The Best Time To Shop On Black Friday

Black Friday can be very stressful for anyone looking to save money while getting their holiday shopping done early. How are you supposed to prioritize the best sales and figure out the best time to shop on Black Friday to avoid insanely long lines? No one wants to be trapped in a sea of people all vying for the same flat screen TV that's 50 percent off for one day only. It seems like stores open earlier and earlier every year, making it even harder to get out of bed and battle the crowds.

Although enthusiastic shoppers are known to sleep outside stores the night before in order to be the first in the door, making it seem like the stores will be packed early on, the morning is actually the best time to shop on Black Friday. According to data compiled by Google, every type of store is the least busy from 4 to 6 a.m. (when sane people are usually in bed). The most crowded time to shop the day after Thanksgiving is 2 to 4 p.m., meaning it's best to completely avoid the mall in the afternoon. Then stores start to slow back down after 6 p.m., so if the stores on your list stay open late and you're not a morning person, you might want to go in the evening.

Since many stores, including Macy's and Target, now begin their sales Thanksgiving night, Thursday has become one of the busiest shopping times as well. Department stores are actually more crowded Thursday night from 6 to 7 p.m. than any other time. Electronic stores are busier on Friday, but see a big peak in shoppers from 8 to 10 p.m. Thursday night.

Google's data also revealed that Black Friday isn't really the most popular time to shop for the holidays — shopping malls, department stores, and discount stores all have more traffic the last Saturday before Christmas. It pays to shop early, or at least not wait until the last minute to buy Christmas gifts. However, electronic and cell phone stores are busier on Black Friday than any other weekend leading up to the holidays, with twice as much foot traffic at electronic stores.

If you want to save as much money as possible, there are certain products that receive bigger discounts than others. According to the personal finance website WalletHub, books, movies, and music are the best items to buy on Black Friday, followed by video games and toys. Jewelry and furniture usually have the smallest discounts after Thanksgiving. WalletHub also revealed that 17 percent of items currently on Amazon.com will likely cost more on Black Friday, so be aware of what things cost before Friday to make sure you're really getting a deal.

Happy shopping!

Images: Courtesy of Google (2)