jarerice Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 How do you stay organized on Black Friday? In the past couple of years, I make a BF binder and it works great. The other shoppers love it and it helps me to know where I am going next, who has what and who will price match. What about you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afrey66 Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 I use spreadsheets and copies of the ads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theboyzmom Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 I have a bag that I only use on BF; it has a clear pocket on one side and a deep inside. On the clear pocket size I put my sales flyers which I have stapled (that way when you are trying to whip through one you don't lose any of those pages) and a list of what I want from which store. Inside the bag I keep extra copies of flyers along with my chocolate, drink and money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarerice Posted November 7, 2008 Author Share Posted November 7, 2008 I got the BF binder idea from someone on GD a fews ago. I love using it. Everyone is always impressed with it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amberjobryant Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 wow you guys are organized, I have a list of items that each person is after for each store (area assignments) and then a pile of ads in the back seat, last year I tried to use a folder but it was abandoned after the first store Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikesgirl Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 I have a spiral notebook with a list of what I want from each store which i put into a folder with all my ads. I keep a second complete set of ads in my truck.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ribbit1072 Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 When you guys talk about a "binder" what exactly do you put in it and how? I usually just write everything I'm getting at which store on a sheet of paper, but I was interested in the binder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohitsunshine Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 When you guys talk about a "binder" what exactly do you put in it and how? I usually just write everything I'm getting at which store on a sheet of paper, but I was interested in the binder.Ditto Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msl94 Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 We will make a list of stores and organize the ads in the order of store openings. Once that is done, my wife will place a color-coded sticky note on the page to find the item we need from that store. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leah_steven Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 I take a notebook with my gift list, print up the shopping list from here, and then my flyers. I mark after every store who I bought for and how much I spent. Keeps me on the budget, and I don't buy double gifts. Might try the binder this year though!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floridasun5 Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 I dont get anywhere near that organized LOL I keep my shopping list on my iPhone and I take just the ads with me that have things that I want, sometimes I circle or star the items. But, I just shop until everything from the ads that I take with me is done and I'm done. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbarry1974 Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 I use a 3 ring binder, i three hole punch the ads and organize them in the order of how i'm going to visit each store. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeliesMom Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 I have a spiral notebook with a list of what I want from each store which i put into a folder with all my ads.Me too. I write everything in my spiral notebook. I have xmas lists already made out and a list of all the stuff I have already bought in this notebook too. I just tuck the ads in my notebook. Last year I wasn't near as organized as I am this year. We just bounced around from store to store. But this year I will have a plan of which stores I am going to and go in order! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopeky94 Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Since I rarely want more than a few items from each ad, I prefer not to carry around the entire store ad, even if it's stapled together. Last year, I cut out and taped the items from each ad that I wanted to look for onto sheets in a spiral notebook, with the name of the store and any time info needed (like opening and end of early bird specials). My mom laughed at me, and I'll agree it did remind me of something I'd do as a little kid when I didn't have any paper dolls to play with- LOL- but it was very nice to have everything from a particular store on a minimal number of pages, with pictures so I'd know exactly what to look for! And on the rare chance that two things I wanted were back-to-back in the ad, I printed one of them off of the ad scans here! :) When I got to a store, I tore out that store's pages so I wouldn't have as much to carry. I also wrote the page # from the ad beside each pic, so if I had to get an associate to help, I could grab a regular ad and show them what I'm looking for (they seem to recognize it better in the actual ad than on my paper). Then on the way out the door, I stuck the pages in the bag with my purchases, to compare at home (or in case I wanted to stop by again later in the day). All in all, it was a little time-consuming, but worth it enough that I'll probably do it again this year! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theboyzmom Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 my sil did the cut out the pics and paste them on her list...worked great for her EXCEPT when she wanted to price-match at Walmart cause one store ran out of her item...she needed my intact ad to get the pm (I know some of you have stores that aren't that 'anal' about it, but here it depends on who you get); they insisted on having the store name at the top, dates and times, etc on the ad all right there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarerice Posted November 7, 2008 Author Share Posted November 7, 2008 I use a 3 ring binder, i three hole punch the ads and organize them in the order of how i'm going to visit each store.This is what I do. I also make a list what what I want to buy and what store it's at. I use a 3 hole punch for all of the ads and the binder goes with me everywhere. I also mark things that I may be able price match. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrisinTn Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 This is what I do. I also make a list what what I want to buy and what store it's at. I use a 3 hole punch for all of the ads and the binder goes with me everywhere. I also mark things that I may be able price match.ooohhh, I'm so unorganized. I may have to try this - thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucyismycat Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 I use my pda for all Black Friday info. I have a spreadsheet of gift lists, from that I'll peruse the ads until I figure out where I'm getting what. From that I'll create a new Handyshopper list that's organized by store, in the order of their opening time, and if I happen to have the information, I'll put the aisle number that the item is in (This works GREAT at Meijers!). I also enter the page number of the ad for each item and the cost. I keep paper copies of each ad in the car, stapled together in the order of stores I'll be visiting. I just rip each one off as I get ready to go into that store in case there's a question about how much something is. This works ok, but I don't pricematch. If I did, I could see where I'd have to have some kind of binder...maybe with those clear plastic sheet holder things so I could pull the ad out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arci122 Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Have a binder for the print out ads. A plastic baseball card holder sleeve for the coupons, and a page protector for the receipts. Saves a mess in the vehicles! