Black Friday

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!

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!)

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.

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.

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.

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".

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.

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.

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.

Nope can't stand the crowds unless there's music and drinking. I will have my son home and I think we are getting our Christmas stuff out to begin decorating. He's large and very helpful with heavy things 😀

I don't shop Black Friday anymore because I get too aggravated with the traffic. And I like to sleep late after a good Thanksgiving feast! When I was first married, though, my sister-in-law and I used the spend the day shopping together and it was funn, but now we're both too lazy.

I am not, however, above sending Merman out on special expeditions for the kids' Christmas presents. I figure that he's more used to being up and out at the crack of dawn than I am. ;-)

Wow, Mango. I am definitely impressed. Your description of your black Friday is a hoot -- it sounds like a great tradition.

We don't do black Friday (though you may have inspired me), but we have our own shopping traditions. For over 15 years, one of my sisters (and it used to be my Mom too when she was alive) and I have a tradition of going to the discount mall about an hour and a half away from our house whenever she comes to Michigan (which is at least twice a year, for each kid's birthday). We leave at 8:30 a.m. after the kids go off to school, get there by 10:00 when the mall opens, go our separate ways to go to our favorite shops (Pottery Barn discount store is my favorite), meet at Uno's for the special pizza which we split with two salads, then back shopping for a few hours and then home to have dinner with the family. It's nice to have such traditions. And I think there really is research that says that shopping is good for women's mental health (doesn't have the same effect on men).

Mango...you are tooooo funny! :clap_1: You are some more organized!
The after Thanksgiving crowds...well... they just make me want to :puke:

However, I think, with your planning, I could DO IT! :lolabove:

I need Mango to get down here and get me organized.

Shopping doesn't go well with my lifestyle.

I need Mango to get down here and get me organized.

She'll do your ironing, too 😀

Wow, Mango. I am definitely impressed. Your description of your black Friday is a hoot -- it sounds like a great tradition.

Paula, we have pee in or pants funn. :floor: If it was stressful, we wouldn't do it. The funn starts at night while we are having our coffee and the pointer gets broken out and map. It's not about the savings, just being together with close friends and family. I'll never forget last year when my sister bought 4 of those dish settings, (I didn't know she was egtting that many) and the back of my car was sinking down a bit. Then the picture of her directing the store clerk where the car was and them stacked on a dolly was priceless, not to mention that my car was busting at the seams by the time we were done. :lol:
Your family tradition sounds nice too. That's what it's all about.

Paula, we have pee in or pants funn. :floor: If it was stressful, we wouldn't do it. The funn starts at night while we are having our coffee and the pointer gets broken out and map. It's not about the savings, just being together with close friends and family. I'll never forget last year when my sister bought 4 of those dish settings, (I didn't know she was egtting that many) and the back of my car was sinking down a bit. Then the picture of her directing the store clerk where the car was and them stacked on a dolly was priceless, not to mention that my car was busting at the seams by the time we were done. :lol:
Your family tradition sounds nice too. That's what it's all about.

Did you say that you have fun peeing in your pants? :idontno:

Did you say that you have fun peeing in your pants? :idontno:

:floor: That too. It keeps up warm in the cold New York weather. :floor:
BTW, your tar is hysterical. Maybe I can borrow him for Black Friday.

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.

Do not go to the outlet mall in Destin, they park on the sides of 98! Awful! We don't even drive over that way on Friday. It is not bad on 30-A, but there is some serious shopping going on.

I don't do black Friday...that is amateur day.😀

Mango, This sounds like alot of funn!!! I am so into that, have a great time. Unfortunately here in sowal to get to anything is a DRIVE so you have to leave 40 minutes earlier....

I need Mango to get down here and get me organized.

If I was there, I would be at your service. 😀 You do know a pointer would be involved though. :lol:

She'll do your ironing, too 😀

:lolabove: :drool: Ironing. :wub:

It's not about the savings, just being together with close friends and family.

I have to say I agree with that one. I've gotten so that I hate shopping by myself--it's much more funn when you have someone along. Plus, you make a lot less shopping mistakes if you have an honest critique-er with you!