More Bang For Your Black Friday Buck

I AM SO EXCITED I CAN HARDLY WAIT TO GET OUT THERE AND GET STARTED ON FRIDAY. I GET SUCH GREAT DEALS AND GREAT GIFTS FOR PEOPLE. THIS YEAR THOUGH I MAY USE SOME OF THE ONLINE RETAILERS AS WELL, THEY ARE OFFERING SOME AWESOME DEALS ONLINE TOO!

OHH! I friggin LOOOOVE Black Friday! Woohoo! I got all my shopping done on that one day this year. I have a 3 yr old daughter, so the toys being cheap was awesome!

The deals were not good, so I did not go.

shopping for Christmas, things don't always have to be new!!! used children's toys at garage sales are alot cheaper and generally in good condition, altho i would hesitate over any electronics unless they, too, were inexpensive and worth the risk. my son is into the solar system and i just ordered 6 used books through amazon that will cost me $32. i only buy books that i know the kids will reread over and over, otherwise we check them out from the library. he's excited that he'll get them for Christmas and doesn't care that they'll be used!!

At our house going through the sales flyers after Thanksgiving dinner is a tradition. We set aside ads with something we like and make a note in a small notebook. Then the strategy session begins. Generally we avoid the big box stores that day, too crowded. But the smaller stores also have great bargains and are fast and easy to run in and out of quickly. We hit 8 stores in under 3 hours and didn't get up before dawn to do it either.

I did not go out this year for Black friday -- I did not think the deals where that great-- I thought the better deals where the week prior thanksgving..

Was it just me or were the deals not so great this year? I had to take a pass. It just wasn't worth the energy.

Most of the in-store sales are available online - you don't have to wake up at 5am, sit in parking lot traffic, deal with crazed shoppers and get to shop in your PJs... what can beat that??

The "take a lap" idea is a good one. I put a digital camera into my cart on an impulse because it was such a "good deal." After thinking about it, I couldn't think of a single person to give the camera to, and I certainly don't need to be buying myself something, so back on the shelf it went!

I did go out for somthing that was on my daughter's baby registry, I'm going to be a grandma in February! Babys R Us had an item for $30 off so I grabbed it. Certainly DID not go at 5AM. I was able to show her registry to a store employee and she said nothing else was on sale and then she handed me a bunch of coupons good for next week and told me to come back and shop then. So that's my shopping strategy.

I love a bargin!! But not enough to fight the crowds on Black Friday!!! LOL...!!! Besides there will be just as good sales coming up before Christmas.

Going out to shop on Black Friday? No Way! I am a former member of the retail family, i started as a pt sales clerk and worked my way up to management. During those yeras, I was at work from Thanksgiving to the 2nd week of Jan 6 days a week and going shopping on my day off was unthought of. I got in the habit of buying things throughout the year that were on sale, while appliying my employee discount and by the time the holidya rolled around, I was done. Fortunately that habit stayed with me even tho my retail years are far behind me. I no longer get an employee discount, but I don't have the stress of the holiday shopping mess either. The older I get the more I hate the holiday shopping madness. If I feel particularly filled with holiday spirit and choose to shop, I know I don't have the pressures to HAVE to buy anything, I'm just there for the spirit or for a few extra stocking stuffers.

I love the "take a lap" idea. I find that there is that momentary excitement for an item and when I leave and come back to it, its often not that compelling! This trick has saved me money and grief!