Black Friday: Best Deals

If you are not too stuffed from all the turkey, and you're an early riser, Black Friday 2009 is your best bet to save money on this year's Christmas shopping. A lot of businesses are trying to keep their sales a secret by having their advertisements print a couple days before Thanksgiving, so keep a look out for "junk mail" to scope for deals or head online to check out the ads.

Almost every store out there is having some sort of sale, so you are in luck no matter what you're shop of choice is. If you're serious about getting some bargains, there are certain things you should keep in mind. You won't get much sleep, because some stores, such as Aldo at Miromar Outlets, will be opening as early as 12 a.m. If you're planning on getting there when the stores open, the best thing to do is to take a nap after all that turkey makes you drowsy. Smart shoppers can forget about getting a full night's sleep.

Don't forget to brew some coffee and put it in a thermos - you'll need some kind of caffeine to keep your energy up for the whole day.

Get ready for crowds. Make sure you make a list of stores you want to hit, and the certain kinds of things you are looking for specifically. You may even want to show up to your favorite shops early and wait for them to open. Parking will be a hassle, so you may want to bring a lawn chair to sit in while you wait.

Also, check the weather for that morning, to make sure you've got the right gear on. It could be a hot and humid 4 a.m. or in the 50's, so it's best to be prepared.

Big retailers such as Target and Wal-Mart are planning major sales. Bass Pro Shops is having a sale Thursday through Sunday, but their main sale will be from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Friday, where there will be select products up to 50 percent off. Best Buy will have a lot of sale items. You can also avoid the crowds by shopping on their Web site. There are certain items that are only on sale online. If you are looking to go to the actual store location, the store opens at 5 a.m.

As mentioned before, Aldo will be open early and will have all women's shoes and boots on sale for 50 percent off, as well as 30 percent off purses and buy-one-get-one-free accessories.

Local retailers PacSun and Gamestop will also be having sales, but they are keeping them a secret. Victoria's Secret will be giving out free supermodel tote bags with a $60 or more purchase, but make sure to get there right when they open at 6 a.m. The totes might be gone after a couple of hours.

If you're looking for more deals, check out blackfriday.gottadeal.com to keep up with the newly printed advertisements.