With Thanksgiving less than a week away, the holiday shopping season is about to move into high gear. In the past, I’ve consciously steered clear of holiday shopping, and especially of Black Friday. I’m not fond of the frenzied zeal with which Americans spend their money at this time of the year.
For more than a decade, I’ve elected to observe Buy Nothing Day. I choose not to spend a single penny on the day after Thanksgiving. And, as you know, Kris and I have always done our best to share homemade Christmas gifts instead of buying things for our friends and family.
Having said that, I know that a lot of GRS readers enjoy holiday shopping, and especially like the deals and discounts that can be had between now and the end of the year.
This year, rather than ignore Black Friday, I’m giving in. If you’re going to shop, I want to help. To that end, today’s Ask the Readers column is a chance for you to share your tips and tricks for finding bargains at this time of the year.
My top tip? If you’re going to shop on Black Friday, shop with a list. That is, base your buying decisions on a plan, and don’t get swept up by the sales. This is the best way to approach all shopping, of course, but it’s even more important when you’re intentionally putting yourself into a shopping frenzy. At times like this, you really need to beware of shopping momentum.
One way to plan your shopping is to visit BlackFriday.info, where you can find lists of all the holiday sales and ads. Using your list, you can check to see which stores have the things you want at the best prices.
But, as I say, I’m not a holiday shopper. I don’t have much experience at this, and I can’t give a lot of advice. That’s where you come in. What advice do you have for finding great deals during the holidays? Is Black Friday really the best time to buy? Or is it better to wait until closer to Christmas itself? And what about waiting until after Christmas? Have any of you ever held your family gathering later in December so you could take advantage of post-holiday sales? Tell us how you beat the high cost of Christmas!
Addendum: Here’s an insider’s guide to Black Friday bargains from my friend Flexo from Consumerism Commentary.
Photo by Matthew Simoneau.
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I check out the sales for Black Friday on BFads.net and make sure I have a list. I try to do most of my shopping online so I don’t have to deal with the crowds, but occasionally will go out later in the morning and have still been able to get what I have been looking for.
Has anyone heard of Small Business Saturday? I think it is something that was started last year to help promote shopping at locals stores the day after Black Friday.
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Small Business Saturday is sponsored by American Express. They’re running a promotion that if you register your card and use that card on a small business on Saturday, you get a $25 statement credit (you do have to spend a minimum of $25 though).
I’m lucky enough that my favorite sushi place is on the list. I know where I’ll be Saturday evening!
As for Black Friday, I definitely DO NOT go out. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and one of the few times I year I get to see certain members of my family. I’m not going to spend that time out shopping. I understand that could be a different story if I went shopping with my family, but my family doesn’t consider shopping an enjoyable activity.
I will participate in online deals if it’s on the list of things I want.
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Well said about small business Saturday, it’s almost a free dinner for two from AMEX on black Friday.
I go out but not to shop. I go out in the morning just to see the mad rush for shopping. You may not like the idea but, It works for me. Its like walking in a carnival. At the end do get token items to celebrate the day.
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This is the very first thing that popped into my mind as well. $25 free if you carry an AmEx card.
First you need to register your card, Then use the following site to find local participating retailers:
http://www.facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday
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A list is a MUST.
Also a trick learned the hard way a few years ago. A large outlet center was opening at midnight and my SIL and I were determined to go. BIG MISTAKE. The place was packed; cares were lined up down the interstate just to get into the place. We noticed that about 3 am the place cleared out. From 3 am until about 7 am we had the place to ourselves. the stores were very well stocked and still had everything we were looking for (this likely won’t be true for the big doorbusters). If we ever do this again we will arrive about 5 am to miss the crowds.
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Small Business Saturday also works as a way for AmEx to attempt to strong arm small businesses into paying their absorbent processing fees. Give customers some free money so they can harass businesses that don’t accept AmEx. Certainly take their free money, just remember if a business doesn’t take Amex, its probably for a reason. That reason is it costs a whole lot more (for the business) than Visa or MC. Many small businesses operate on such a small profit margin, that extra couple percent hurts.
End Rant.
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I usually don’t use AMEX at small business for this reason. When I shop at a small business I’ll usually use my electric orange debit card.
But for $25, sorry restaurant, I’m using my AMEX.
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List, list, list! I’ve shopped this Friday enough to know that you’ll be so tempted by EVERYTHING. It’s possible you’ll find things in the store that you weren’t aware were on sale, so don’t be afraid to slow down, stop, and compare prices and gift options.
Ask yourself if you or the recipient really needs or wants it. If the recipient really would enjoy and use it. THose questions keep me out of *most* trouble
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I’ve never shopped on Black Friday – I try to avoid malls altogether. Nearly all our Christmas gifts are purchased on the internet or at our weekly grocery runs to BJ’s or Costco.
