Yesterday was Black Friday. For all the wild shoppers out there, that means a cold, sleepless night of bargain shopping, wristband snagging, killer sales deals galore. For most of us, its that day we sleep off the Thanksgiving feast stupor.
Early in the week, my sister-in-law (hereafter referred to as SIL) asked me if I wanted to go out with her 
at midnight Thursday to do a little Black Friday shopping. I laughed. Seriously. I’m all for shopping -and am always up at midnight. But Black Friday? Isn’t that the traditional trampling-shoppers-day? Um, no thank you. But then she started quoting deals. iPods, Rock Band (the Leggo version, no less!), dolls and toys and clothes. Suddenly there were a million things NOT on my gift-buying list that I just had to have.
So I quit laughing and told SIL maybe.
She called Thursday night to see if I was ready to rock. I was actually in the middle of making a pie (we celebrated Thanksgiving on Friday since there were so many demands for everyone’s time on Thursday), but stopped crimping the crust to flip through the ads and talk bargains. There were tons. But as usual, time and sanity had cooled my impulse-shopping-jets.
I looked at the ads. I looked at my half-crimped-crusted pie. And It told my SIL I was going to skip the wild and crazy times of Black Friday shopping.
What stopped me? The only thing I was really REALLY tempted to brave the chilly air, crowds and credit card shock on… it was for myself. Hey, that new iPod Touch is awesome! But after long consideration (at least a minute) I decided to stay home and finish making the pie, then reward myself by curling up on the couch to read (Better Naughty Than Nice – its on shelves now!) and relax. But I did put that iPod Touch on my birthday list…
So how about you? Are you the brave-the-crowds-for-a-bargain kind of gal? Or an early shopper, scoff-at-the-idea-of-Black-Friday type? Or maybe you really like to live on the edge and start all your shopping in mid-December??
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I am with you Tawny, I dont do black friday. Yeah some of the sales may be worth it, but the headaches are so not worth it. Plus here in Indiana it was only like 30 degrees out and I am not the kinda person who braves the cold to shop, LOL! I will shop online or just try to find good deals in the stores the next couple of weeks.
30 Degrees? Holy cow!!! I’m with you, Alina!! I’d definitely be cuddling under a blanket for warmth instead of braving $20 off sales.
I braved Black Friday this year for the first time…all I have to say about it is that People Are Crazy!!! I did get some good bargains, however I wasn’t looking for the most popular items out there, so I didn’t get stuck fighting anyone…LOL!!
I do, however, do most of my shopping online. It is easier that way and a lot of places offer free shipping.
LOL Kara!!! My SIL said she saw two fights and one arrest while shopping. Wild and crazy, indeed. I’m with you on the online shopping ease and comfort, too.
I don’t believe any bargain would get me to shop on Black Friday. People who are normally sane people become insane on Black Friday.
I’ve watched enough on TV about the crazy things people do and the fights over merchandise that I just want to stay sane and read safely at home.
I hear ya, Ellen. It was one thing to think of saving a few bucks, but the reality of facing the crowds, the lines and the possibly crazed shoppers? Noooooo thank you.
And hey, reading is always a better choice anyway. Right?
Nope, I stayed home with my family and some friends came over to hang out–good times
When my husband and I were describing Black Friday to the kids, my daughter was like, “let’s go shopping!” and my son was like, “um, why would anyone want to do that??” Heh.
Awww, a girl just has to shop, right, Fedora?! That’s cute that your daughter was all for the shopping choice. I think your hang out-good times sounds much more fun, though!!!
This is the first year we did not go. We accually found out that Black Friday is not all its cracked up to be. You can go to Wal Mart at 2:00p.m. and still get the $2.00 DVD’s. and alot of thier other sales are still going on later in the day.
We did stop at Traders World today on our way back home and I got all kinds of cool stuff for cheep. Vases to match my Christmas Tree colors. 2 for $1.00. Book bundles of 5 for $1.50 all kinds of good bargans!
Wow, Ida – you’re great at tracking down those deals no matter what day it is!! I noticed that while the iPod touch deal seemed sweet at first (regular price, but a $50 giftcard along with purchase) most place has it on sale that same day – so the gift card deal wasn’t nearly as appealing.
