Thanksgiving is a time we share with friends and family. We ponder all we are thankful for and share a wonderful meal with the special people in our lives.

But come Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, die-hard shoppers turn into a frenzy of deal seekers. I’ve put together some tips to help you make it through this craziest of shopping days.

Have a plan. Make a list of the stores you are headed to and the items you are purchasing at each location.
Make a budget and stick to it. This is not a good day to be spontaneous.

Stay focused. Don’t get sidetracked by items that are not on your list. This will cost you valuable time if you’re on the hunt for doorbusters.

Do your price researching before the big shopping day, because as we know, not all sales are good deals.
Make sure you search the Internet for any printable coupons that apply to your list.

Keep the sale ads with you. This is good to have if any retailers are price matching.

Pack water and snacks to keep your energy going.

And, most important, have fun!

Jenn and I have decided to tackle Black Friday in two ways to get the best coverage. She will be staying home (all snuggly in her favorite chair) checking out online sales and deals. I will venture out very early Friday morning to check out the shopping scene at several Lawrence retailers. I have enlisted the help of my 13 year old son, Thomas, and together we will be scoping out the sales. We are hoping to chat it up with some of you deal-seekers to see what is in your shopping carts. So be on the look out for us. You can see our results on Twitter, and if you would like to participate in the conversation, the hash tag is #ksblackfriday.

— Jenn Hethcoat, a mother of three and coupon expert, and Julie Anderson, a mother of two who is learning the ropes of shopping frugally, write the Shop Talk blog at LJWorld.com/blogs.