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustysky Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 wow you guys are good, I could never carry that stuff around with me. Normally I have 2-3 stores on my must shop list, I do keep a list that I type out of each persons wish list and I have the ads which end up folded in my purse. I would be so annoyed with carrying a binder, I can hardly stand my purse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Illinoismom Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 (edited) My binder, the indexs of where the ads are in the book, my gift giving lists, the ads as they come off gotta deal then replaced with the actual ads envelopes for the reciepts http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f137/Illinoismom/th_p1010004.jpghttp://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f137/Illinoismom/th_p1010003-1.jpghttp://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f137/Illinoismom/th_p1010002-1.jpghttp://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f137/Illinoismom/th_p1010001-1.jpg I would be lost with out my book, My kids know that is sacred and they dare not look in it, I also buy two sets of ads, You would not believe how many people I have helped because at a finger tip I could tell them a price or where to find it. Edited November 7, 2008 by Illinoismom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakesmommy403 Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Wow. I am totally not that organized. lol.... I have a wrinkled ad in one hand and a scribbled list in the other. I might try to get a little more put-together for this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlezar Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 My binder, the indexs of where the ads are in the book, my gift giving lists, the ads as they come off gotta deal then replaced with the actual ads envelopes for the reciepts http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f137/Illinoismom/th_p1010004.jpghttp://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f137/Illinoismom/th_p1010003-1.jpghttp://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f137/Illinoismom/th_p1010002-1.jpghttp://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f137/Illinoismom/th_p1010001-1.jpg I would be lost with out my book, My kids know that is sacred and they dare not look in it, I also buy two sets of ads, You would not believe how many people I have helped because at a finger tip I could tell them a price or where to find it.That is seriously organized! Do you carry a big tote with you to keep it in or do you keep it in your cart as you shop? I just have one big list w/stores in order of visit plus all the stuff I need to pick up there. I usually bring the ad in my purse. The rest of the ads stay in the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wx4svr Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 I usually keep a binder with me, but this year, I am sticking with my iPhone. It has everything I need on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Illinoismom Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Since I rarely want more than a few items from each ad, I prefer not to carry around the entire store ad, even if it's stapled together. Last year, I cut out and taped the items from each ad that I wanted to look for onto sheets in a spiral notebook, with the name of the store and any time info needed (like opening and end of early bird specials). My mom laughed at me, and I'll agree it did remind me of something I'd do as a little kid when I didn't have any paper dolls to play with- LOL- but it was very nice to have everything from a particular store on a minimal number of pages, with pictures so I'd know exactly what to look for! And on the rare chance that two things I wanted were back-to-back in the ad, I printed one of them off of the ad scans here! :) When I got to a store, I tore out that store's pages so I wouldn't have as much to carry. I also wrote the page # from the ad beside each pic, so if I had to get an associate to help, I could grab a regular ad and show them what I'm looking for (they seem to recognize it better in the actual ad than on my paper). Then on the way out the door, I stuck the pages in the bag with my purchases, to compare at home (or in case I wanted to stop by again later in the day). All in all, it was a little time-consuming, but worth it enough that I'll probably do it again this year! That is seriously organized! Do you carry a big tote with you to keep it in or do you keep it in your cart as you shop? I just have one big list w/stores in order of visit plus all the stuff I need to pick up there. I usually bring the ad in my purse. The rest of the ads stay in the car. Just the Binder goes in the store Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopeky94 Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 my sil did the cut out the pics and paste them on her list...worked great for her EXCEPT when she wanted to price-match at Walmart cause one store ran out of her item...she needed my intact ad to get the pm (I know some of you have stores that aren't that 'anal' about it, but here it depends on who you get); they insisted on having the store name at the top, dates and times, etc on the ad all right thereI can see where that could be a problem, but... the only stores I price match with at Walmart are ones we don't have (or only have a very small one) in the area where I'll be shopping- like Best Buy, Radio Shack, etc. They're close enough to PM with (about 30 miles away) but I'm not ABOUT to try to fight the huge, crazy crowds to get there! LOL So those ads that I know I'll be PMing with, I don't cut apart-- but I thin it out when possible, keeping just the outside cover pages and the pages with the items I want to PM, all of it stapled together of course. If it's more than one or two places in the ad(s), I slap a sticky note by it in the ad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bugsette Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 I'm going to do the binder thing this year thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohitsunshine Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Omg! The binder is so organized! And here my family thought I was nuts and I do not even have a binder! Great idea! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theboyzmom Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 ya...that binder is DA BOMB!!!! I'm an organization FREAK and I don't have anything like that.... what are the color bars???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Illinoismom Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 ya...that binder is DA BOMB!!!! I'm an organization FREAK and I don't have anything like that.... what are the color bars????each color is a number each number is a store or my kids Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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