I’ve been reading articles in the Wall Street Journal that say inventory is much lower so don’t expect big discounts right before Christmas. Don’t know if that’s something put out by the retailers every year – I know the realtors put a “get your Jersey shore vacation rental in January because the shore rentals this year are hot hot hot” article in the Philly papers every year. And I know from experience that’s a lot of hooey – the longer you wait the better your deal. I suspect the don’t wait on your Christmas shopping warning is hooey too but I figured I’d put it out there.
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They’ve said the same thing the last couple of years, and I’ve found the best deals(with plenty of inventory) right before Christmas. I’ll take my chances again this year. Fortunately, my husband and teenage sons are more than willing to wait until after Christmas for gifts if I’m not able to get them at a good price before. Christmas to us is more about the Messiah’s birth rather than Santa Claus.
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Messiah’s birth at “christmas” is debatable.
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I work for BBY in inventory management, and to be honest, depends on what you’re buying. Look to the production done in Thailand and all the flooding impacts, there will be shorter supply on some things.
And I love how you’re insinuating a game of chicken of sorts. Certainly, if we miss early forecasts, there may be deals later in the season. But if you want something specific, buy it when you find a value you like.
Look we want your business and we want to provide a great value and experience. If we have the products that interest you, we’ll have deals online and in store through the entire season.
On a more personal note, this isn’t when I do my shopping but understand that this is a great time to get bigger ticket items and great savings, so if I was shopping for them, I’d consider it.
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I’ve been familiar with AdBusters for ages, but “the driving force” behind OWS is deep frustration with the state of things, not anybody in particular. AdBusters might have come up with the idea, sure, but AdBusters doesn’t have the power to make anyone do anything–it never has. Their occupation idea just hit on something much bigger than their magazine and it caught fire.
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I know we’re getting OT, but I think AdBusters offered an outlet for all that frustration. Occupy has certainly caught on here in Canada too.
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Yeah, the “occupy” idea originally came from them. They’ve been putting out ideas for a long time now (the “black spot” sneaker, for example), just none was ever this successful because the audience wasn’t there– now it is.
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Anyway, my Black Friday tip: don’t get trampled in the parking lot
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my biggest tip is to shop online. You cant get some of the door busters, but almost all of the actual sale items are also for sale online. You can save the long lines in the cold, and often times get the same bargains. It’s the way to go!
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2nd this. Many of the same deals are online. 2 years ago, I needed a new tv and found one at Walmart for $699. But that was the BF price. I decided that I should research the model if I was going to brave the crowds. In the process of doing so, I found the exact same tv on amazon for $749 (only $50 more) and free “white-glove” delivery (meaning they brought it into your house, unpacked it and set it up). A real coup since I’m a single woman and would have had to otherwise figure out a way to get a 42″ tv in my car, into my apartment, out of the box and onto the tv stand.
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No Black Friday for me, but I must say, I don’t find it the least bit strange that you found out about No Shopping Day from Adbusters in the 90s, since those are exactly the circumstances where I discovered it.
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Actually I believe Adbusters was the initial force behind Buy Nothing Day, so it is not at all strange that that is where you learned of it!
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I actually save up a lot of the shopping I have to do anyway, and then make an online order on Black Friday/Cyber Monday. I find it so easy to compare prices and look for promotional codes online, that I truly feel that I am getting the best deal possible (and no wasting gas money, or eating out money in order to go shopping… plus I get to keep my sanity!). That being said, of course you’re right about resisting the temptation to buying things you don’t need, with money you don’t really have.
PS My English teacher had us looking at Adbusters stuff back in high school (I am Canadian).
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I used AdBusters to teach media literacy
Students love to make fun of ads, but I always wondered how much actually sunk in. My class of Brittanys and Back Street Boys loved to tell me how the media “didn’t affect them.”
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BF shopping secrets? True bargain hunters will laugh at the so-called “doorbusters” on Black Friday. Great deals can be had year round if you know when, where, and how to look.
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I’ve never been crazy enough to try and cross the border on Black Friday though some sales are offered here in Canada too. However, a report from Deloitte Canada found that flash sales will be big this year.
I have a shopping list and I’ve set up some alerts at places like Best Buy so when items go on sale I’ll know. Other than that, I’m trying to avoid all the hype and shop like I normally would — CAREFULLY!
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I’m in the market for a new washing machine. I’ve never been a Black Friday shopper, but I will certainly be checking out BF deals for washers, and may brave the crowds this year.
