Tips to stay in the black during Black Friday

The folks over at CouponShack.com, a coupon savings site similar to Tgiblackfriday.com and FatWallet.com, offer a few tips to help consumers make the most out of the upcoming Black Friday shopping weekend.

"The best advice I have for consumers this holiday season is the early bird catches the worm so plan ahead on your holiday shopping," says Sok Verdery, CEO of CouponShack.com.

Here are the tips:

1. Get a notebook and make a list the week before of everyone you have to shop for. Jot down some ideas and set a budget for each person. Create a plan and don't deviate from the plan.
2. Price compare the Black Friday prices with online prices by using CouponShack.com's coupon price comparison search engine.
3. Shop for the deal and avoid the add-ons. Some retailers will entice you into the deal and charge you more for the accessories.
4. Don't buy the extended warranty. It's usually not worth the extra cost and many credit card companies like American Express provide warranties on purchase made with their credit card.
5. Mark the items of interest and bring the Black Friday ads with you. This keeps you focused and allows you to comparison shop.
6. Bring cash. Shoppers who pay for purchases with cash are estimated to save about 20% versus using a credit card. If you are disciplined, then this does not matter as much.
7. Check the store for price-matching policies. If they offer price match, bring the ad or printout with you.
8. Check the store's return policy. That way, if you find it cheaper elsewhere, you can return it and purchase from the cheaper store.
9. If the store drops the price of the item at a later date, find out if the store will honor the new lower price.
10. Once you have decided which stores you will purchase from on Black Friday, check out sites like CouponShack.com, TgiBlackFriday.com and FatWallet.com for printable coupons to take with you.

Click here for the lowdown.

Crazed parents flock for Zhu Zhu Pets in Florida

Our favorite Black Friday video for 2009? It has to be a clip from Fox 13 in Tampa-St. Petersburg featuring a pack of crazed shoppers on the prowl for Zhu Zhu Pets at the Toys R Us in Clearwater, Florida.

Here's the lowdown from the report:

There were an estimated 1,000 people in line before the store opened, and at one point, store managers asked police to keep an eye on the line, which wrapped around the building.

What's a Zhu Zhu? Robotic hamsters. Yes, the furry critters that come in five different characters have parents all worked up in a shopping tizzy.

Click here for details.

No. 1: Video countdown to Black Friday 2009

Black Friday, or the day after Thanksgiving and the beginning of the traditional holiday shopping season, is around the corner. Can't get into the gift-giving spirit?

Don't fret.

Consumer United Advocate plans to unveil its favorite Black Friday video clips to shock you into the spirit.

Click here for more Black Friday videos.

No. 2: Video countdown to Black Friday 2009

Black Friday, or the day after Thanksgiving and the beginning of the traditional holiday shopping season, is around the corner. Can't get into the gift-giving mood?

Don't fret.

Consumer United Advocate plans to unveil its favorite Black Friday video clips to shock you into the spirit.

If people run like this everyday, we won't need campy shows like "America's Biggest Loser." When it comes to Black Friday Sale, people are strapped on with their running shoes. Beware Usain Bolt!

No. 3: Video countdown to Black Friday 2009

Black Friday, or the day after Thanksgiving and the beginning of the traditional holiday shopping season, is this week. Can't get into the gift-giving spirit?

Don't fret.

Consumer United Advocate plans to unveil its favorite Black Friday video clips to shock you into the spirit.

This clip shows how employees keep their spirits high when it comes to working late at night for Thanksgiving Weekend sale. Spare a thought for the sales girls!

No. 4: Video countdown to Black Friday 2009

Black Friday, or the day after Thanksgiving and the beginning of the traditional holiday shopping season, hits this week. Can't get into the gift-giving mood?

Don't fret.

Consumer United Advocate plans to unveil its favorite Black Friday video clips to shock you into the spirit.

For clip No. 4, folks are falling head over heel on Black Friday at Wal-Mart in 200. Literally. This clip is like the running of the bulls in Spain.

Click here for more Black Friday videos.

