Are you a “Black Friday” bargain shopper / what is your preferred method for buying gifts?
Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving and unofficially the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. The day was originally called “Black Friday” because of the heavy traffic in stores, but it also refers to the beginning of the period when retailers are “in the black” (making a profit). Most stores open very early – as early as 5am – and offer “doorbuster” deals to lure people into their store.
I’ll admit that I’ve done this shopping a few times with my mom. When I was in middle school, we would wake up at 4:30 and rush to the stores to buy the “special” deals. Of course, I didn’t actually have any money, so I was just along for the ride – for the crazy, crazy ride of mostly middle-aged women pushing and screaming to get the last Tickle Me Elmo.
When I was in high school I had to work the day after Thanksgiving, so I didn’t do it anymore. Maybe my younger sister and mother still went. I am not sure.
Now, I think it is CRAZY CRAZY CRAZY. One of the malls near our house opened at midnight last night, to have special “doorbuster” deals between midnight and 5am! The last thing I was thinking about last night was shopping, I just wanted to clean my kitchen and go to bed! I started getting electronic ads for today’s sales in the beginning of the week – the ads told me to “create my shopping list early” so I knew what to look for on Friday.
I think I will do most of this year’s shopping in stores, but try to avoid these crazy shopping days. I just don’t have the patience for it!
(Ironically, my mother called me while I was writing this – she was out shopping and wanted to ask me what kind of underwear I like… ha ha ha!)
i am so not a black friday bargain shopper!! i have no patience to deal with the crazy crowd!!! they get ruthless!!! i have no idea where i’ll do my christmas shopping…
I’ve never done the crazy Friday shopping. I’m usually in Ohio with my fam (as I am now!) and we’ll hit the smaller stores today and the big ones on Saturday–regardless, no 5am shopping for us!
This is exactly why I end up doing most of my shopping online. Fast, efficient–probably takes a little bit of the “spirit” out, but if it saves stress it is okay by me!
im a huge advocate of online shopping. no lines, no crowds, no messy stores! admittedly i cant do all my shopping online so i think i might hit one or two stores today, but in the afternoon – wish me luck!
lol Susan and I have hit the stores like that for the last 3 years. Today is the only day we were unable to go. We wake up, get ready, go get a coffee and then go to the store that we’ve already “scouted” by the add in the paper. However, this is not the day we begin our christmas shopping. All 3 years we’ve went we have bought stuff for ourselfs. All new kitchen stuff, bedroom stuff, electronics and so on. We never shop for ourselfs so that is the one time a year we acutally get stuff like that.
I didn’t get out until 11ish, I like my sleep. I got a few things for me and for work and one gift.
I really wanted the 8GB flash drive for $49.99 but I forgot that was a morning sale (I could have easily gone there first).
For the first time ever I joined the madness and hit the road at 4:30am. I had mucho success so all’s well!
Kim Kim Kim.. I was up at 4am and met my mother and grandmother out at the mall at 5am .. I got everyone done except u. So please send your list my way :). So u could say I am one of those mean B***h that take your parking spot when really I new you where waiting 🙂 .. MOM 🙂
Well we got up at 7 and went to menards. .and then later we just went to other stores…not that early..haha
I am extremely weird in that I LOVE shopping crowds!!! I find it festive and exciting, although I never get into any of the brawls or anything. We only went to Wal-Mart this year, and it wasn’t crowded at all. I thought the whole trip was fun!
But usually I’m an online shopper because the selection is so much greater.
Katie and I used to get up for Black Friday sales. Not anymore. Nothing in the sale ads has moved us lately. We sleep now.
As for preferred shopping method? Whatever gets it done. And cheaply. Not that this is really an attainable goal. But we try.