What Are Your Plans For Black Friday?
Thanksgiving is almost here! And that typically means the release of big box office hits, like “MILK,” and shopping the day after Thanksgiving. Even though I generally love to shop and will accept any excuse to go, I avoid shopping like the plague on Black Friday because I just can’t deal with the crowds. This year, however, the crowds might be lighter than in years past. According to Reuters:
Up to 128 million shoppers and would-be shoppers could be expected this holiday weekend, but the numbers represent a drop of more than 5 percent from a year ago, according to a survey released Tuesday.
Many people say that they are waiting to see what kind of deals they can get before they make plans to head out at 4:00 AM to hit up the big box stores. And since the list of stores going out of business this year includes more than just Best Buy and Circuit City, people are likely to find things severely discounted. But will it be enough to give the economy a much needed injection of cash?
Like I said, I’m not a fan of leaving the house on Black Friday. I’m usually too tired from cooking all week to do much more than watch old movies and decorate my tree. This year I have a big stack of holiday classics, like “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and “Miracle on 34th Street” on my to do list for Friday. But how about you? What are your plans for Black Friday?
In case you decide to brave the stores, here’s a website that has all of the different deals you’re likely to find at all of the major stores. Happy shopping (or not!)
Photo credit: Getty images
I am a freak. I live for Black Friday crowds and sales. My sister and our friends make a day of it, leaving the house at 4 am and not getting home until mid afternoon.
This being said, I haven’t all that much I’m going out for on the Big Day. I have been hanging out on the Black Friday ad sites (my fave is BF Ads) and formulating my list- there have been good enough sales on toys and things I need already. If Xmas was tomorrow, I would be okay since I’ve been shopping a few times already. Each kid’s holy grail of presents (the one thing they GOTTA have) has long been bought and stored away.
I only have a few things that have been discounted significantly enough on early bird Friday morning sales to make it worth my while- the rest of the day, I’ll just be the point person getting a place in the checkout lines for my sister and the gang (and enjoying our wacky times together).
I usually never go shopping on Black Friday Serena…I’m the confirmed Catalog type shopper.
However certain other errands are prime things to do the week of Thanksgiving.
For example my Drivers License was set to expire on my birthday in February. And as anyone knows the Drivers License Office in just about any state is a madhouse with usually hours long lines…and its particularly bad here in Florida.
I went in yesterday late in the day. Collected my number and before I could sit down it was called. Up to the clerk, quick vision test and forked over $95 (CDL’s are expensive!!). Had my picture taken and got my new license.
Back out of the building and on the way home…Grand Total of Less than Ten Minutes.
People have too many things to do during the Holiday season to try and deal with having to handle things like Licenses and visits to government offices so if you want to save a LOT of time do it now.
~ Roland
I have never gone shopping on Black Friday, and after all the stories I hear from friends and family, I have no plans to. 🙂
Diva Jean, you have a great tradition. Good luck bargain hunting!
Roland, great idea. I would have never thought about getting a DL taken care of this week.
Every year my grandfather waits in line for a great deal on something. This year he wants the Walmart $700 50 inch flat screen TV. Problem is his health is failing; his heart is dying and he can’t walk to the street corner with out problems.
As a rule I don’t shop in Black Friday. I also do not shop at Walmart. This year might find me running through a Walmart so that I can get my grandfather a 50 inch flat screen TV. He already has one 50 inch TV but its not a flat screen and he can’t resist a deal. sigh.
I think I may be declaring Friday a personal Buy Nothing day, if only because I dislike the insistence on consumption as intrinsic to togetherness and happiness. I must say though, that this is the first year I’ve actually been aware of black friday, so perhaps it’s just not a big thing for my area.