No. 5: Video countdown to Black Friday 2009

Black Friday, or the day after Thanksgiving and the beginning of the traditional holiday shopping season, is around the corner. Can't get into the gift-giving mood?

Don't fret.

Consumer United Advocate plans to unveil its favorite Black Friday video clips to shock you into the spirit.

All hell breaks loose when there's only a limited supply of on-sale products. In this festive clip, revel in the spirit of the season when folks indulge in spirited WWE Smackdown moves to get their favorite electronic item.

Click here for more Black Friday videos.

No. 6: Video countdown to Black Friday 2009

Black Friday, or the day after Thanksgiving and the beginning of the traditional holiday shopping season, is around the corner. Can't get into the gift-giving mood?

Don't fret.

Consumer United Advocate plans to unveil its favorite Black Friday video clips to shock you into the spirit.

Shoppers are lined up from 2.37 am at this Best Buy store. The employees are gearing up to handle the crazy crowds by downing energy drinks and finally the early birds are welcomed to the store like royalty.

Click here for more Black Friday videos.

No. 7: Video countdown to Black Friday 2009

Black Friday, or the day after Thanksgiving and the beginning of the traditional holiday season, is around the corner. Can't get into the gift-giving mood?

Don't fret.

Consumer United Advocate plans to unveil its favorite Black Friday video clips to shock you into the spirit.

A serpetine line of deal-crazy shoppers braving sub-zero temperatures and a few hours of sleep forms outside of Target in 2006.

Click here for more Black Friday videos.

No. 8: Video countdown to Black Friday 2009

Black Friday, or the day after Thanksgiving and the beginning of the traditional holiday shopping season, is around the corner. Can't get into the gift-giving mood?

Don't fret.

Consumer United Advocate plans to unveil its favorite Black Friday video clips to shock you into the spirit.

For clip No. 8, crowds are pushing and shoving to get into this Circuit City in Delaware back in 2007. It's amazing how fast things have changed. In 2008, the cash-strapped Circuit City has voluntarily filed for Chapter 11.

Click here for more Black Friday videos.

No. 9: Video countdown to Black Friday 2009

Black Friday, or the day after Thanksgiving and the beginning of the traditional holiday shopping season, is around the corner. Can't get into the gift-giving mood?

Don't fret.

Consumer United Advocate plans to unveil its favorite Black Friday video clips to shock you into the spirit.

For clip No. 9, watch frenzied shoppers pile into a Best Buy in Wes Lafayette, IN to snag discounted laptops and XBOX 360s.

Click here for more Black Friday videos.

No. 10: Video countdown to Black Friday 2009

Black Friday, or the day after Thanksgiving and the beginning of the traditional holiday shopping season, is around the corner. Can't get into the gift-giving mood?

Don't fret.

Consumer United Advocate plans to unveil its favorite Black Friday video clips to shock you into the spirit.

For this clip, early-morning crowds are worked into a Wal-Mart frenzy in this video from Black Friday in 2006.

Click here for more Black Friday videos.

Fashionistas become 'returnistas' during slump

As the economy slows and more and more consumers are worried about their bank account balances, a new trend is emerging among serious shoppers.

“Returnistas,” as they have been dubbed, are shopping their own closets for items that are still unworn that can be returned for cash. The clothes still have the tags and have not been worn, so according to many stores policies, buyers have the right to bring the items back. The recent economic conditions, however, seem to be causing shoppers to return clothing that otherwise would have sat untouched in their closets.

Though being labeled a “returnista” may simply suggest that the shopper has a case of buyer’s remorse, for those truly devoted to fashion, the cycle may continue. Instead of taking back one or two items once in awhile, the returnista is more likely to shop often and return often.

The thrill of shopping still exists without doing damage to the shopper’s account balance.

Returnistas could become important customers at some stores that have relaxed their return policies in order to entice shoppers to walk out the door with items they are not sure they should buy. In contrast, other stores have made their return policies stricter to avoid losing money from fraudulent transactions.

The end of December is traditionally a time when retailers experience a lot of returns, but as shopping addicts continue to clean out their closets, the trend could continue beyond the holiday season.

Click here for the lowdown.

--Bridget O'Sullivan