3. Use the Internet to Your Advantage

Beat other shoppers to the punch by going online. Not only do many retailers offer online-only deals that you can't get in the stores, but as early as Thanksgiving Day, they also start offering Black Friday discounts on the web, says Dan de Grandpre, founder of bargain-hunting site Dealnews.com. Last year, several stores even had the much-coveted door-buster items available online. Home Depot, for example, offered a 32-inch LCD flat-screen for the then-unheard-of price of $478 on its site.

Another way to use the Internet to your advantage is to order an item online and opt for in-store pickup. That way, you'll save on in-store shopping time and gain access to popular items that may sell out fast. However, be aware that the strategy could backfire. "With a 5 a.m. opening, do you really think employees are going to be thinking about filling online orders?" says Dworsky. (Click here for more online shopping tips).