Lifehacks for Black Friday: The ultimate shopping survival guide

Here's a hint: it's all about planning!

It's been compared to surviving a zombie apocalypse: you're either one of them, or you're locked inside praying that your loved ones don't get trampled! Black Friday can be either an exhilarating shopping experience, or downright terrifying if you're not prepared for the rush.

With scores of local stores jumping on the Black Friday bandwagon tomorrow, thousands of hungry bargain hunters will be queuing outside shops at the crack of dawn. These tactical tips will help to ensure your shopping day is a stress-free one.

Have a plan:

The key to conquering Black Friday is to know your enemy - or in this instance, the mall. By doing research on the mall layout beforehand, you can successfully negotiate the various queues, and map out your destination from shop A to shop B. It also helps to know shortcuts, and where elevators and escalators are located - for ease of access. Also, make a shopping list prior to your shopping expedition. That way, you'll be able to zone-in on the items you really want first, instead of being distracted by tons of other offers and missing out on marked-down items you're actually in the market for. 

Fuel up on breakfast:

With most stores opening their doors to the public at 9am sharp, a big breakfast prior to queuing in long lines is key! Fuel up on a hearty breakfast - to give you some staying power for the shopping day ahead. You also don't know how long you'll have to wait in those massive lines, so carry along some snacks for when you're feeling peckish. Also, don't forget flasks of coffee for a much-need caffeine fix in-between the bargain hunting.

ALSO READ: This is what could happen if you aren't prepared for Black Friday

Pre-shopping cardio: 

We recommend some light stretching and cardio to pump you up for all the shopping you're bound to do. You may need to run up and down the aisles in case you spot a bargain before someone else does, so get that adrenaline pumping!

Dress appropriately and travel light:

Chances are you're going to work up quite a sweat once those store doors open and the sprint for bargains begins. So don't carry big bags, or wear heavy, padded clothing. Remember to wear flat, sensible shoes - preferably sneakers - which you can run in. Six inch heels plus crowds aren't exactly practical for the Shopping Olympics.

The buddy system:

Pair up with a friend and make a list of items you each want. Then split up and shop at different stores to make sure you get exactly what you're looking for.

But the most important rule of them all is this: remember to have fun! It's all about the experience, so even if you don't find exactly what you're looking for, you'll still guaranteed to have some fantastic Black Friday memories!