The Deal Diva guide to Black Friday without injury
We already know some Deal Divas are big Grinches when it comes to Black Friday, and that is understandable for sure. But we also know that some of you really enjoy this day, use it to bond with your family members while sitting in lawn chairs on a sidewalk, mapping out strategies on a circular, acting out scenes from Kill Bill, etc. Hobbies are hobbies, a personal choice, and everyone has their own definition of fun. Some people pay money and jam into a stadium to watch guys hurl balls and run around plates. Other people angle for discounts on Shark sweepers in the middle of the night. You do you. Yolo.
If you're planning to pull on your best LOVE PINK sweatpants and head out to the stores after turkey dinner, we have a few bits of advice. First, seriously reconsider those bad airport sweatpants with text on the butt. Aim higher. Next, read this story from Times retail expert Susan Thurston. Many malls, Susan says, will be open starting at midnight, food courts and all. At the bottom of the story, Susan lists the opening times for most local malls. And in this additional story, Susan dissects opening times and deals at your other favorite Black Friday stops like Kohl's and Walmart.
When you're out shopping this weekend, don't forget your local business community. Those shops have plenty of Black Friday deals, too, and are less likely to be mobbed and dangerous. And Saturday is Small Business Saturday, where you can find lots of sales and freebies at participating stores. Check Keep St. Pete Local, Local Shops 1 and the Small Business Saturday site for good directories of local businesses with special goings-on.
Last but not least, if you want good deals but don't want to battle throngs of people in sweatpants with words on the butt, because YOU KNOW it will happen despite our best advice, take to the Internet. Check out sales on Twitter with the #blackfriday hashtag, and look for stores tweeting out their deals as they happen. Some of the stores already tweeting useful information include @forever21, @sephora, @kohls, @macys and @macyssale, @nordstrom, @target and @walmart. Also, you can follow deal experts including @pricegrabber, @retailmenot, @sarahroe and @couponcabin for tips and promo codes. Monday is Cyber Monday (guess we just skip right over Sunday in this lineup of crazy), with lots of good deals in between cute cat gifs. Check CyberMonday.com for links to all the online sales your clicking finger can handle.
Stay safe out there. We don't want to hear about any of our readers getting Uma Thurmaned in the face with a flat screen TV, you hear?
Deal Diva Stephanie
Photo: You on Black Friday, Times files
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Katie Sanders foolishly spurned pretty dresses and shoes as a child, tossing new clothes over her shoulder at birthday parties with a totally rude "no, thank you." Her drab days of monocolor outfits are over now, and she certainly knows better than to turn down free stuff. Her wardrobe mixes classic with quirk. Think blazers with statement necklaces, and lots of patterned ballet flats. She can be reached at 850) 224-7263 or 
Kameel Stanley has never encountered a thrift store she didn’t like. Her mother taught her that the true value of clothes isn’t how much they cost, but how many outfits one can create from them. Having grown up in Michigan, she was delighted to learn upon moving to Florida that she almost never needed to wear socks or boots again. There’s a lot of turnover in her closet, and she’s obsessed with dresses, necklaces and wedge heels. She can be reached at (727) 893-8643 or 
A disciple of the little black dress classics school, Letitia Stein stretches her budget by looking for styles with staying power. She lives for 80 percent off shoes at DSW, floral sundresses and bohemian chic tops. She confesses to being a bit of a snob when it comes to handbags and jewelry. She can be reached at (813) 226-3400 or 
From camo pants and construction boots to sundresses, sweaters and sling backs, Keyonna Summers knows how to make all of it rock -- at rock bottom prices. A Detroit native, Keyonna delves into her urban roots to find fashion pairings that give a nod to street fashion while maintaining the class of the modern, professional woman. She believes in searching for affordable clothes that look expensive and can easily be dressed up or down. You won't find plaid shirts or fleece jackets in her closet; the only hiking Keyonna does is to the bargain basement. She can be reached at (727) 445-4153 or 
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