If you have an outlet mall with exterior shops in your area, you may find yourself wondering how you can possibly shop efficiently in such a layout. Having to walk the sidewalks to visit the stores you want can seem like a burden, not to mention parking in the busy parking lot that's always full during sales! Luckily, shopping at an outlet mall can be an enjoyable and productive experience if you follow these tips.

1. Arrive early

If there is a sale the day you plan to go shopping, plan on arriving at the mall about 10 minutes before it opens. This way, you will beat most of the crowd and find a parking spot when there are still plenty to be had. Make sure you double check the mall's opening time for the big sale. Some open early on big sales days like Black Friday or the day after Christmas.

2. Make a list

As you walk the sidewalks between stores, it is easy to get distracted and end up browsing in stores you never even intended to visit. Before you know it, you are home -- and you never purchased the very thing you originally went to the mall for! You can prevent this conundrum by making a list of must-buy items on your phone. Check them off as you buy them. You can let yourself get distracted by window shopping all you want, but you can't leave until you've purchased everything on that list!

3. Get a map

Sometimes, you can't just peer down the sidewalk and see what stores are ahead. Signage and plenty of people on foot make this nearly impossible. So, before you start shopping, stop by the mall service desk and ask for a map. This will prevent you from wasting valuable time walking back and forth, looking for certain stores.

4. Plan on taking breaks

Shopping at a large mall can be exhausting, even though it is enjoyable. You don't want tiredness to ruin your experience, so plan your day, so you are able to take breaks. The mall actually makes this easy with food courts, and little food stands throughout the space. Stop for a soft pretzel or a smoothie and let yourself unwind. It's part of the mall experience!

Now that you know how to get more out of your shopping trips, head to the outdoor shopping center, and shop till you drop! 

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