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I’ve never been a BF shopper, myself. Too early and too much hassle, imo. But for the past few years we’ve started using the day to purchase one bigger ticket item that we need/want. 2 years ago it was a dishwasher, last year a fancy microwave (Home Depot is NOT crazy-crowded on BF, and the deals are good). This year it may be a TV as ours is barely functioning. Not sure if I’m up to braving the crowd in an electronics store, though…
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I’ve heard of people going to the store the night before and hiding some electronics in different areas of the store so they can find them the next morning. How can you sleep at night?! This mad rush of shopping is ridiculous.
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My best Black Friday tip? Start your holiday shopping in July and finish by Halloween. Avoid the crowds, not finding a parking place and the chaos.
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Amen to that!
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Wish I could do that! We have a lot of family birthdays in the fall so I find it better to wait so I don’t risk getting people something they already have. (Or have bought themselves!)
And, unfortunately, even more birthdays in January and February..
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I’m still eschewing Black Friday this year, but for those who don’t, I’ll observe this: For a number of people, getting out and hitting the sales is as much about the tradition and fun as it is about deal hunting. If it’s about waking up at 5 AM to hit an early sale with Mom after Thanksgiving (I have 2 friends who do this yearly), then it doesn’t have to involve a lot of actual spending or shopping to be “successful.”
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One “secret” is that the experience is what you make of it.
Want to close the day out happy? Make Black Friday the whole point. Have fun skimming ads with family on Thursday. Go out with them or some friends at a time that won’t frustrate anyone (whether that’s midnight, 5, or 9), have someone bring coffee, don’t have your heart set on anything specific – better, go in expecting to buy absolutely nothing – and head out for breakfast afterwards.
Voila, social event that’s only possible one day a year. No strings attached.
Want frustration? Get your heart set on a Model 7371 LCD TV (“with a compass in the stock and this thing which tells time”). Make sure to tell everyone what an amazing deal you’re going to get so the pressure’s on. Wake up really early and rush around like a banshee. Upon arriving at the store, realize that it may stock 5 units to serve a line with hundreds of people, many of whom want that specific big-ticket item.
Commence stupid consumer tricks driven by unvarnished self-interest – at least you’ll make the news!
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Oh, yes, just how I want to spend Thanksgiving Day, “having fun with my family” poring through newspaper ads to get a plan for the best deal possible, go into the stores at midnight (!!!), wander around the mall aimlessly without a plan (does he really say we should go in without a plan to buy anything specific, to expect to buy nothing? apparently shopping on BF is just fun, fun, fun, right?). And above all, “make Black Friday the whole point.”
SERIOUSLY? Uh, no. I’d rather slit my own wrists.
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I respect everyone’s right to enjoy next Friday as they see fit, but I do think every person who joins the shopping crowd on that specific day willingly or unwillingly promotes the idea of excessive consumerism. I’d rather sit back and pay more on Saturday than promote what Black Friday represents with my hard earned dollars.
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judg·men·tal (adj.)
Inclined to make judgments, especially moral or personal ones; @LMN
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Great tip, This is exactly what we do. I love just looking through the ads with everyone and heading out early. We do exactly as you said and it’s more about the experience than the actual deal, although those are great too. Unless you are there for hours/days before the store opens you prob. won’t get 1 out of 5 tv’s that they actually have in the store for that deal. I’d do online for those deals.
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Couldn’t agree more. Black Friday is for people who love the EXPERIENCE of shopping, not who are trying to score great deals. There are great deals to be had year-round.
I’ve done Black Friday exactly once, when I was naive and wanted to get a Gameboy that my son desperately wanted for Xmas (that is, something I was going to buy anyway). Thankfully I went a little later in the morning, because I found out each store carries maybe 2-5 of a sale item for the 100′s of people who will show up to buy it so it’s gone in the first 5 seconds. The store clerk who told me this was floored when I then turned around and left without buying anything at all, because the rationale is that you’re not going to make such an effort to get up and go to the store and then leave empty-handed; if you don’t find your coveted item, you’ll buy something else to make up for the trip. That’s what the stores are counting on.
Put me in the camp of people observing Buy Nothing Day (although I almost always wind up going out to eat with my family, so technically it’s a fail).
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I *used* to go out on Black Friday. When I was a kid it was pretty fun to go with my mom and my aunts. Back then, it wasn’t the mad house it is today. There weren’t many people there, and the deals were abnormally good, but not so good that people were fighting over TVs.
Now? I make my own gifts or do online shopping for the most part. Black Friday is just not worth it.
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I’ve never found the lines to be insanely long, but I don’t go to ( say) Best Buy or the toy store. The key is to go early enough before the looky-loos go out (imo, it’s getting up the same time I would to go to work, not a big deal). Those are the crowds. Not the get in and get out buyers.
