Shopping the Day after Thanksgiving....

I don't know if anyone else is on this mailing list but I signed up last year and they send out updates on what stores will have on sale on "Black Friday" (the day after Thanksgiving).

I thought I would post this and help anyone who may be looking for something particular........I'm one of those nuts who get up at the crack of dawn and go shopping....I usually get the few items I need but then I like to still hang around and watch all the idiots fight over things! :lol

http://www.blackfriday.gottadeal.com/

Thanks bb! I'm not sure if I'll hit the stores this year on Black Friday or not. I did last year for a quick trip, but that was because I really needed stuff they had on sale.

It doesn't work for every retailer, but my mom taught me years ago that the day before Thanksgiving can be one of the best shopping days of the year. The stores have everything out in preparation for Friday, and in many cases, have cut the prices already too. But unlike that Friday, there's hardly anyone in the stores because everyone is home cooking. There have been a few times that we've had just my parents and me for Thanksgiving, so we've gone out rather than making a huge feast for so few people. When we do that, my mom and I celebrate Black Wednesday in style!

There is no sale great enough to lure me out of my turkey-induced coma.
:thud

I'm with you, Newf. I avoid the stores the day after Thanksgiving like the plague. I hate crowds so no sale seems worth it.

Me three! I have a friend who goes out with her sisters, mother, aunts and cousins every year. They make an event out of it - going to breakfast, splitting up to shop and meeting again for a late lunch. Just thinking of it makes me :stressed .

I prefer to pick one store and not go all over town. If my biggest need/want this year is electronics or housewares or etc., I go to whichever store I think has the best deals and then go home! Last year I found some excellent buys at Walmart and it wasn't even that crowded because everyone else was in the part of town where the malls and Target is.

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Originally Posted by cricketeen;2141217;

They make an event out of it - going to breakfast, splitting up to shop and meeting again for a late lunch. Just thinking of it makes me :stressed .

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I hate, despise and cringe at the day after Thanksgiving shopping. :pissedoff My restaurant gets busy at 6 a.m. and doesn't let up until about 3 p.m. It's our busiest day of the year. It's wild and we get beat up real bad. :(

I hate it too. I used to get up before dawn and wait in line to push and fight for a bargain. Now I'd rather pay regular price than deal with the hassle.

Black Friday is insanity I tell you. Insanity!

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Originally Posted by dagwood;2141204;

I'm with you, Newf. I avoid the stores the day after Thanksgiving like the plague. I hate crowds so no sale seems worth it.

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I'm with you guys....HATE the crowds. No sale is worth the aggrevation

And it's really annoying--it's one of the few weekdays I don't go to work, so a good day to do errands...picking up new socks, etc., and you can't get anywhere near the mall or even other stores, so many cars. I'm not looking for bargains, but I can't do regular shopping.
Going to try Black Wedsnesday this year if I can get out of work early enough--good idea, Veruka! Thanks to your mom! :)

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Originally Posted by ArchieComic Fan;2141347;

I prefer to pick one store and not go all over town. If my biggest need/want this year is electronics or housewares or etc., I go to whichever store I think has the best deals and then go home! Last year I found some excellent buys at Walmart and it wasn't even that crowded because everyone else was in the part of town where the malls and Target is.

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I agree that this is the way to do it. Get in, get your bargains, get home. I do'nt think I could survive making a day of it. My sister, mom and me do the same thing the day after Christmas. We make it a tradition to go to Target every single year on Dec 26. My sister has been known to scout the store a few days before to get an idea of what will be half off, and which aisles to hit first. (okay, I'll admit it - I do the same thing ... but she came up with it first).

On both occasions (after Christmas and when I do after Thanksgiving shopping) I roll out of bed and go early, and then go home and go back to bed.

I went one year the day after Thanksgiving because I was just getting off work at 7 am and was already in town. When I saw that the checkout lines were backed up clear to the back of the store I put my stuff back and walked out. I'll never do that again. I do love to go shop on Dec. 26th though. :up

When I lived in Santa Barbara I had a friend that I would hit the stores with every Black Friday. Most of the time we wouldn't buy anything, we'd just hang out in Nordstroms eating the scrumptious samples they put out and window shopping. Of course, neither of us had a child then. :lol I kind of miss that.

My daughter's gym has a program where you can leave them for four hours on Black Friday for a small fee. I did that last year, but I admit I just went and saw a movie. I can't stand waiting in line to buy something.

Now that I tend to stay in Seattle for Thanksgiving, I never go shopping on Black Friday. I used to go with my mother when I'd go down to Portland for the holiday. She loves to shop. It exhausts me. This year I'm napping and going to a 5 o'clock basketball game.

I agree with those of you who think the savings isn't worth what you have to go through. I don't like crowds under any conditions and a crowd that is more like a mob is way down my list of fun get togethers. I don't like being shoved and stepped on.

There used to be a lady in our neighborhood who went door to door before daylight that one day, to get people up to go shop. Not my door, because I don't live that close to her, but several of her neighbors used to talk about it. They didn't really care about shopping but just didn't know how to say NO to her. She passed away a few years ago and I think the group shopping thing went down the drain.

I usually don't do the day-after shopping. For one thing, I'm not nearly organized enough to know what I'm buying for people yet. And there's no way I'm getting up early to save some money. But I don't mind going to the mall in my hometown -- you see a lot of people, it's very social, and it's such a small town that even the crowds aren't that big, compared to how it would be on that day in the city where I live now. I shudder to even contemplate trying to get to a mall here on that Friday. :eek

Some websites will have the same Black Friday prices as they do instore, but you have to be quick to place an order. I'd much rather do that in my jammies than get in a crowd.

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Originally Posted by cricketeen;2141217;

Me three! I have a friend who goes out with her sisters, mother, aunts and cousins every year. They make an event out of it - going to breakfast, splitting up to shop and meeting again for a late lunch. Just thinking of it makes me :stressed .

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I do this every year with my best friend and this year since we moved, she's coming here for Thanksgiving and we doing it here. We do the whole 9 yards including breakfast, etc.

Where we used to live, we'd run into lots of other people we knew or people we had stood in line with at other stores and people would give you hints about other stores. If there was someone in line at Target who was on the phone with her friend at Toys R Us and they would find something out, they would always share the info and if one of us needed it, we split up and one go for all the Target stuff and one for the Toys R Us stuff meeting back together later. But it was more fun when I was throwing stereos over peoples heads to my friend on the outside of the crowd with the shopping buggy. I literaly could not believe I was heaving boxes of stereos at her in Target. :lol
Then we'd go to breakfast and the restaurant would be full of people we knew or had met that morning and everyone sharing their bargain stories and running from table to table. It was like a big party!

And I've saved some BUCKS and that is the main reason I go. If I had more disposable income, I'd probably not do it. But I have saved some significant amounts on Black Friday. Enough to make it worth battling the crowds.

