Shopping on Black Friday is amazing. The discounts are deep and everyone is filled with the holiday spirit. The only part that’s not a lot of fun is dealing with the crowds and the lines. In some cases, it can be more than irritating – it can be downright dangerous. If you’d like to enjoy a stress-free shopping day this year, here are a few ways you can avoid those Black Friday crowds:

Look for Unconventional Opening Times

As Black Friday has become more popular, stores have started opening earlier. A few years ago, stores started opening their doors as early as 6 a.m., then it was 4 a.m. Now, they throw pajama parties at midnight or never close at all. If you’d really like to beat the crowds, look for stores that are open on Thanksgiving Day or stay up for the midnight madness sales.

Take Advantage of Afternoon Specials

To keep a steady flow of customers, some stores offer door busters based on the time of day. The best sales might occur when the doors first open, but new deals are offered every few hours. By finding a store with afternoon specials on your preferred items, you can save a bundle and miss the crowds. By this time, the early birds will be taking a nap or grabbing a bite to eat.

Stay Off the Beaten Path

If you’d like to avoid crowds, the solution could be as simple as staying away from the most popular destinations. The average shopper goes to malls and big shopping complexes on Black Friday leaving more isolated shops with uncrowded aisles and plenty of discounted items. By choosing a few less popular places to shop, you can browse in comfort while taking advantage of the same great savings. Depending on your choices, you might even find a few off-beat gifts that will surprise your friends and family.

Skip the Stores Completely

These days, there’s not much you can buy in the stores that you can’t buy online. Without any crowd- or traffic-related stress, you can order everything you need and have it delivered right to your door. Many stores offer the same deals online as they do at their physical locations on Black Friday. And, if you can’t find a deal on a must-have item on this shopping day, there’s always Cyber Monday!

If you don’t enjoy the hustle and bustle of a Black Friday crowd, use these alternatives to keep your stress levels manageable while still saving big.