Black Friday

[Mango]

Does anyone else go out on Black Friday shopping?
If so, here is a link for store ads before you see them in the newspaper.
http://bfads.net/

It's like a holiday for me, my sister and several friends.
First we post all the ads on a bulletin Board. We have a meeting on Thanksgiving Eve. Attendance is mandatory.
Using a pointer, and a map, we write down all the items that are of the highest priority and how many we want. The list is divided up by all participants.
The rendevous is at 4:30 am.
All cadets must bring an eye opener from the list usually hot cocoa, coffee, bagels, or muffins.
The cadets with the largest cars are drivers.
"Its the most wondeful time of the Year" is the official theme song for our trek.
Antlers are our helmets.
Rules are run into store, no deviation from said path to assigned items and meet back into the parking lot or on line. Any deviants must do 20 push ups.
Finished by 9:30 am and gather at my sisters house where my BIL makes us grayt pancakes.
Nap by 11:00 am.
:funn:

 

[Teresa]

NO! I quit black Friday when mom wanted to start leaving the house before 6am. some things are just not worth it. not just the ungodly hour, but the friggin crowds!!! I can't take it anymore. it must be the sowal life that makes me cringe to think of it. I'm usually in Bham and could easily go and get my xmas shopping knocked out in less than a day. But, I just can't bring myself to do it ever again.

But, I do love your itinerary. If I had to do it, then your day sounds really funn! But, once I got out there among the crowds, I would probably stay for quite a bit longer... I would be doing the push ups...

Good Luck to ya sistah!

 

[lindatat]

OMG - no black Friday shopping for me! I have personal space issues and I do Christmas shopping at "off" hours or I do it online. I simply cannot handle the crowds. But more power to you if it's your thing.

I don't mind the holiday hype at all, in fact, I've already been listening to the radio station that plays Xmas music 24/7 (was kind of surprised that they started right after Halloween!)

 

[Cil]

Just saw my first TV Christmas commercial last night. Now it begins.
While I deplore our evil consumerist society, I do have issues with anyone telling me when I *should* or *shouldn't* shop. Isn't Black Friday supposed to be the day when all the save-the-world do-gooders coerce everyone to stay home? ;-)
If I am on vacation for Thanksgiving, I'm out there shopping the day after.
But in recent years, we've been home for the holidays.
I actually do most of my holiday shopping online.

 

[iwishiwasthere]

That is a great family activity. I do go out on black Friday......but am home by 11. NOt quite as organized as you. Since it is the only time both my girls are home until Christmas, we accomplish a lot and save an enormous amount. I love a good bargain, but realize it comes at price....the crazy crowds. Then we put up the CHristmas tree...I used to think that was crazy, but enjoy tree trimming with the fam. Again this empty nest has cuased traditions to be rearranged.

What kind of panckes do you have? We have gingerbread pancakes with whipped cream. Definitely not on any diet, but they are really good.

 

[Jdarg]

What is Black Friday like in SoWal? Mom will be here and I don't think I will be able to totally escape a shopping trip.

 

[Teresa]

What is Black Friday like in SoWal? Mom will be here and I don't think I will be able to totally escape a shopping trip.

don't ask me! I guess you can look in the paper for store advertisements, store openings, etc. My mom just asked me the other day if I wanted to go shopping (in bham), and I said, "sure as long as we can leave the house at a decent hour", and she said, "well, then we would never find a parking space... we have to leave at 5am.." I said, "I'm out... I'll just pay a little higher prices (and I wonder if this is really true) and have the normal amount of shopping stress later on".

 

[Rudyjohn]

OMG - no black Friday shopping for me! I have personal space issues and I do Christmas shopping at "off" hours or I do it online. I simply cannot handle the crowds. But more power to you if it's your thing.

I don't mind the holiday hype at all, in fact, I've already been listening to the radio station that plays Xmas music 24/7 (was kind of surprised that they started right after Halloween!)

Same here!

We spend the day Christmas decorating, watching old movies, etc.

 

[Mango]

What kind of panckes do you have? We have gingerbread pancakes with whipped cream. Definitely not on any diet, but they are really good.

We have just plain old buttermilk pancakes cooked very thinly. The gingerbread sounds wonderful.

To be honest with you, we do not encounter massive crowds at 5 am.
We also avoid certain stores that have lines in front of them like Walmart.
We usually hit Kohls first. Many people do not know they set up part of the store with toys/video games for the kids and they are 50% off.
Nest to Kohls are some other stores, so we hit those like Linens and things. Then we hit Target as they usually have the video games the kids want on sale.
We have found in my area that by 9 am or so the stores start getting crowded and we are done by then.
Last year we got a service for 8 at Kohls for $39.99, that Robosapien on sale everywhere else for $79 ffor only $39.99 and 20 inch flat screen TV/monitor for $169 at Target not to mention handheld video games for half what I would paid elsewhere. We do hit a toy store, and it hasn't been that bad because we run in and out knowing exactly what we want. I always get a couple of grayt toys for the Toys for Tots and the childrens cancer drive.

We don't get all our shopping done that day. I hate shopping. I usually shop on-line, but that day we get some phenomenal bargains and we are not stressed out, and had funn being together and laughing and just getting in the spirit.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Who needs to leave the house to shop? I don't like going to busy places in order to same a dollar. That is almost like going to Publix and buying $250 worth of groceries and the clerk telling you that you saved $7.24.