I'm too lazy to battle the crowds. I'm not an early riser to begin with so on my days off, I like to sleep in. Also, it gets really super crowded here to the point where you have to circle around for parking and that drives me nuts, too. I usually have all my holiday shopping done before Thanksgiving. :teeth I'm sure I miss out on the savings but I'd rather pay full price than deal with that. I could see how it could be fun if you went with friends and made it a party...but most of my friends are lazy like me, too, and are at home sleeping. :lol

The only time my son went with me, we stood in line very early at Best Buy. He was probably about 12. I told him to be on the lookout for Gone With The Wind and Lady and the Tramp as they were both newly out on video (not dvd, so this was a while ago). He found a basket full soon after the doors opened and some lady yelled at him and told him it was her basket. :lol He still gets a kick out of telling that story. Needless to say, we didn't shop after Thanksgiving again for quite a while, mainly because I had a job where I didn't usually get the day off. Oh, and that Gone With The Wind movie sat unopened for several years until I think I gave it to my mom last Christmas since I have the movie on dvd now.

Last year was the first time I went in years (this time to Walmart) and was so excited to find a 15" flat panel tv for $170 that it made my day. I still haven't seen one that cheap since. This year I might get a 42" if I find a good deal. I also got my son a digital camera for about $80 and the memory card (512 mb) for $12 and that really was a good deal. And what was even better was the price I originally thought I was getting was actually discounted even more when I got to the register!

Oh, and I also love the day after Christmas too. I like to buy the perfume and body lotion baskets when they're half off, and all for me! Plus you can find good deals on the earring and necklace sets. I got my tree last year for half off (could have got it for 75% off if I waited another week) and it's still new in the box waiting to be put up this year. It's one of those pre-lit ones. I hope it works!

Sometimes it's worth it if you stick to one store and know what you want. Come on people, have a little adventure in your life :lol

My son and I still cringe when we remember our first and I think last, Friday after, shopping spree. He was a young teenager and wanted to get his niece, my grand daughter, a Cabbage Patch doll. Well a store where I had worked relief for several years, had the doll at a super price. We went and stood in line till the store opened and there must have been 300 people wanting a doll. The manager of the department came by and saw me and visited for a minute. Then she went in the back room, came to the door and yelled out to us, what color hair and eyes did we want. She shoved her way through that crowd and brought the doll to us but we had to pass about 250 people on our way to check out. Talk about some dirty looks! No way would I do that today in Memphis. We'd be lucky to make it out alive!

I tried shopping the day after Thanksgiving once, and only once. I was so disgusted by rude and pushy shoppers that I haven't tried again in over 20 years. And from what I've read, it's gotten even worse.

I think a lot of that depends on where you live. For years (until we moved this summer) where I went it was more like a party atmosphere even for strangers and we never experienced fights, pushing or shoving. Everyone was truly helpful. I know that I've gotten help and given help to perfect strangers on items that one of us couldn't reach or get too, steered people to where the items were, traded info on other stores and just had a good time.

I've seen the news reports about fighting and all and just never experienced it. I guess I've been lucky where I used to live and to me, who is NOT a morning person, i am out of that bed on black friday like its Christmas morning. :lol I can't WAIT to go and my friends and I pour over the ads on Thanksgiving and then map out our battleplan, so we know exactly where to go, when everything opens and what we want, so usually we get in and get our stuf and get out and move on. And if the lines start to get long, then one of us stands in line while the other finishes shopping so that by the time we reach the checkout, we haven't spent an hour in line.

My husband HATES it with a passion. He went one year and refused to go again. But he LOVES that I can get such good bargains and not spend a freaking fortune on Christmas presents. I probably do a good 75% of my shopping on black friday.

I really do have a good time and have gotten some incredible savings and then I go home, take a nap and then the whole family goes to a new release holiday movie that afternoon.

myrosiedog..me and you would have us a good ole time shopping together! :teeth I plan out my shopping destinations like it was a strategic war meeting-armed and ready with my store circulars, good tennis shoes and some comfy clothes I show up bright and early on Black Friday. Meet ya at the Waffle House after we've hit the stores?!!! :up

I absolutely hate, loathe and despise to go shopping EXCEPT for the day after Thanksgiving and the day after Christmas!!!! I have gotten to Best Buy at 4:00 in the morning for items and then stood in line for almost 2 hours to PAY for the item!!! I love to see what everybody else is buying...I usually go to the one store that has the majority of things I'm most interested in and get those things and then I may go to some of the other stores just to browse. I have almost been involved in a knock down drag out fight between some people at Target several years back too. There was a group of about 25-30 of us who had waited patiently outside the store (and it was about 30°) for about 2 hours waiting for them to open it up and right as they open up the doors there were about 10 "ladies" who had just drove up in the parking lot and who proceeded to just cut in front of all of us and walk right on in......lemme tell ya..it was NOT pretty! :eek

My mom use to work at Walmart about 10 years ago and she would tell us about people who would come in the store on Wednesday night and proceed to sit down in the electronics section and wait until 6:00 a.m. when the electronics would go on sale!!! :lol My butt and back couldn't handle sitting on that cold hard floor for that long!

ArchieComicFan, I'm like you...the day after Christmas my mom and I go to Walmart and buy the perfume sets. I buy some for me and some to give as presents throughout the year. The only perfume my mom wears is "White Diamonds" and she goes through alot of it each year and one year when we went to Walmart the day after Christmas she ended up buying 75 gift sets of nothing but "White Diamonds". She was good to go for the year! :rofl

I've worked retail and there are some absolute _______ (fill in the blank with the ugly word of your choice) and they treat the workers absolutely horrible so I always make sure to never get impatient with someone and always try to make their job a little easier by taking the clothes hangers off the clothes before I get to the check out or helping them bag the items and making sure to smile and thank them. Don't get me wrong, I usually always do that anyway but I try to really help them on those days!!! And Unklescott...I always make sure to tip extra nice when I'm at a restaurant on those days!

I've tried to block the years from my memory but I spent 3 years working at Best Buy as a cashier and not only can some of the customers be rude, but during my stint the managers treated the employees like cattle. Customers think it's a pain to stand in line but think of the cashiers who have been standing for hours without a break, getting dirty looks (and sometimes verbal assaults) when they have to check your ID or a price doesn't match up to what you thought. Having to wait on a price check during Black Friday is scary time. Not only will the customer needing the price check get testy but everyone in line behind them starts to get restless. Remember, the cashiers don't set the prices, aren't responsible for the amount of merchendise on hand, and aren't responsible if there aren't enough registers open. Take it out on management if you have to blame someone! :whistle

And I felt like a schoolchild asking to use the bathroom. Not only do the customers not understand that you are human and need to eat and use the restroom, but the managers don't want to think of you as anything but a robot on that day either. They would try to get someone to take over for you while you did those things but it was a "hurry up and get back" attitude. And if they told you your schedule was 7-3, for example, then plan on them calling you in earlier and asking you to stay longer. And it wasn't usually something you could say no to. If it was time for you to go and there wasn't another cashier ready to take your place you just had to stay and keep working. This was before they got more organized and wouldn't let lines build up at each register making it impossible for a cashier to cut her light out so she could leave. Now they do something where you stand in one line and are directed to a register, like at a bank or customer service.

