You made a list and checked it twice. Be it Hanukkah or Christmas or the workplace secret Santa, you have friends, family and colleagues to buy gifts for.
Analysts at the National Retail Federation are predicting that shoppers will spend between $957.3 billion and $966.6 billion in November and December this year.
Although holiday shopping has started earlier and earlier every year — yes, as soon as after Halloween — Black Friday, which falls on Nov. 24, marks the official start of the holiday shopping season.
New Jersey has one of the densest populations of malls and retail centers in the nation, and we broke down the hours of many of these stores for anyone looking to brave the Black Friday crowds and shop over the weekend.
Your local malls
American Dream in East Rutherford: 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Black Friday. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday. Some stores open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
Bergen Town Center in Paramus: 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Black Friday. 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday.
Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus: 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Black Friday. 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday.
Paramus Park in Paramus: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Black Friday. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday.
The Shops at Riverside in Hackensack: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Black Friday. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday.
The Mall at Short Hills in Short Hills: 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Black Friday. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday.
Palisades Center in Rockland County, New York: 7 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Black Friday. 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Saturday. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday.
Rockaway Townsquare in Morris County: 6 a.m.-9 p.m. Black Friday. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday. Noon-6 p.m. Sunday.
Willowbrook Mall in Wayne: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Black Friday. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on Saturday. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday.
Retailers, big box, department stores
Costco: Hours vary by location. Check online for your local store at costco.com/warehouse-locations.
BJ’s: Most clubs are open 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Black Friday, though some in the New York metro area will stay open until 11 p.m. Check online for your local store at bjs.com/clubLocatorDetail.
Big Lots: 6 a.m.-11 p.m. Black Friday.
Bob’s Discount Furniture: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Black Friday. For weekend openings, check online for your local store at mybobs.com/stores.
CVS: Check online for your local store at cvs.com.
Dick’s Sporting Goods: 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Black Friday. Most open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday. Check online for your local store at dickssportinggoods.com/s/Stores.
Dollar General: Check online at dollargeneral.com for specific store hours Black Friday.
Dollar Tree: Check online at dollartree.com for specific store hours on Black Friday.