In between passing the roasted turkey, mashed potatoes and sweet potato pie around the table this Thanksgiving, you may find yourself reaching for something else: your cellphone.

According to a preliminary Black Friday shopping survey conducted by the National Retail Federation, about 152 million people plan to shop Black Friday weekend — Friday, Saturday and Sunday — up from 138 million people who planned to do so last year. For those brave enough to face the crowds, the TGI Black Friday app may turn up to be the most trusted ally.

The free app gives shoppers access to thousands of Black Friday deals from every major retail store, the maker's of the app write on its website. Also handy, it creates personal shopping lists and allows consumers to share coupons with friends via email or social media.

The app isn't your only option for learning about Black Friday deals, there are numerous websites out there that have aggregated stores' ads, including SlickDeals.net, BFads.net, fatwallet.com. You can also find more Black Friday shopping tips at the National Retail Federation.

And while some shoppers anticipate and even enjoy the requisite push and shove that comes with Black Friday shopping, some workers at those stores are pushing back. More than 100,000 people had signed a petition started by Anthony Hardwick, a Target employee from Omaha, speaking out against Target Corp.'s plan to open its stores at midnight on Black Friday.

“It’s about all the team members I work with having a Thanksgiving that they can enjoy with their family,” Hardwick told FOX News.

Along with Target, Best Buy, Kohl's, Macy’s and Bon-Ton Stores have all announced 12 a.m. openings this year. Even more aggressive, Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, will unleash its sales starting at 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving night. Retailers have said they are trying to keep up with consumer demand for earlier shopping.

Do you plan to shop the early sales on Black Friday?

(Photo: Justin Sullivan/GettyImages)