And I've also had the fun experience of working customer service when the returns start pouring in after Christmas. That fun, magical time when people don't need a receipt because it was a "gift" and they will bring in game systems, vcr's, coffee makers, etc. that they got a couple of years ago. :nono

After 3 years I knew I couldn't do it anymore but I have sympathy for those who need a job so badly that they will endure the torment (as that was my reason for staying as long as I did). Maybe it's gotten better for cashiers over the years though. I'll be keeping an eye out during the holidays and will be letting management know if I think a cashier is about to fall down from exhaustion. :thud

So please be kind to your cashier. You're lucky enough to be out finding the bargains while he/she has to stand in one spot all day hoping for a break which will likely never come or will be much too short.

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Originally Posted by ArchieComic Fan;2142022;

And I've also had the fun experience of working customer service when the returns start pouring in after Christmas. That fun, magical time when people don't need a receipt because it was a "gift" and they will bring in game systems, vcr's, coffee makers, etc. that they got a couple of years ago. :nono

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Ugh! The memories! I was trained on refunds for the very first time at Toys R Us the day after Christmas. I'd never done a refund there in my life until Dec 26. I showed up for work that morning, and they said "you're on refund today". I told them I'd never been trained, the manger shrugged, said "Your smart, you're drawer is always right, you'll do fine". After about 3 minutes of training, I was off to meet the masses.

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There was a group of about 25-30 of us who had waited patiently outside the store (and it was about 30°) for about 2 hours waiting for them to open it up and right as they open up the doors there were about 10 "ladies" who had just drove up in the parking lot and who proceeded to just cut in front of all of us and walk right on in......lemme tell ya..it was NOT pretty!

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Do you recognize any of the line crashers as being contestants on Amazing Race this season? :whistle

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Originally Posted by Newfherder;2142173;

Do you recognize any of the line crashers as being contestants on Amazing Race this season? :whistle

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OMG... :rofl :rofl..........that was priceless Newfherder!!!!

I used to do it when my kids were younger. Like you, MRD, I am not a morning person, but I would be up not so bright and early, driving in darkness to the stores. After things settled down the night before, I would gather up all the circulars, map out my plans, make my list. I think if I could have slept in my clothes I would! Hubby would stay home with the kids and I would hit the stores solo. I would be back home by ten in the morning, have all my shopping done, and go back to bed!

Years later, when the kids were older, hubby would go with me. He thought I was crazy, but he saw the savings I was getting. We also took advantage of not having the kids with us and we would go to breakfast after the stores. While waiting for our food, we would go over our receipts and be all thrilled over what great buys we had gotten. And yes, our shopping was more party atmosphere than angry mobs and we would see the same faces at some of the stores or at breakfast.

One thing I did learn after my first or second Black Friday experience was that a lot of the stores matched prices that other stores were offering. For example, say you saw Toys R Us selling some toy at their special price of 19.99 and you were at Target and they had the same toy for $24.99. Target would give it to you at the Toys R Us price......all you had to do was show them the item and price in the Toys R Us circular and they would match it. (I'm just using those store names as an example, I am *NOT* sure if those stores really do match prices.)

I also found that whatever I bought on Black Friday was never listed at a lower price during the rest of the holiday shopping period.

There were a few times when I would take my older kids with me and they thought it was insane so I don't think I made any converts with those two.

We've toned it down a lot now. Now that they are in their 20s, they just want money. Even my 15 year old is getting into the money mode. So we just put money into their stockings and buy little things (like socks, gloves, etc.) so that there is at least something under the tree for them to open. The kids love the money because they can score big time buying clothes and other things that are marked way down after the holidays.

Most of the gifts under the tree are now for my granddaughter....quite a few toys and clothes. Those things I can get anytime, so I am not going to fight the crowds. I don't even know what's really "in" with the 3 year-old crowd these days!

I used to also do the day after Christmas shopping too....to get cards, gift wrap, ornaments, etc. Now I wait a few days and avoid the crowds.

But I will still look at those circulars on Thanksgiving night just to see if there is any "must have" that will get me up and out on Black Friday. If not, I'll just sleep in that morning!

This isn't really intentional shopping the day after Thanksgiving...but it sort of coincided. A few years ago, a greeting card shop was going out of business and it was right around Thanksgiving. I had to work the day after and the card shop was in the business district so not a lot of customers were there (most had the day off). As each day grew closer to the closing, the prices were marked down more. I started off getting cards at 25% off (when the selection was still good) and managed to get a good deal more at 75% to 90% (!!) off on the last day of its existance (of course, the best stuff had been picked through by this point). It was great. I spent about $300 on cards and wrapping paper, which is a lot of money, but I'm set for another few years of birthdays, weddings, baby showers, Mother's and Father's Day cards, anniversary, condolences, Christmas and holiday cards, thank you cards etc. And the best thing is I don't have to run out to the store to pick up a card anymore. And cards aren't cheap. The nice ones are about $4 even at Target. Anyhow, I have them all filed away (by category) at home so the right card is easy to find for the appropriate occasion. It's great!

ArchieComic Fan, you have my complete sympathy for having to go through that. The way people treat service staff is one of my prime methods of measuring their character.

About the Black Friday shopping, we don't have that up here, but nothing on earth could drag me out of the house on Boxing Day. My ochlophobia has been gearing itself up to be come just as important in my pantheon of neuroses as the acrophobia is, and the "stop f$&%(*g touching me"s that used to just be in my head are now actually coming out of my mouth, though still reasonably quietly. I am becoming quite the embarrassment to Mr. Rattus during our infrequent jaunts to various tourist events.

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Originally Posted by Rattus;2142707;

ArchieComic Fan, you have my complete sympathy for having to go through that. The way people treat service staff is one of my prime methods of measuring their character.

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Me too! I've actually quit dating guys before because I was so turned off by the way they spoke to waiters / waitresses.

That's always been my rule -- if you're nice to me, but not nice to the waiter, then you're really not a nice person.

Some of you almost have me talked into getting up next Friday :lol .
I have 1/2 of the kid's stuff bought already, in this town a lot of the video games they want will be gone if I wait. The rest of theirs I'll most likely mail-order. That just leaves my husband and Mother/MIL. So I guess I'll go through the ads and see if it is worth the struggle.
I guess this applies to this thread: What do you buy for two 70+ women who already have everything they want? Seems like I get them the same-old every year.

ETA: My sister used to tell me (waaaaaay back) that you can judge your boyfriend by the way he treats service people and his mother.

Cricketeen, my parents and in-laws are in their late 70s-early 80s. After many years of getting them things that they never used, didn't want, hearing them say "We don't want anything" or "You shouldn't have" we have finally resorted to gift cards....for places like Target and their favourite restaurants....Applebee's, Outback, Red Lobster, etc.

