If you're still undecided about whether or not to head out on Black Friday, we've got a list of some of the best, and worst, deals.

Here Are Some Bad Ones

Don't be fooled by an ad comparing the Black Friday sale price to the manufacturer's suggested retail price. Things are almost never sold at the MSRP, and the reference is meant to create perceived value where there is none.

Anyone preparing to shop on Black Friday is likely drowning in ads by now. Trying to figure out which stores open earliest, which offers the best doorbuster deals and just how to score them can drive a person to drink. But take some advice from the pros and you might find your stress level greatly reduced.

"The whole point of these Black Friday flyers is to get you in the door, and it's impossible to get to more than one store at once," says Christine Frietchen, editor-in-chief of ConsumerSearch.com, a site that collects and analyzes consumer product reviews. "Once you're in the store, the idea is to sell you more stuff that you may not really need."

Here are a few tips to avoid common Black Friday gotchas:

Anyone who plans to get caught up in the Black Friday shopping madness this year can expect to be asked (perhaps more than once) whether they'd like to open a store credit card. Typically, store credit cards can be terribly tempting, with promises of discounts of 10% to 15% on the first purchase and other bonuses. But, on Black Friday, the savings seduction is even more irresistable.

Retailers may bump up the initial savings offer or sweeten the deal in other ways, says John Ulzheimer, founder of 2StepCredit.com. "You're going to be hit up very aggressively for in-store retail cards, and we're even seeing 20% off in some places," he says. However, Ulzheimer adds, "It's a very enticing offer, but the downside is pretty significant."

In other words, when it comes to opening a store card, shoppers inevitably pay a hefty price for discount at checkout.

If you're planning on hitting the stores Black Friday morning, take some advice from the experts. The Black Friday Insider at WalletPop spoke to two Black Friday veterans and got some tips about how to navigate the year's busiest shopping day.

Stores are opening even earlier on Black Friday than usual this year -- Kmart, Sears, and Toys R Us are even maintaining hours on Thanksgiving Day. Fortunately for shoppers, holiday sale ads were released well in advance to allow plenty of time for planning. For stores with the deepest discounts plan to get in line early, but don't worry if you miss a bargain; there is always Cyber Monday.

Black Friday is approaching fast, and for those of us in the U.S., that might mean taking a trip to the mall, trekking to outlet stores, or just sitting down at our desks and placing online orders to have shipped to us at home. But for those serving abroad in the military, finding out which stores ship to APO/FPO addresses takes a little bit of research.

Several services, such as the AAFES, Oconus, Shipit.APO, and ENCS work with retailers and brands to facilitate the process of shipping to military families abroad.

It's easy to get swept up in the low prices and fast pace of Black Friday and sometimes we make impulsive buys. But before hitting the shops and spending your money on Friday morning, make sure you know what can be returned, just in case.

Here is a list of Black Friday return policies at some key retailers:

If you think only massive stores offer Black Friday shopping deals, think again. Small shops, boutiques and mom and pops, offer ways to save and snag some unique gifts.

At P.O.S.H in Chicago, you won't find doorbusters or deals on electronics, but you will find a well-curated selection of one-of-a-kind gifts, like hotel silver from Europe, china from now-defunct hotels or holiday-worthy table linens. While some prices reach well, out of reach, there are deals to be found, like salt cellars for $5, hand-made finger puppets for $8, and vintage Tonka trucks perfect for a collector and just $16.

Cyber Monday is traditionally the Monday after Thanksgiving weekend, named thus because it was the day people headed back to work and presumably had access to computers. But times have changed, and lot more have near constant access to the Internet than when Cyber Monday began, which got us wondering: Is there still value to be had on Cyber Monday?

And if you're one of the many who would rather buy online this Black Friday than rise from a turkey coma at 4 a.m., will there be bargains for you too?

Those still on the fence should consider convenience, give-aways and extra costs before deciding on a shopping approach. We weigh the pros and cons, and take a look at Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday in 2010.

For most college students, mid-November means cramming for finals and cranking out semester-end essays. But for those money-smart students who leave the library long enough to hit the mall, Black Friday sales afford the opportunity to buy stuff you'd get anyway, only much, much cheaper.

Even though most shoppers associate November's Black Friday consumer carnival with holiday presents, students shopping for necessities can also take advantage of merchants' deep discounts, according to two experts from the online coupon community Savings.com.

"The best thing you can do for yourself is create a budget so you're not spending way, way more than you're expecting to," said Sara Dunham, who recommends students heading to stores with cash-only or with a debit card to avoid holiday credit card debt. While shopping online for sales, look up a coupon code for each online purchase -- chances are there's one out there, she said -- and use price comparison tools like Google Shopping and CamelCamelCamel.com to grab the best deal possible.

For the past month, WalletPop has featured an App Watch series, hunting down the most helpful iPhone applications for Black Friday shoppers. Now, with the big day right around the corner, it's time to start downloading. Here are the top five essential apps to take with you into the Black Friday chaos:

A lot of people have post-Thanksgiving traditions, like touch football or the movies. Many other people head to the stores for great discounts as early as midnight, just a few hours after finishing up their holiday meals. The discounts are great. The merchandise is hot. And it's a great way to get a jump start on the holidays. But shopping amid such frenzy can be mind-boggling, so you need to arm yourself with as much knowledge as you can ahead of time and shop smart. These tips should help you get through the day, getting the most possible for your time and hard-earned money.

If you're gearing up for Black Friday (and who isn't?), you need to check out the new Milo.com Black Friday Guide. Milo.com has given the Milo website a makeover to help you get the best deal on Black Friday.

If you visit Milo.com right now and search for an item near you, the results will not only list the current local prices and in-stock information, but also the Black Friday prices and applicable coupons for more than 5,000 Black Friday items. With Milo.com you'll know what stores have the items in stock in real time for over 52,000 stores including big names like Best Buy.

Mommy blogger Lori Cunningham isn't paid for writing about how to make technology simple for busy moms, but her children -- a 5-year-old boy and 7-year-old girl -- reap the benefits and look forward to the mailman arriving.

Cunningham, who lives outside of Los Angeles, is coveted by technology and toy companies for her blog and the parties she throws to test out their toys and give them away to kids. She was part of the viral marketing campaign to spread the word about the popular Zhu Zhu pets last Christmas -- which are still going strong this year. She was recently given eight free Zhu Zhu pets to give away at her son's birthday party, after which she planned to blog about it and post photos and videos of the party.