Your Black Friday game plan: what to do now, on Nov 13 and on the day

Black Friday is designed to rush you. Countdown timers, doorbusters, a new "deal of the hour" every hour. By the time it starts, it's very hard to think clearly.

So don't do your thinking on the day. Do it now, while it's quiet. Here's a simple game plan with three dates and one short list. Follow it and Black Friday becomes a few calm minutes of buying things you already decided on.

Step 1, now: make your list

Your list needs just four columns, one row per thing you want:

1. Item. The exact thing, with a link if you can. "This coat, in green," not "a coat."
2. Regular price. What it costs today, before any sales.
3. I'd pay. The most you'd happily pay for it. This is your deal price.
4. Still want it? A yes or no you fill in later, after the list has had time to sit.

A few rules for filling it in:

• Only add things you've wanted for a while. Things you've been meaning to replace, things you keep coming back to, and gifts you already plan to buy.
• Write down the regular price today. It's the easiest way to spot a fake deal later, because some "sale" prices aren't much of a sale.
• Decide your "I'd pay" price. Be honest. If the boots are $160 and you'd happily buy them at $120, write $120. That number does the deciding for you on the day.
• Keep it short. Aim for 5 to 10 things. A short list is much easier to stick to.

Where to keep it. The easiest way is a "Black Friday" collection in Favelist. Save each item there and the link, photo and today's price are recorded for you. Give everything a one-month cooldown in late October, and it'll be ready to decide on right around Black Friday. When the cooldown ends, you choose: buy it, pass on it, or keep waiting. Jot your "I'd pay" price in your notes app, since that's the one thing Favelist doesn't track yet. No app? The same four columns work just as well in a notes app, a spreadsheet or on paper.

Step 2, November 13: cut it down

Put a reminder in your calendar for two weeks before Black Friday. Go through your list and fill in the Still want it? column.

You'll probably cross a few things off. That's the plan working. Anything you've stopped caring about is money you didn't spend, and space you didn't fill. It's the same idea as the 30-day rule, just with a deadline.

Step 3, November 27: buy only what's left

Open your list and work through it, one row at a time:

• On sale at or below your price? Buy it. You planned for this.
• On sale, but not enough? Skip it for now. There will be other sales.
• Not on sale at all? If you still want it at full price, buy it whenever you like. If not, keep waiting.

Then close the tab. Anything that isn't on your list isn't for you today, no matter how big the discount looks. If the countdown timers and "only 3 left" banners start getting to you, here's what those tricks are really doing.

What belongs on your list (and what doesn't)

Good things to add:

• Things you've wanted for weeks or months
• Replacements for things that are worn out or broken
• Gifts you already plan to buy (pair this with your holiday gift list)

Leave off:

• Anything you first saw in a Black Friday ad
• "Doorbusters" you'd never have looked for otherwise
• Things you only want because they're a lot cheaper than usual

If something only makes sense because it's on sale, it probably doesn't belong on the list.

The short version

• Now: list 5 to 10 things you've wanted for a while, with today's price and the price you'd pay.
• November 13: cross off anything you've stopped caring about.
• November 27: buy only what's left, and only at your price.
• Then close the tab.

For the bigger picture, including setting a budget and what to do afterwards, here's how to make a Black Friday wish list. And if you'd like to keep your list in Favelist, here's how it works.