I have also done this for the past few years, not just limited to the holidays. When I am making up a lasagna, stuffed shells, mac n cheese, meatloaf, chili, stew, soup, spaghetti and meatballs, etc., I put enough into two Tupperware/Gladware dishes and bring them over to my parents. They can have one that night or the next for dinner and the other in the freezer....or stick both in the freezer for later use.

They love the idea of having meals prepared for them and dinner out is also a big treat.

My kids make up little booklets out of construction paper with different chores written on the pages, kind of like coupons, of things they would like to do for my folks. My son will go over and mow the lawn, rake the leaves, etc. One daughter will go over and rearrange/clean out the medicine cabinet, kitchen cabinets, mop the floor, etc. Believe it or not, my 15-year-old likes to IRON my mom's clothes for her. She will sit there ironing away while Mom tells her stories of her childhood. I just think these are much more precious gifts than anything on a store shelf!

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Originally Posted by MamaC;2142752;

Cricketeen, my parents and in-laws are in their late 70s-early 80s. After many years of getting them things that they never used, didn't want, hearing them say "We don't want anything" or "You shouldn't have" we have finally resorted to gift cards....for places like Target and their favourite restaurants....Applebee's, Outback, Red Lobster, etc.

I have also done this for the past few years, not just limited to the holidays. When I am making up a lasagna, stuffed shells, mac n cheese, meatloaf, chili, stew, soup, spaghetti and meatballs, etc., I put enough into two Tupperware/Gladware dishes and bring them over to my parents. They can have one that night or the next for dinner and the other in the freezer....or stick both in the freezer for later use.

They love the idea of having meals prepared for them and dinner out is also a big treat.

My kids make up little booklets out of construction paper with different chores written on the pages, kind of like coupons, of things they would like to do for my folks. My son will go over and mow the lawn, rake the leaves, etc. One daughter will go over and rearrange/clean out the medicine cabinet, kitchen cabinets, mop the floor, etc. Believe it or not, my 15-year-old likes to IRON my mom's clothes for her. She will sit there ironing away while Mom tells her stories of her childhood. I just think these are much more precious gifts than anything on a store shelf!

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My mom likes gift cards but my MIL loathes them. She says they are too impersonal. How it is more impersonal than the same gifts year after year, I do not know. I love the kid's coupons idea! That may be just the thing for her. Thank you!!!

MamaC, you raised your kids right. I love that they enjoy helping their grandparents. I can tell they're going to take good care of you (and PapaC) as well!

Thanks Lois, but it isn't always so peaches and cream here. I could write a book.....and have many thousands of gray hair to prove it!

They are basically good kids but they have had their moments where I questioned whether they were switched at birth or dropped on their heads or something. :ohno

My mom just turned 91 and is in one of those 'almost' assisted living places. Very nice - but she doesn't want anything. She gave/threw away most of the earlier gifts when she moved in. She doesn't go out much, so no shopping or restaurants any more.

So I will usually get her cookie tins, or treats (bought or homemade) of some kind - to have on hand when the staff or other residents stop by to visit.
I make sure she has some during and after the holidays.

as for shopping the day after Thanksgiving -

won't do it, you can't make me. I hate crowds, hate lines even more.
But I think I will see if I can get some on-line deals. home in my comfy jammies and fuzzy slippers - with a hot chocolate by my side.

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Originally Posted by cricketeen;2142767;

My mom likes gift cards but my MIL loathes them. She says they are too impersonal. How it is more impersonal than the same gifts year after year, I do not know. I love the kid's coupons idea! That may be just the thing for her. Thank you!!!

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My 84 year old aunt loves to read and write notes, send cards, but she is on a fixed income and can't get out by herself.

I find out from her daughter what books she'd like to have and I buy those and I buy or make notecards and get a selection of birthday, thinking of you cards, etc. and a roll of stamps and wrap those up for her. She loves it.

I also have bought magazine subscriptions as a gift. Then buy that months copy of the magazine and wrap it up with a note saying: this will be arriving i your mailbox for the next year.

When my aunt was able to get out more, we used to buy her movie tickets as she loved to go to the movies.

My inlaws were so hard to buy for, so I would buy my FIL a huge box of candy, usually a Whitman sampler (he loved it) and got my MIL who was diabetic but loves nuts a huge nut selection.

What about fruit? You can get citrus shipped from Florida or California
Or one of those __________ of the month clubs where they can get something sent to them every month.

I've also resorted to Swiss Colony or Hickory farms. i've found that people that have everything, need nothing, like disposable gifts, like food or tickets.
What about a pair of play tickets or concert tickets to an event coming up in their area?

My husband never wants anything and doesn't need anything. Last year I gave him tickets for Christmas to see Aerosmith and Arlo Guthrie. He LOVED it and it wasn't something else that had to be dusted or worn or whatever.
So from now on, he's getting tickets to stuff because I get to go too! :lol

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Originally Posted by myrosiedog;2142803;

So from now on, he's getting tickets to stuff because I get to go too! :lol

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It's the gift that keeps on giving...to you!

I love what you do for your Aunt. My mother and father don't like impractical gifts. Give them a bouquet of flowers and they'll worry about how much money you spent and how fast the flowers will die. :lol I found that when I gave them money, they'd put it in their account to pay bills and not use it to get themselves something a little more fun. So now I ask my mom (or dad) what the other NEEDS--new boots, new phones, a new TV, books etc. They don't like going out much to shop for things like that anymore so they appreciate those type of things.

They really used to enjoy shopping the day after Thanksgiving (and Christmas especially). They'd stock up on cards and wrapping paper on sale and get stocking stuffers for us kids...I didn't inherit that "wake up early" gene! :lol

I cant go shopping, as I get to open up my work at 5 am. It'll be slow, so i just have to make coffee and watch tv.

For those of you that want to start planning your day check out blackfridayinfo for copies of the sale ads that will be coming out.

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Originally Posted by bbnbama;2141896;

I absolutely hate, loathe and despise to go shopping EXCEPT for the day after Thanksgiving and the day after Christmas!!!! I have gotten to Best Buy at 4:00 in the morning for items and then stood in line for almost 2 hours to PAY for the item!!! I love to see what everybody else is buying...I usually go to the one store that has the majority of things I'm most interested in and get those things and then I may go to some of the other stores just to browse. I have almost been involved in a knock down drag out fight between some people at Target several years back too. There was a group of about 25-30 of us who had waited patiently outside the store (and it was about 30°) for about 2 hours waiting for them to open it up and right as they open up the doors there were about 10 "ladies" who had just drove up in the parking lot and who proceeded to just cut in front of all of us and walk right on in......lemme tell ya..it was NOT pretty! :eek

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BBNBama If that was the Target in Trussville on hwy 11 in 2001 I believe I was one of the "ladies" who just walked in without waiting in line. Sorry.:P But it was one of my favorite Black Fridays. I had got to Target at 4 am and there was no one there. Thats when I realised they didn't open until 7. The only thing I wanted from there was a remote control snake that I thought my son would love so I left and went to Freds on Lorna Rd. Thats where my Mother in law works and she said she'd let me in when she got there before the store opened. Well as I was standing in line waiting on my MIL I met some really nice ladies and we were talking about Sept 11th. When my MIL showed up and asked if I was coming in I said no I was enjoying the festive atmosphere outside. LOL They opened at 5 and thanks to my BIL who had come to help his mom I was able to find everything I wanted really fast. So I headed back to Trussville to try for that snake at Target.

