If you're planning to wake up early to hit the local department stores on Black Friday, there's good news for you — you may not even have to go to bed!

What is Black Friday?
Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving Day and it's the official start to the holiday shopping season. On Black Friday, retailers offer major discounts on a wide variety of products such as laptop computers, HDTVs, and popular toys. These products are available at their lowest prices of the year. Simply put, you can't beat the deals and huge savings that you find on Black Friday.

When is Black Friday?
Black Friday is always the Friday after Thanksgiving Day. This year, Black Friday falls on November 28, 2008. However, keep in mind that many stores offer their Black Friday products for sale online on Thanksgiving morning. So, your opportunity to receive huge savings will last two days instead of just one.

The official Black Friday 2008 website allows you to receive Black Friday ad updates and special promotional information. Go to GottaDeal.com for more Black Friday information and great deals.

Note: this year merchants have more than doubled the number of limited-time promotions from last year. For those shoppers who love going to brick-and-mortar stores, they can also visit Web sites with leaked Black Friday ads and special coupons. It's a great way to set up a plan of attack instead of heading blindly to the mall on one of the most trafficked days of the year.

Black Friday ad links and opening hours:

• Bath & Body Works: 12 a.m.
• Best Buy: 5 a.m.
• Circuit City: 5 a.m.
• CVS: 6 a.m.
• Burlington Coat Factory:  6 a.m.
• Dick's Sporting Goods: 5 a.m.
• Disney Store:  Midnight
• Factory Card & Party Outlet:  8 a.m.
• Game Stop:  7 a.m.
• hhgregg:  5 a.m.
• Home Depot:  6 a.m.
• JC Penney:  4 a.m.
• Jos. A Bank: 6 a.m.
• KMart:  6 a.m.
• Kohl's: 4 a.m.
• Lowe's:  6 a.m.
• Macy's:  5 a.m.
• Meijer:  5 a.m.
• Office Depot:  6 a.m.
• Old Navy:  5 a.m.
• Radio Shack:  6 a.m.
• SAM'S Club:  5 a.m.
• Sears:  5 a.m.
• Target:  6.a.m.
• Toys R Us:  5 a.m.
• Walgreens:  7 a.m.
• Wal-Mart:  5 a.m.

Recommended Black Friday sites:

BlackFriday.info: This site gives exclusive access to all of the Black Friday circulars weeks in advance so you can plan your holiday shopping and know exactly what will be on sale on Black Friday.

Black-Friday.net: Our shopping list is a great way to help you plan your Black Friday shopping and know exactly what items you want to buy.

DealTaker.com: Over the past four years, the DealTaker.com's Black Friday section has had the most comprehensive listing of advanced sales for the day after Thanksgiving.

TheBlackFriday.com: TheBlackFriday.com is one of the most popular sources of Black Friday sale information. The website has been featured on various TV channels, newspapers, radio stations and magazines.

NearbyNow.com:  This unique Web site allows shoppers to search any product, brand, or sale currently available in local shopping areas and malls near them.

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