How to Get the Best Deals on Black Friday

Many a holiday budget is set on the road to ruin this week at the unofficial start to the holiday shopping season, known to retailers and shopaholics alike as "Black Friday."

The day after Thanksgiving earned its ominous-sounding name because it is supposedly the day retailers go from losing money (being in the red) to making money (being in the black). It's also often referred to as the busiest shopping day of the year, although this is inaccurate.

Even so, Black Friday has become a retailing phenomenon, with stores offering special promotions to drive traffic. While you should put together a holiday spending plan and stick to it, here are some tips to finding and getting the best deals with the least amount of trouble on Friday:

1. Know what you want: This may seem obvious, but you shouldn't let the Black Friday advertisements determine what you buy -- which is exactly what the stores are aiming to do. Instead, you should first make a list to see if any products that you know you need happen to be part of the bargains. A great deal is no deal at all if you purchase something that you don't really need just because it's advertised at a good price. Stick to your list of what you need to make sure you don't needlessly spend money.