I could not believe the crowd that had gathered since I'd been there earlier. I got out of my car and was standing across the street from the doors and met some really nice teenage boys. (I always love meeting teenage boys who are friendly and don't have a chip on their shoulders.) We were stareing at the crowd in shock. I asked what everyone was there for and they told me it was to get the playstation 2. We were debateing weather we'd even get in and were about to call off shopping there when they opened the doors. The lines were formed going sideways into the store. We were directly across from the doors and debated about walking in. We decided to go for it. I remember smiling at the boys and wishing them luck then I just casually walked into the crowd and right into the door. I don't think anyone even realised I cut in line as they were already busy pushing and shoving each other.
I went straight to the toy section and was frantically going up and down the isles looking for the snake and I could hear everyone holloring but was ignoring it and then I heard a woman yelling "Help Help!" So I stopped long enough to go make sure she wasn't being hurt. There was a huge crowd gathered around and I couldn't see anything. I couldn't have helped if I wanted to.
I found the snake (it was the last one) and headed to the checkout. As I was standing in line I met a couple who were buying a huge cd player. They said there were only about 30 of them and thats what most of the crowd was there to get. The woman yelling help had tried to secure 5 of them and people where snatching them away from her. I was actually more appaled that she thought she could get 5 of them then I was that people were snatching them away from her.:teeth

I usually hate shopping and can't stand the crowds but theres a different friendly atmosphere on Black Friday. Except at the Gallaria. Now I won't even try to go there. Those people are vicious. We made the national news last year because people were knocked down as they were trying to get in the door.:eek

Thanks everyone for the gift ideas! Going to that circular site now....

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Originally Posted by suncat7;2141606;

Some websites will have the same Black Friday prices as they do instore, but you have to be quick to place an order. I'd much rather do that in my jammies than get in a crowd.

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That's how I do my shopping. I know Amazon had some really good Black Friday deals last year. Nordstroms always has awesome shipping deals, even without special codes. And if for some reason I'm possessed and decide to buy from Best Buy, you can bet I'm ordering on line. I don't know why I keep falling for it, but I'll check Best Buy & Amazon on line and the prices will be about the same (give or take a few pennies) but Best Buy's site will tell me which local store has it in stock. I go to the store, and it's always a bunch more money. The latest thing was the boxed Thin Man series. It's $45-ish on BB and Amazon. In the store, it was $58. I could have it overnighted from Amazon and still not pay $58.

i'll be grabbing the Sunday paper at work this weekend and looking to see if they have any friday adds, and I can show my mom what to get.

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Originally Posted by SuperBrat;2144396;

i'll be grabbing the Sunday paper at work this weekend and looking to see if they have any friday adds, and I can show my mom what to get.

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In my area all of the Friday ads are in the Thursday (Thanksgiving day) paper, and it's stuffed full!

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Originally Posted by ArchieComic Fan;2144692;

In my area all of the Friday ads are in the Thursday (Thanksgiving day) paper, and it's stuffed full!

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That's the way it is here too ArchieComic.......

I love Black Friday. And Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. So, this is my favorite weekend of the year coming up. Ah, bliss! :biglove

Mom is a shopaholic and passed it down to me: I could remember her bringing in a stroller that I didn't need anymore and fill it up with all the bags of stuff we bought while my sister and I held on to the sides of it. I can remember discussing the battle plan the night before, carefully choosing which mall to go to (I live in North Jersey, come on!).... ahhh!

For the past 10 years or so, I've altered the tradition... I wake up whatever time I feel like, still blissed out on tryptophans and marshmallowed sweet potatoes and hop on the train into Manhattan (15 minute trip). I spend the day in the city, shopping, lunching, meeting a special friend. AHHHHH! It's great; no parking woes, no lines that you can't just go to another store to avoid.

Another thing I've done, once or twice in the past decade is go to the outlet center upstate. A large plot of land with all the outlet stores spread out... park once and head into the fray: Saks Off 5th, Carter's, Burberry, Bass, Calvin Klein, BCBG, that place with all the crystal, an electronics store, Harry & David, J Crew, etc. etc. etc. Plus, it has a few places to either grab something portable to eat; or sit down and eat. Nice!!!!

I love it, and can't wait!!!!! Good luck everyone!!!! I hope to see everyone posting their favorite bargains/other purchases!

I've decided to let you all shop for me this year. It is the one thing I hate more than going to the dentist! Crowds, long lines, people grabbing for the last sale item,....you can keep it! I try to do my shopping the entire year, and only have 1 quilt to complete.

I love shopping the day after Thanksgiving--it is so festive! My mom, grandma, and 2 aunts and I used to do it every year, but ever since my grandma passed away 7 years ago we haven't gone.

I am planning on doing at least a little shopping next Friday--I'm excited to get into the Christmas season!

When I was younger I used to battle the crowds for a bargain but not anymore.....I'll wait for a sale during the week.........when everyone is at work.....no more crowds for me. :hiya

Well I survived and was home by 7:45am. Went to radio shack and got two new phones and a dvd player.
How'd everyone else do?

Haven't gone yet myself--heading out at 10 a.m. (central). I'm scared!! :lol

I actually broke down and went to Bed Bath and Beyond. It wasn't bad at all. Of course, the Shopko right next door was a madhouse.

I went to the Target (5 min. from home) at 5 am, got on a reasonable line, waited an hour for the doors to open, rushed in to the electronics madhouse, got my 2 iPod Clock/Radio/Charger things, then a couple of aisles down grabbed a B&D power drill (it's so cool and 29 smackers!), raced down the aisle toward toys, got all the kids done, finished, completo... zoomed back toward the door I came in (next to the dvds and electronics) grabbed 2 copies of Pirates (6 each!), Family Guy Season (13 bucks!), and an iTunes gift card for myself (I deserve it for being up at 4:40 am!), picked up milk and cold cream in the absolutely empty other end of the store, got on line, (I was second!) and was out the door and back home by 6:50 am! I went back to bed. Now I'm at work to pay for all the shopping I just did. Not too bad, I got out only spending just under $200, but you had to see other people's totals, with the flat screen tvs and those combo systems, and those big chairs that the audio comes out of?? Crazy, 600+! 1,000 +! I love to see what people got.

Write in, people! Enquiring minds want to know!

My mom and I went to Kohl's and Target this morning at 6AM. I ended giving up and going home when I couldn't even get anywhere near the electronics department. Kohl's was really bad this year when the checkout lines were wrapped around the store for each side of registers.

