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Black Friday Tips - Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year, is rapidly approaching. The average shopper spent $423 or more during Thanksgiving weekend in 2012. It’s important to be a smart shopper and purchase what you need at the lowest prices. Check out BET.com’s tips that help you manage your time and money this year.   —Dominique Zonyéé(Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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Don’t Spend Beyond Your Means - The unemployment rate among African-Americans is twice as high as it is for whites. Debt is a major concern for Blacks across the nation, as 94 percent of Blacks have some type of debt compared to 82 percent for the general population. While a major amount of debt comes from education and personal loans, credit-card debt is highest among Blacks.(Photo:    REUTERS /ERIC THAYER /LANDOV)

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Make a Budget and Stick to It - Blind shopping — or planning a mega shopping trip such as Black Friday without making a budget — could be financial suicide. Go online and price your favorite items before you hit the stores. Also do an assessment of your finances to determine how much you can spend per item. You can stick to a budget with the Christmas List app here.(Photo: Jamie Grill/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Jamie Grill/Getty Images

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Technology Is Your Friend - Before you embark on the shopping experience of a lifetime, make sure your smart phone is charged and loaded with apps that will enhance your shopping experience. Apps such as Shop Savvy, Red Laser and Price Grabber will let you scan bar codes, compare prices and more. Also check the Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest accounts for your favorite stores to get their latest deals.(Photo: Tetra Images/Getty Images)

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Map Out Your Shopping Route - Shopping aimlessly can result in spending more money. Once you’ve figured out what you need, make a store-to-store plan so that you don’t wander into stores that are not on your shopping list. For store hours at some of your favorite shops, visit here. (Photo: Stockbyte/Getty Images)

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Shop in Packs - The more, the merrier. When you shop in a pack, you can target more stores or various departments within the same stores. Plus, lines will be super long: Use your friends to stand in line while you make quick purchases.(Photo: Altrendo Images/Getty Images)

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Let’s Make a Deal - Who doesn’t love to save with a great deal? Check out these stores for their holiday deals: Gap, Target, Sears, Barnes & Noble, Express, Best Buy, Walmart. If you don’t find what you are looking for there, visit Gotta Deal here. Also, take a look at apps such as Living Social, Google Shopper and Amazon Price Checker for savings now.(Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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Safety First - Black Friday shopping can be hectic. Millions of people will be trying to snag the same deals. So be careful: At a Valley Stream, New York, Walmart in 2008, three people were killed after a mob of shoppers trampled them to death entering the store.(Photo: Carlo Allegri/Getty Images)

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Shop 'Til You Drop - Now that you've read our tips, we wish you a Happy Black Friday! Go and get your shop on!(Photo: KidStock/Getty Images)