To take advantage of a Black Friday sale on iPad 2 we were going to drive to CT since Massachusetts shops were going to be closed. Or at least we did not think that it was worth waiting till 1 AM to go shop. In the meantime, I kept searching online for deals and saw that Best Buy was selling the same iPad not with a $75 Walmart gift certificate but with a straightforward $60 off. Definitely the right thing to do even with the slightly higher price because for just $15 it is not worth lining up at 10 PM in another state without a guarantee that I will get it and then figuring out how to spend $75 in Walmart. The big lesson: shop online, avoid the lines, no need to fight for parking spots, and just sit back and smile at all the losers rushing to the shops.
Tips from a freelancer consultant for the benefit of other gig economy and self-employed workers and contractors.