We also did go before that to a midnight madness sale at the Aurora Farms Outlets outside of Cleveland. That place was crazy for a little while but calmed down very fast when people realized that there were not that many great deals. Yankee Candle outlet was supposed to have all of the big jar candles for 4 for $40. What was the trick was that they were seconds of just holiday scents, which kinda sucked. I did buy some clothes at the Lane Bryant outlet.

Anywho, my only rant about this whole Black Friday thing is why aren't stores more prepared. Best Buy was! They even practiced. Target, Kohl's, these places were not prepared at all for all the madness that comes every year. Why not setup a checkout line like Best Buy does. There was a mass of people just crowding around the registers. It was really bad.

Anywho, enough rant. I have to get ready to slave for the man at the pet store. Our worst day is Christmas eve. Everyone buys all their pets for their kids that evening, lol!

Just got back from an outlet mall - gorgeous day to be out.
its like 60 degrees and sunny out. should be good for the retail stores today.

Hubby bought me a leather coat, I got a red leather jacket for me.
I really don't have anyone to shop for.

yeah. got socks (son) and cookies(mom). but no electronic stuff needed.

I don't believe I will ever do that again. I was at Walmart at 5:15. The one item I really wanted, a bissell stick broom for $12 was nowhere to be had. I asked 4 employees, nobody knew where they were. One of them informed me to check housewares, I just said, Ya think? sarcasticly. Lines were stretched around the store, employees were running around looking for stock. One huge line I asked the lady in front of me what they were waiting for, she said, I think it is some kind of electronics. I thought to myself...you're waiting in a huge line and you don't know why? That is madness.

Ended up spending about 40 on some tioletries for the kids. Got to target at 6, saw the lines to get into the place and just lost my nerve.

I just cannot believe how totally senseless people act to save a few bucks. I'll just stick with weekday hours and internet shopping.

I went to Walmart at 5am and it was packed. You couldn't even get near the electronics department. I had to ditch my basket so that I could manuever between everybody. I did get a few things but not anything worth going out that early for. I got a 1 GB flashdrive for $13 and a small crockpot for $4. I wanted the mixing bowl set they advertised for $149 (think it was Kitchen Aid) but I couldn't find it, nor could I find a programmable coffee pot they had advertised on sale. The tv's flew out the door. Luckily I don't need any new tv's right now. They had a 52" projection that was pretty popular because by 5:30 they had a sign up that they were sold out. The grocery side of the store was empty. I don't know why they don't spread the big ticket items out instead of keeping them confined to one area.

Best Buy online has Arrested Development Season 3 and The Office Season 1 for $9.99 a piece so I ordered them and chose the "pick up at store" option. I'll go later in the week when the frenzy dies down.

So this year wasn't really a big coup for me but there's always next year!

I got up at 5:30a this morning to walk over to Sears (just under 1 min!-6 houses down). Walked in, not many people, but want to get King-size comforter set for 19.99 and 4 jumbo pillows for 3.99 each. King-size beddings set always expensive and that was cheap find from today's black friday madness... I couldn't believe what I've seen on the news when i turned on TV (want to see what's the atomsphere's like at different stores...) I was scared to go out and shop at sears but it wasn't too bad. Total time of the trip: 15 minutes. not too bad! I'd rather shop at other times not today!

I went to Mall of America today and it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it'd be. But why, oh why, do people bring strollers on days like today?! I got rammed twice the legs with a stroller. There just isn't any room--leave the little ones at home!

Got a lot done and am heading out once more for the weekend tomorrow to an outlet mall with a Coach outlet and some other great stores.

Only have a couple things left and I'm totally done with my Christmas shopping!

I got to work at the restaurant at 5:30. We are open 24 hours. By 7:30 the restaurant was full and we were on a wait for seats. :eek This doesn't normally happen until about 9:00 or 9:30. :lol It was the busiest day ever. It was great. Plenty of staff on hand and everything went smooth. :up By 1:00 we were dead and I was sending people home. Even the customers all seemed to be quite jovial and said they had great days shopping. Coffee makers and toaster ovens at Wal-mart for$3.98. Flat screen tv's at Meijers for $99. My restaurant is in front af a Kohls and that place was a zoo. People were telling me they stood in line for 2 hours to pay. You'd never catch me in that madhouse. :nono

I hate to double post but I just got this in an email from a friend. It's a free shipping weekend at certain retailer's online shopping sites.
http://shopping.aol.com/pages/Free-S...opDYNLprim0001

I went mid afternoon and got everything I wanted on sale except for the new Monopoly game for $10 at Meijers but Target had it for $15 and I got it there. I went to three places, all were busy but not nuts.

I'm half done Christmas shopping and I think the rest can be done online. :yay.

WOW! I had NO idea that the shopping deals were that great in the U.S. after Thanksgiving! We do not have sales like that up here after our Thanksgiving. What a great way to get Christmas presents on sale.

Pardon me, though, for sounding stoopid, but why do they call it Black Friday? Our Black Friday is the anniversary of a tornado that killed many people and flattened a trailer park and several businesses.

Its because all the retailers get out of the red and into the black.

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Originally Posted by Unklescott;2154596;

I hate to double post but I just got this in an email from a friend. It's a free shipping weekend at certain retailer's online shopping sites.
http://shopping.aol.com/pages/Free-S...opDYNLprim0001

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Thanks for that link, Unk. I have most of my shopping done without ever leaving my house this holiday weekend. No crowds and no computer crashes, either. :D

Walmart still had some 1 GB memory sticks for $13.88 so I got another one. Somtimes stores will continue offering the door buster price for the rest of the weekend as long as they still have the item. It never hurts to check it out!

I only shop at local stores the day after Thanksgiving because the malls are too crazy. I can't handle it! I think I might have a social phobia thing. Crowds really intimidate me.

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Originally Posted by CantGetNuf;2155163;

Its because all the retailers get out of the red and into the black.

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OH! I had no idea! Thanks for the 'xsplanation! :up

Last year's Black Friday, I got up at 3:00 am to drive 20 mi to the next town that has all the Best Buy, Curcuit City, etc. I was wanting the cheap laptop they had as the "early special"...When I got to the store and got out to head to the line, I found myself walking and walking to find the end of the line...... there was line going down the parking lot about a block long.....so I went to a couple of other stores and found the same situation.......

I went back home to our Staples and ended up being the 5th person in line, also knowing several people that came. The Staples staff came out with a cart of donuts and coffee and went down the line serving the goodies.......Then about 5:45 the manager came out with coupons/vouchers giving the first person in line first choice...continuing down the line.

I got my laptop, and a whole bunch of free goodies.....it was fun and worth the wait.

This year.......so sad I didn't get to participate in Black Friday. Iv'e been fighting Bronchitis--yuk.

well, I didnt get to partake in the shopping, as i had to work that morning. But my favorite store. Torrid, had a sale that all clearance was 50% and all other tops and bottoms were $10 off, so I bought myself a shirt and shoes, a shirt for my sister for christmas, all for about $38 including shipping and taxes.

