With Thanksgiving just around the corner, some diehard shoppers are already preparing for the battle of Black Friday shopping. For those planning on venturing out on Thanksgiving night or early Friday morning, here are seven tips to make your shopping experience more enjoyable and productive. Happy deal hunting!

If you’re not looking for anything specific, it may be more advisable to wait until the crowds have thinned out a bit to snag some deals. “Going at midnight is fun, but that’s the craziest time,” Tenley Sanduski, senior and avid Black Friday shopper, suggested. “I usually find just as good of stuff and deals later in the day.”

Some deals or bargains are limited, so camping out to be the first in line to grab the hottest deals can pay off. For example, Walmart announced that it will “break its Black Friday into three separate ‘events’ beginning Thanksgiving night,” according to USA Today. Its “1-hour guarantee” ensures the purchase of select items to anybody who goes to the store between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursday night.

Megan Churchill, senior and veteran Black Friday shopper, advised, “Get there early; you can sleep later. And if you’re going up against someone for the last two-dollar panini maker, do whatever it takes. You’ll have a lifetime of paninis and it’ll all be worth it in the end.”

Many times, stores will post similar or identical deals on their online shops as they advertise in their stores. You can skip the hassle and the lines on Friday, Nov. 28 and shop from the comfort of your own home at any time while still getting deals on this year’s hottest gifts. Or, Sanduski advises to “just wait ‘till Cyber Monday because a lot of times there are better deals.”

“Black Friday is super stressful if you don’t have specific things you’re going for,” Sanduski said. “Definitely look for deals ahead of time and shop with a purpose!” Make sure to plan out where you are going and prioritize based on the availability of the deals, the importance of the purchase, and if you need the item by a certain time.

Forbes’ Black Friday Survival Guide advises shoppers to “bring a shopping buddy for safety in numbers.” Your appointed shopping buddy, however, cannot just be any friend or family member. You need to find the right candidate who will keep a level head in the face of chaos and who will willingly sprint full out for at least a minute when the situation calls for it.

It’s easy to get caught up in the heat of the sale, but it is to the benefit of your health and sanity, as well as everybody else’s, to keep cool. Staying calm will make your shopping experience much more pleasant, since you will be able to enjoy the jolly holiday spirit while browsing for gifts for your friends and family.

One of the worst possible feelings on Black Friday is walking out to the parking lot, satisfied with all of your bags, only to remember that you forgot to get a gift for your brother. Don’t let this happen to you.  Apps such as Santa’s Bag for iPhone and Shopping Gift List Manager for Android can keep track of your gift list, help you set budgets and find stores that carry the item you want.