Black Friday — the biggest shopping day of the year — can be intimidating to novice and pro shoppers alike. The stores are packed, and everyone is looking for deals. People show up early and shop with a purpose. But preparation and smart shopping can make all the difference when it comes to saving and scoring some great finds.

We’ve reached out to shopping experts to help you prepare the ultimate Black Friday shopping plan…

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Be Proactive on Social Media

Planning for Black Friday should start early. For starters, you can sign up for email newsletters, according to Michelle Madhok, founder of SheFinds Media. You can also follow your favorite retailers on Twitter or Facebook — many brands give subscribers early access to sales and additional discounts. “Buy discounted gift cards for the stores you plan to shop at PlasticJungle.com,” adds Madhok.

Be Smart, Sign Up

Madhok also advises the shrewd shopper to sign up for price alerts. “Sites exist where you can sign-up to be notified when an item is marked down. Use the PricePinx bookmarklet on your browser’s toolbar — it’s a great way to track prices,” she says. “Whenever you’re shopping online and see something you like, you highlight the price and then click on the PricePinx bookmarklet. Then, when the price drops for that item, PricePinx notifies you via email.”