And my mom picked up an $80 knife set for me to give to my brother for christmas since I couldnt get to the store. Wal-Mart still had some good deals, and wasnt busy at ALL when I went there at 9 pm. There were even cash registers open, and that NEVER happens at my local Wal-mart ANY time of the year. I picked up a $10 snuggle cabbage patch doll for a girl that always comes into my work.

I was a Black Friday virgin until this year. I only did it because the SO wanted some things ( from Walmart ) and had to work.

I got to Walmart at about 4:45, easily found parking, but had to walk to the end of a longish line and waited.

In line I learned that in general, the people waiting were friendly, but some rather secretive about exactly what they were after .... I guess just in case supplies were limited. I later learned that many people there were after PS3's and interestingly the cashiers and managers were telling people they were "all gone" and the floor staff was pre-scanning, bagging and delivering to some people from "in the back". :lol

While in line I learned that the line seemed shorter than I had imagined, because many people were holding a spot in the queue and as soon as the doors opened and the line stared moving, their "parties" of 5 and 6 joined them. In other words if you were 10th in line you could easily suddenly have 50 or 60 people ahead of you. That really made me angry. I had the same reaction as I have when I get in the supermarket checkout lane because the person in line has only a few items ... and then they have their 12 year old hold the spot while they push out around me and continue to shop and I have to wait because mom doesn't return quickly and the cashier has already started ringing. Grrrrr.

I also was shocked to see families with 2 or 3 little ones ( shorter than the shopping carts :) ) ... running around them. Several even had babes in arms. It seemed pretty dangerous as people were carrying TV's, and other objects that could easily fall or be knocked out and onto some child's head ... and people were also running into each other ... and children with their carts because their carts were piled so high they couldn't see in front of them ! The kids were pulling things out of boxes and one woman took something out of her cart that her child had put in and just threw it on the floor.

The store should provide a supervised play area or something for the children.

Surprisingly, I was in and out in under an hour and managed to get the things the SO wanted, a few things for myself :) ... although I couldn't find a few things I was looking for ... and I regret putting the $12 Bissell stick broom back !

Will I do it again next year. Perhaps ... but I'll get more sleep so I won't be so cranky. :lol

Only 12 more days till Black Friday 2007 :omg

Here's the site that shows you what will be on sale at various stores. They update often so be sure to continue to check back or you can join their mailing list (which is what I did last year!)

Black Friday

Have your list ready and join in the shopping madness of Black Friday..... http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...s/goodluck.gif

i got up and hit kmart at 6am ONCE in my life about 20 years ago, because they had artificial xmas trees on sale for $20. i swore i would NEVER do that again ... and i haven't.

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Originally Posted by barefootdyke;2668167;

i got up and hit kmart at 6am ONCE in my life about 20 years ago, because they had artificial xmas trees on sale for $20. i swore i would NEVER do that again ... and i haven't.

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I used to LOVE it. I'd go with my friends and we lived in a smallish area, so we always ran into more friends and then breakfast afterwards comparing notes. And nothing beats the memory of me heaving stereos over the heads of fellow shoppers to my friends who stood behind the crowd with the shopping carts while I fought my way to the pallet of stereos.
And everyone (at least in the area we shopped) was so friendly and would help each other and trade notes on other stores, merchandise and lines. It was like a big party with shopping! :D

There is absolutely NOTHING I need this year and I have no one to go with, so I guess I will sleep in (past 4 am, that's for sure) and then put up my own Christmas decorations.

I have decided that if I can't make my gifts this year (I have a few things I'm planning on making), I'm going to support the museum gift shop and use my discount. We have some really cool stuff in the shop there and I don't have to get up early to get it either.

my daughter used to work at the mcdonald's near the mall ... she said people started lining up for THEM to open an hour before they did! and now she works in a super-store. it's a NIGHTMARE for her. thankfully, she works nights and gets to come home at 7am! :)

I am pretty sure my mom is going to drag me out of bed to go shopping with her that friday, even though she KNOWS I hate shopping with crowds of people.

Thanks for the link bbnbama! I'll have to take a look at it.

I work at Wal-mart and I'll be there at a lovely 4:30 am on Black Friday. I opened last year too, which was insane. Actually, it's kind of hilarious watching everyone charge into the store like their lives depended on it.

I've never done the doorbuster thing before, but will be doing so this year, as there is a new holiday-special item being released that day that I REALLY want, but know it may easily sell out in minutes (with no word as to whether there will be more shipments). We'll probably pick up other deals while we're at it, and get some of the Christmas shopping out of the way. I won't camp, but will be there before 5 a.m. openings. I'm kind of nervous, lol-- I'm a passive person, and know I might get trampled. :laugh

Good forum for the BF stuff here; you can see many of the ads that have been leaked with scans and list- Coupons, Coupon Codes & Promotion Codes -> Black Friday 2007, Official Black friday 2007 Sale ads

I posted there, and will post here, my advice- one piece, based on stories I've heard is, stay safe. Always be aware of your surroundings, especially when coming out of stores in predawn hours, with your expensive purchases and fumbling for your keys. Odds are it won't happen to you, but there will be predators in places lying in wait, knowing there can be easy pickings. Having someone else with you is ideal; more safety in numbers. Keep a hand on your purse, or better still, wear the strap across your chest rather than just over one shoulder, and be sure it isn't open. Many crimes are crimes of opportunity. Don't be an easy victim.

Piece of advice #2, from having worked at Office Depot on BF a couple years ago: be NICE to the retail workers! Things are very stressful for them. Be kind to fellow shoppers and employees, and hopefully karma will reward you, and at the very least things will be a better experience for everyone. I had a few customers who were really nasty to me at checkout because they didn't realize the price in the ad was for after rebates (written in smaller print, admittedly). Chewing out the underpaid cashier will get you nowhere, trust me, lol.

Friday is our busiest day of the year at my restaurant. It's insane. :eek I do 3 times as much business by 11 a.m. as I normally do by 3 p.m. on Fridays. You couldn't get me in a store shopping for anything that day. :nono

I hate shopping any day after Thanksgiving. There are just too many people and not enough aisle space. Every year I vow that I'm going to get most of my shopping done online but I always chicken out because it's hard not seeing some items. This year I mean it! All online except for stocking stuffers!

I've worked the madness and I've shopped the madness and I love it all....I absolutely HATE to shop but Black Friday is the one day I do like to do it...I like to see what everyone else is getting too.

I don't even have anyone's Christmas list yet but you can bet I will be out on Black Friday anyway!

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e9...edshopping.gif

I have gotten some great deals in the past on Black Friday. Enough to make it really worth it. And my friends and I used to co-ordinate our efforts, scour the ads, post people at various locations with cell phones, have a plan of attack, etc. And then go eat and compare our notes and bargains. Great fun.

