Where and when to shop on Black Friday in Western Pa.

Christmas season seems to start earlier and earlier every year, at least according to store displays – need some holly with your Halloween pumpkin? Still, lots of folks don’t get into the spirit until after Thanksgiving.

Once the pumpkin pie is eaten, though – watch out. It’s time to go shopping.

While some retailers open late in the day, others hold off until the wee hours of Black Friday.

Here are a few things to remember if you plan to be part of the buying brigade:

• Assess your finances and stick to a budget. It’s easy to get carried away when everything is set up to look like a bargain. Some experts suggest leaving credit cards at home and carrying only the cash you can afford to spend. That guards against unnecessary impulse purchases.

• Do your research. Check opening times for the stores you plan to hit. Comparison shop in advance via store websites or flyers. If you’re looking for a particular doorbuster item, see how many will actually be available.

• Plan your route. Save time by mapping out the most logical itinerary from store to store.

• Enlist some help. Organize family members and friends, and divvy up the shopping tasks. You can shop certain stores for certain gifts, while other team members check off items on their lists. Double the fun by making or buying your own Black Friday T-shirts, or having everyone wear antlers (or whatever).

• Don’t forget small, local shops. They’ll have the one-of-a-kind gifts that big box stores lack, and they probably are running sales too. Your purchases also help the local economy.

Here’s a list of Thanksgiving and Black Friday store hours for some major retailers. Good luck, and stay safe out there!

• Barnes & Noble
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 8 a.m.-10 p.m.

• Bath & Body Works
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: Opens 6 a.m.

• Bed Bath & Beyond
Thanksgiving: 5 p.m.-midnight
Black Friday: Opens 6 a.m.

• Best Buy
Thanksgiving: 5 p.m.- 1 a.m.
Black Friday: 8 a.m.- 9 p.m.

• Big Lots
Thanksgiving: 7 a.m.-midnight
Black Friday: Opens 6 a.m.

• Burlington Coat Factory
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: Opens 7 a.m.

• Costco
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m.

• CVS
Thanksgiving: 24-hour locations open, others vary
Black Friday: Hours vary by location

• DICK’s Sporting Goods
Thanksgiving: 6 p.m.-2 a.m.
Black Friday: 5 a.m.-10 p.m.

• Dollar General
Thanksgiving: 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
Black Friday: Check local store

• Dunham’s Sports
Thanksgiving: 3 p.m.-1 a.m.
Black Friday: 5 a.m.-10 p.m.

• Five Below
Thanksgiving: 6 p.m.-1 a.m.
Black Friday: 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

• Galleria of Mt. Lebanon
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

• Home Depot
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: Opens 6 a.m.

• IKEA
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

• JCPenney
Thanksgiving: 2 p.m. through Friday closing
Black Friday: Through 10 p.m.

• Jo-Ann
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: Opens 6 a.m.

• Kohl’s
Thanksgiving: 5 p.m. through Friday closing
Black Friday: Through midnight

• Lowe’s
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: Opens 6 a.m.

• Macy’s
Thanksgiving: 5 p.m.-2 a.m.
Black Friday: 6 a.m.-10 p.m.

• The Mall at Robinson
Thanksgiving: 6 p.m.-2 a.m.
Black Friday: 7 a.m.-9:30 p.m.

• Marshalls
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: Opens 7 a.m., closing varies by location

• Michaels
Thanksgiving: 6 p.m.-midnight
Black Friday: 7 a.m.-10 p.m.

• Monroeville Mall
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: Opens 6 a.m.

• Office Depot and OfficeMax
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: Opens 8 a.m.

• Old Navy
Thanksgiving: Varies by store; Miracle Mile store, opens 3 p.m. Thanksgiving, closes 10 p.m. Black Friday; Tanger Outlets store opens 6 p.m. Thanksgiving, closes 10 p.m.
Black Friday; Westmoreland Mall store, closed on Thanksgiving, opening 6 a.m. Black Friday

• REI
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: Closed

• Rite Aid
Thanksgiving: Most stores open 7 a.m.
Black Friday: Opens 7 a.m.

• Ross Park Mall
Thanksgiving: 5-11:59 p.m.
Black Friday: 6 a.m.-9 p.m.

• South Hills Village
Thanksgiving: Open 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday
Black Friday: Open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

• Stage, including Peebles stores
Thanksgiving: 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday
Black Friday: Opens 6 a.m.

• Stein Mart
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: Opens 7 a.m.

• Tanger Outlets
Thanksgiving: Opens 6 p.m.
Black Friday: Open through 10 p.m.

• Target
Thanksgiving: 5 p.m to 1 a.m. Friday
Black Friday: Opens 7 a.m.

• Ulta
Thanksgiving: 6 p.m. to midnight
Black Friday: Opens 6 a.m.

• Walmart
Thanksgiving: Opens 6 p.m.
Black Friday: Open 24 hours or through local close

• Westmoreland Mall
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Shirley McMarlin and Mary Pickels are Tribune-Review staff writers. You can contact Shirley at 724-836-5750, smcmarlin@tribweb.com or via Twitter @shirley_trib. You can contact Mary at 724-836-5401 or mpickels@tribweb.com or via Twitter @MaryPickels.