The weeks surrounding Thanksgiving make up the busiest shopping season of the year, and for many people, that means waking up early and fighting busy parking lots and long lines to grab the items they want. However, there are ways to shop without having to get involved in the physical hustle and bustle: look online.
There are thousands of stores that begin to discount their products for Black Friday and Cyber Monday well before Thanksgiving, and they’ll let you purchase from the comfort of your own home. This means you can shop without putting yourself at risk of getting in a car accident because of aggressive holiday drivers. And you can avoid the lines and the chaos!
If you do decide to go to the stores in person, follow a few safety tips to reduce your chances of getting hurt. Here are some to remember:
Make sure your car is in good working order and has a full tank of gas. You might get stuck waiting in traffic longer than usual. Choose routes that typically have less traffic, or take public transit instead. Leave plenty of time to get there for the sale, and don’t speed or drive aggressively.
Pack an extra snack and water bottle. You never know how long you’ll have to stand in line or what the conditions will be (such as whether food and water will be available). Pack accordingly so you won’t experience low blood sugar or dehydration while you wait.
Wear appropriate clothing. There will be a lot of people, and there could be pushing and shoving near store entrances. Floors could be slippery, bathrooms will be crowded, and you may not be able to park near the entrance. Plan on wearing comfortable shoes with plenty of grip and pack a sweater in case it’s cool outside (or there’s too much air-conditioning inside). Plan so you can be comfortable.
Leave the kids at home. Get a trustworthy babysitter or leave your children with your parents. You’ll be able to get more shopping done and you won’t have to worry about your children’s safety during these busy shopping events.
Make sure to lock your car. Unfortunately, there will be people looking to take advantage of distracted shoppers. Lock your car and don’t leave any valuables inside. Also, only carry enough cash to make your purchases and go home, or carry a secure credit card instead of cash. Keep your purse in front of you at all times to avoid pickpockets. Head straight home after you load your big purchases in your car. You don’t want to risk having your car broken into when you are inside another store shopping. At the very least, bring a big blanket to put over the valuables or keep them in the trunk where passersby can’t easily see them.
On that note, happy shopping from The Husband and Wife Law Team!