I’ll bet Walmart wasn’t nearly as crazy-busy at 2pm as it was at 2am, huh?
Walmart was busy, but no one was shoving or pushing thats for sure.
I guess i have a deal sensor built in. LOL thats what my husband says. My sisters say i’m just a cheap butt….I think it comes from shopping for six children from the ages 20 down to 9. My biggest purchase was in August nine pairs of Name brand jeans at Sears and Elderberman for $67.98 total. I so love a good deal.
Nope, I’ve worked Black Friday before at a toy store and a department store. Strangely, the department store was way worse. Luckily no fights but we had a lot of rude people. I got to the point where I’d help the nice patient customers first.
This year we decided to get the kids each a Didj and Hubby happened to find an awesome deal on leapfrog’s website yesterday. So we’re going to look around more online this year and avoid the crowds.
Congrats on the new release!
Wow, Leigh Ann. You are one brave gal. I’m too chicken to even go out in that shopping frenzy and you worked it??!!!
I’m hearing more and more about the killer online deals. It sounds like you scored really well. I’m a lousy bargain shopper and never seem to find the bargains, which is why I excuse my obsessive need to get it all over with and finish up my shopping before Thanksgiving if possible
I haven’t gone shopping on Black Friday. This past friday was my day off, I rather have slept in then go shopping. My mom did go though. I do my Christmas shopping early. I have it almost done now. Just have to get my cousin and mom something. Plus I really do hate shopping. I’m a in and out type of shopper. Though at Christmas I do look at all the Christmas stuff.
YAY Nicole, I’m with you!! Get it done early and relax!!! Of course, then I see all the killer deals I could have gotten but didn’t LOL. But I’m a big fan of spending the month of December celebrating –and shopping never makes me want to celebrate. I’ll hit the mall to see the decorations, Santa, and the pretty lights- but for lunch or something, not to stand in line.
It sounds like you’re really on track. WTG!!
I have shopped on Black Friday other years. I go out around 8:00 AM and usually miss the big rush crowds. This year, there were good deals on-line and I am a night owl, so I decided to shop from home. At 12:01 AM I went to Old Navy and bought jeans for 10.00 and a winter coats for 15.00 for my daughter. I was done in 5 minutes. Kohl’s sale also started at midnight Central time. I am on Eastern time, so that was 1:00 AM for me. Expecting another 5 minutes, I was very frustrated that between their website going down and the pages loading very slowly, I finished 2 hours later and 3:00 AM. Since the store opened at 4:00, I was tempted to shut sown my computer and just head to the store at one point. I did get everything I wanted and many things did sell out, so I guess it was worth it and least I was home and it was quiet.
Tammy, you rocked the Black Friday shopping!! That’s awesome. Even with internet frustrations, it sounds like you got some great deals and didn’t have to put a coat on to do it. I like that
I never do Black Friday. I’m such an early Xmas shopper, I consider myself “late” if I’m not done by Halloween. But the last few years the family traditions have changed. We buy only for the kids (under 18) and the adults don’t swap anything. We all get together the weekend before the holiday to have dinner together (out — nobody cooks, nobody cleans, nobody has to do dishes) and enjoy our time together. The actual day is spent however everybody wants to spend it. Last year I didn’t even get out of my PJs. Year before that I went to the movies. It’s such a nice, stress-free way to do the holidays.
I did go to one store on Friday — Target. It was 3:40 p.m. and I bought a thing of butter and allergy medication. LOL. Then I was out. The stores were actually ok by then, but the only thing getting my butt out of bed at 3:00 am would be the fire alarm.
Julie
Hey Julie, I think I like your holiday tradition!!! Pure relaxation… what a concept in this crazy do-it-all-with-extra-glitter demanding time.
We do a trip or something fun as a family (my family and my brothers’) with each other instead of doing adult gifts (the kids are still little, so they all get pressies) so this year we’re going to Disneyland. Its a great way to really enjoy the time, the holiday and like you say – not put a ton of work or demands on anyone.
LOL on the 3am fire alarm requirement to get out of bed. I’m the same way, but my time is 5. 3, I’m usually still up *g*