and write a letter of complaint the store management the next day.
7.  It's better to shop in groups, in case you need witness.
8. If a store clerk serves you deals are that is no within store policy or sounds too phony, don't take them.  If it's too good to be true, guess what?  It is.

These tips can hep you keep track of how much you spend and avoid stress and headaches about prices when shopping for the holidays.  Have fun and stay safe.


Remember, you don't have to be rich and famous to be a diva, being yourself is what a diva is all about.  Blessings!