Black Friday shopping: Local shoppers offer up strategy for full-contact sport post-Thanksgiving 
 
 Lombard for News Rosemary Rizzo getting ready for Black Friday shopping in Bryant Park, Manhattan. 
 
 Bargain hunting becomes a full-contact sport the day after Thanksgiving, when stores slash prices just in time for the holiday rush. 
 
 Maneuvering the mob of 138 million Americans expected to hit the malls and outlets this season takes plenty of practice, but hard-core customers have got beating the crowds down to a science. 
 
 "I leave the house at 9:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving," says Rosemary Rizzo, 40, from Ronkonkoma, L.I. "Everything used to open at 6 a.m., but every year it gets even earlier." 
 
 The Tanger Outlets in Riverhead will open at midnight, so Rizzo needs to be in line by 9:45 Thursday to power through on her shopping spree until 1:30 p.m. the next day. 
 
 "You gotta pack light, get your coffee and go," she says. "The adrenaline keeps you moving." 
 
 Traveling light also means going it alone. 
 
 "I shop by myself," she says. "You've got to be the fastest, to be able to go from store to store and not have anyone lingering, or you're not going to be able to get what you need." 
 
 She subscribes to sites like BlackFriday.info that clue her in to sales in advance, and pores over her stack of circulars while she's still digesting her Thanksgiving turkey to map her route. 
 
 
 
 Black Friday shopper Matt Kane of Allentown, N.J. outside the Princeton, N.J. Wal-Mart. (Denver for News) 
 
 Organization is also key. "As I go in to each store, I have that specific flyer, my list of who I'm buying for and my wallet. Make sure your money and credit cards are organized, and you know your balance, so that you're not fumbling through your bag at the checkout." 
 
 Past prizes include walking away with two almost-impossible-to-find Wii Fits in 2008 and scoring a $4,500 Coach bag for $99. 
 
 "It's probably a $1,000 day, but I save up for it," says Rizzo, who's been doing this for over a decade. "Black Friday is my holiday. I look forward to it all year!" 
 
 Her husband thinks she's bananas, but her friends, relatives and co-workers use her as a shopping service for picking up their own gifts. 
 
 "I'm thinking of going into business as a personal shopper," she laughs. "You feel a real sense of accomplishment. There's nothing like the rush you get from finding a great bargain!" 
 
 Black Friday isn't just a day of shopping for the frugal. For some, it's more like a game of "Survivor." 
 
 "Outwit, outlast, outplay," says Matt Kane, 33, from Allentown, N.J. "It's all about competition for me — and victory!" 
 
 To prep for one of the biggest shopping days of the year, the Black Friday veteran does days of research and cases each store to see where each product will be placed. ||||| My friend Cassie is a Black Friday pro. Every year she heads out to the stores in the dead of night and comes back in the morning with approximately $30,000 worth of Christmas presents for, like, 30 bucks. One time I asked her about her strategies and she regaled me with stories that might make a Vietnam veteran blush. But you know what? She gets all of her holiday shopping done in a few hours the day after Thanksgiving, and she comes out of it with a smile on her face, so more power to her. After talking to her and a few other Black Friday devotees, I’ve compiled a list of five indispensable tips for surviving this crazy capitalist holiday. 
 
 What is most important to you? A big screen TV for $5? Thirty pairs of athletic socks for the price of one? 
 
 Do your homework. Black Friday is not a day to leave things to chance. Peruse all the ads on Thanksgiving Day. Mark up the ones you’re interested in so you know exactly what you’re going for and, ideally, where it will be located. It’s best to focus on stores that you’re already familiar with so you don’t lose time trying to find certain sections. Scout the stores ahead of time if at all possible (wearing a ninja outfit can make this more fun). Pay attention to timelines, too: some sales last for two hours and some last for two days. Prioritize. What is most important to you? A big screen TV for $5? Thirty pairs of athletic socks for the price of one? Figure out which purchases are most important to you and which ones can be pushed to the back burner if necessary. It’s important to have clearly defined goals so you don’t get distracted at the shelf of musical Santa figurines at the door and miss out on everything. You also might want to think long and hard about your ethical principles: are you willing to push people out of the way? And how do you feel about psychological warfare? Bring backup. Here’s the deal: waiting in line for five hours by yourself is many people’s idea of hell. Waiting in line with your friends for five hours? Still sort of hellish, but at least you’ll have someone to go on latte runs and watch your spot while you pee. On a practical note, once you get inside the store your group can split up and grab multiples of different items. Power up. It’s usually best to not sleep at all the night before Black Friday since many sales start at midnight. Pack snacks and fuel up on coffee as often as possible. Adrenaline can only get you so far. Check your attitude. As Cassie puts it, “There’s nothing worse than watching some lady get irritated in line and you’re thinking, ‘Really? You didn’t know there would be a line?’” Black Friday is crazy and intense but if you’re not having any fun with it, you might as well not go. 
 
 Are you guys planning to hit up the sales the day after Thanksgiving? And do you Black Friday veterans out there have any other important tips for surviving the busiest shopping day of the year?
– For some, Black Friday will actually begin tonight. "I leave the house at 9:30pm on Thanksgiving," one serious shopper tells the New York Daily News. "Everything used to open at 6am, but every year it gets even earlier." With 138 million Americans expected to be out shopping for deals, how can you snag what you want? Some tips: "You gotta pack light, get your coffee and go," says the aforementioned shopper, who recommends—along with many of her seasoned peers—shopping alone, and organizing flyers and credit cards beforehand. Or bring a shopping pal ... and a strategy. "We tag-team," says one shopper. "My friend or I will stay in line while the other person runs to get their stuff." "Outwit, outlast, outplay," says another Black Friday veteran who befriends managers for "insider information" and cases each store beforehand so he'll know where to find products. He also recommends talking to other shoppers in line to make sure you're not missing any great deals—but, of course, don't give away any of your own secrets. "It's all mind games before the doors open, and then it's WrestleMania!" Sites like BlackFriday.info can help, but there's nothing like the time-honored just-grab-it technique: Says one shopper, "I usually spot what I want and get it before anyone else sees me or the product." Click here for five more tips from a pro.