I'm sure D-Day was not planned with as much thought as we used to put into our black friday shopping. :lol

Also, where we used to live, the mall, Walmart, Target, Toys R Us, Circuit City, etc, were all located in the same area, most across the street from each other, so that made it very easy as we had a very small area and didn't have to run all over town to get to the stores we wanted. I like the concentrated shopping area because it meant, we could plan our shopping by which stores opened at which times (and it was staggered) and make it to each one and get what we wanted.
My problem right now is that one year I bought a $5 door buster toaster at Walmart. I've had it about 5 years now and its really struggling to make toast. You'd think that for $5, it'd last longer than 5 years. :rofl

I hate crowds so I don't venture out the day after Thanksgiving. I like to hole up and forget the outside world exists.

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Originally Posted by hermione4586;2671183;

I work at Wal-mart and I'll be there at a lovely 4:30 am on Black Friday. I opened last year too, which was insane. Actually, it's kind of hilarious watching everyone charge into the store like their lives depended on it.

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Well there are a lot of people that maybe while their lives don't depend on it, their children's Christmases do. I know that when my daughter was younger, if it hadn't been for the black friday sales (and Walmart layaway which is now gone), my daughter's Christmas would not have been as nice. And honestly while I do have fun shopping on Black Friday. It is the sales that entice me, because frankly I don't have the extra money and if by getting up a few hours early one day a year and battling crowds, I can and have saved hundreds of dollars, I will do it.

Shopping on Black Friday is a big hell no for me. :lol I like going out the day after Christmas though.

I pretty much dread shopping from Thanksgiving to the end of the year.
<-- online shopper

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Originally Posted by Marleybone;2675852;

Shopping on Black Friday is a big hell no for me. :lol I like going out the day after Christmas though.

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:yeahthat Now that, I'll do. I can pick up all the wrapping papers and stuff for almost nothing. But you won't catch me anywhere near a mall or store the day after Thanksgiving. I'll be putting lights up on the house and scarfing leftovers, thankyouverymuch.

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Originally Posted by waywyrd;2676221;

:yeahthat Now that, I'll do. I can pick up all the wrapping papers and stuff for almost nothing. But you won't catch me anywhere near a mall or store the day after Thanksgiving. I'll be putting lights up on the house and scarfing leftovers, thankyouverymuch.[/

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That's what I plan on doing this year. However, we are currently having the tree debate. I am allergic to real trees and can't touch them, so the rest of the family decorates the tree under my direction. And the tree decorators have threatened to go on strike this year because they don't like the director. :lol

So we are hotly debating getting an artificial tree again (we haven't had one in several years). So if I can get a good deal on an artificial tree the day after Thanksgiving, I may well be out shopping, but just for that one item.

I'm like Bbnbama, I hate shopping any day of the year except Black Friday. There is something about the atmosphere that makes it fun. Its the one day that I actually enjoy the crowds. I enjoy getting up at an ungodly hour and standing outside in the cold with a bunch of strangers who end up being friends before the doors open and we all rush in. Usually people are still in a festive mood from having ate such a great meal the day before and having spent hours scanning the sales ads. We all discuss what we're there to get. Its actually a lot of fun.

I absolutely will not go to Walmart, Kmart, or any of the other large department stores. They only stock 10 of their sale items and there are way to many people standing in line to get them. I usually stick with Freds Drugs for Less or Radio Shack. Then I hit Walgreens for my wrapping paper/name tags/ribbons and bows. CVS usually has some neat little items for a good price too.

Like someone else mentioned I have found that a lot of the things that are on sale BF will also go on sale for the same price sometime before Christmas. I have found that Walmarts bikes will usually go on sale for the same BF price about two weeks later.

Everyone have fun and be sure to stay safe out there!

My 1st stop is usually Best Buy so I stand in line outside with all the other crazy folks! :teeth

Right down from Best Buy is Target so that's usually my next stop and then I'll hit Walmart. I NEVER EVER EVER go to the mall!!!!! :confused

The day after Christmas my mom and I (and sometimes my S.O.) stand in line at Walmart. She loves White Diamonds perfume so she loads up on the gift sets of that. One time she bought over 30 boxes of it! :rofl

I usually get Christmas decorations and gift sets to put up for presents throughout the year. The sad thing about it is I live in a little 2 bedroom apartment and some of those decorations I have never even taken out of the box! Fortunately I am moving into a house shortly so between what I have and what my S.O. has, we should be Clark Griswald ready! :banana

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Originally Posted by bbnbama;2676492;

My 1st stop is usually Best Buy so I stand in line outside with all the other crazy folks! :teeth

Right down from Best Buy is Target so that's usually my next stop and then I'll hit Walmart. I NEVER EVER EVER go to the mall!!!!! :confused

The day after Christmas my mom and I (and sometimes my S.O.) stand in line at Walmart. She loves White Diamonds perfume so she loads up on the gift sets of that. One time she bought over 30 boxes of it! :rofl

I usually get Christmas decorations and gift sets to put up for presents throughout the year. The sad thing about it is I live in a little 2 bedroom apartment and some of those decorations I have never even taken out of the box! Fortunately I am moving into a house shortly so between what I have and what my S.O. has, we should be Clark Griswald ready! :banana

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I always buy lights after Christmas, so we always have tons of lights because I detest going through old strings of lights trying to figure why some are not burning. I'm convinced the person that invented Christmas lights was a sadist. :lol

I always try to hit Michaels on BF as they usually have some 50&#37; off coupons.

I just wanted to give a heads up on one of the ads. Walgreens Patriot Candles usually sell for 7.99 for one or 3 for $20. On BF they are buy one get two free. And they are awesome candles! To me they are even better then Yankee Candles. I will make a point to get these again this year.

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Originally Posted by CantGetNuf;2685055;

I just wanted to give a heads up on one of the ads. Walgreens Patriot Candles usually sell for 7.99 for one or 3 for $20. On BF they are buy one get two free. And they are awesome candles! To me they are even better then Yankee Candles. I will make a point to get these again this year.

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Oh thanks. I think I will go to Walgreens since its right up the street anyway.
I LOVE Walgreens. One year I did most of my Christmas shopping there and no where else. I can roam Walgreens for at least an hour to kill time and find all kinds of cool stuff. :)

(To me, Yankee Candles are nice, but overpriced). A.C. More had jarred candles on sale not too long ago and I bought a pumpkin one and it has smelled great. I think it was around $2 and regularaly $7. I'll have to keep checking as they are always putting these on sale. I don't know the brand of them though.

I also want to check Walgreens because last black Friday they had my covergirl makeup on sale, buy one, get one free. I got enough to last me a full year and I need some now, so hopefully they will repeat that sale this year.

Ok you people are insane (or adventurous)! I saw ads on tv last night for the Friday sales.
Doors opening at 4am? 5am? 6am? Who the heck gets up to be at a 4am open??
I say open at 12:01am and make it really fun. :lol

A couple of malls here are opening at midnight tonight. Not for me. :ohno