Black Friday is one of the biggest shopping days of the year in the United States. It is the Friday after Thanksgiving and is the start of the Christmas shopping season. It derives its name from the fact that many retailers become profitable on that day having covered their fixed expenses for the year. Great bargains can be had on this day but only if shoppers plan ahead and are organized. Use these tips to save the most money.

Prepare Christmas List. Preparing a Christmas list prior to Thanksgiving allows one to seriously contemplate what gifts might be most appropriate and useful for each recipient. Thus the gift will have more meaning. One can also watch pricing leading into the holiday season enabling one to gain a sense of typical prices for particular items.

Save on Big Items. The majority of the savings are likely to come from the more highly priced items. Half off the price of a laptop computer or digital camera is more than half off the price of a much cheaper item.

Plan for the Most Savings. The stores will often open at different times. It is helpful to organize the shopping on that day in such a way as to maximize the opportunity for savings. Prioritize which items are most important and make sure to get those items.

Enlist Help. If possible, enlist the aid of family members or friends who would also like to save money on Christmas shopping. One person can purchase several of the same item while another is purchasing other items at a different store simultaneously. This will help maximize to total amount of savings enjoyed by everyone.

By planning ahead and taking advantage of the deals offered by retailers, one can purchase many of the items on his Christmas list while possibly saving hundreds of dollars.