Enlisting a trusted and determined friend is one of the best ways to save money on Black Friday and can bring more benefits than some shoppers realize.

"No one wants to go into battle alone," assures Brim. "Not only will [friends] help keep you sane while waiting in line, they'll be incredibly useful once the doors open." Whether the strategy of the day is to "divide and conquer" or have a friend waiting in line at checkout while shoppers grab the goods, Brim says shopping will be "much more successful with another person on your team. Also, two cars means double the space to fit all the cool new things you purchased on Black Friday."

For greater savings, shoppers and their bargain buddy can plan ahead by downloading a smartphone app to help with comparison shopping. The Red Laser application allows customers to scan any item in the store and look up prices at competing retailers to make sure they're getting the best deal.