Re small buisness Saturday- I’d be more likely to shop at a small buisness if I knew what they are offering me. ie, small store drugstore/hardware, yes. Small store electronics? I don’t know if they exist.
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Small, local business exist that sell just about everything. You just have to do some research in your community if you’re unfamiliar with the options. I work at a small, local yarn store, and we get donuts on Saturday from a local donut shop. We have our computer repaired from a local computer shop, and we get lunch from the local deli. The local hardware store supplies our hardware needs, and the local vacuum store next door repairs our vacuum when it breaks. I’m not saying it’s as convenient as walking into the mall, but it’s better for our communities!
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shop local. avoid black friday.
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Well, I don’t go shopping on that day. It’s too stressful for me. (I don’t like shopping even in perfect conditions, though.) I also don’t have a huge Christmas shopping list, so that helps.
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Amazon.com
I don’t go out anymore on Black Friday.
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My dad always goes out on Black Friday, but more for the fun of it than because he really wants to score anything in particular. He’ll look at the ads carefully the night before and plan his route, only hitting the shops he wants to see. It works well for him, and he usually gets the things he wants!
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There is no doubt in my mind there are great deals to be had on Black Friday. I must ask the readers before you got out on Black Friday to save money on gifts for your family think about the employees families that are working in those stores. Not too long ago Black Friday meant the stores open at 5, 6 or 7am with fantasic deals. Now they open at 9pm, 10pm, 11pm and Midnight on Thanksgiving. My Fiance is a manager at a popular retail store. He has to work from 11pm on Thanksgiving to 11pm on Black Friday. Not only does he have to work 24hrs straight, he is unable to have Thanksgiving with his family. So for the people that are shopping please keep this in mind before you head out to a store Thanksgiving night (If people wouldn’t go, they wouldn’t open the stores) and before you lose your temper on a employee because you’re tired from being up late and on your feet in line for a few hours.
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Well said Kim! I’ve never been a BF shopper myself. Originally it was that I just didn’t care to get up that early (this was before kids – lol), but now it’s because I don’t think it’s right for stores (and by extension, the shoppers) to make employees give up so much of their holiday.
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Why can’t he have Thanksgiving with his family? If he works from 11 pm, can’t he eat earlier in the day?
Jobs like nursing, doctors, caregivers, etc. don’t stop just for Thanksgiving.
I think we make a holiday–we can choose to celebrate Thanksgiving at a different time, or in a couple hours on a Saturday.
That’s what we do. We live in a country where it’s not a holiday and our kids always have a 3 hour choir practice (that they can’t skip lest they risk the fury of the director), so we celebrate (eat) earlier in the day and the kids go on to their choir practice.
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It may be true about nurses & etc, but in retail EVERYONE works black Friday, no exceptions and usually very late the wednesday before to get ready. I work in the oilfield now and though we never stop drilling, we do at least take turns with holidays. Your comparison isn’t fair, I know from experience both types of jobs.
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I understood he goes to work at 11 pm. That doesn’t totally cut out his holiday, does it?
I mean, my husband occasionally worked 24 hours–he rested ahead of time–but it is hard to properly rest when it is weird like that. Irregular schedules mean that he can’t really sleep for the 8 hours prior to going in as he probably won’t be tired enough to sleep. I’d think that a few hours of rest in the evening before hand would be enough. I’d expect adrenaline to kick in when the sales start in the AM. I suppose I’m a slave driver.
I just think if you want to celebrate the holiday with your family, you can still do it–even if you have to go to work that night. You just learn to be flexible. You can also just learn to look at things positively. Or you can quit your job if you hate it badly enough.
But, I think the store could do better at scheduling people. Having people work for 24 hours is crazy–whether it is a doctor or a retail person. No one works well after a certain number of hours on the job. It is hard to believe that they actually have “everyone” on the job. (maybe they do, but it is hard to believe–they could hire extra people for the season.)
All that to say that I do think things have gotten crazy in the states on Black Friday. People have to decide if they think that shopping is “fun” or “not fun”. If it is fun, then all the madhouse is what they enjoy doing. However, it seems more and more like a madhouse to me. Saving $30 is not worth losing several hours of sleep, IMO. Most of us can save that much by just “not doing something” that we normally do–like eating out. Either fast or fix an omelet for make pancakes for dinner. For a family of four, that will be a significant savings.
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I work at a hospital, so I occasionally have to work holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas. I hate it, but people need medical care every day, so it’s ok for me to sacrifice my time with my family on days that everyone else gets off.
There is no true “need” for for Walmart to open on Thanksgiving day, so I can understand the frustration to have to miss family holidays for corporate greed.
It’s possible to “reschedule” holidays, but large family gatherings usually don’t change dates or times for one person, so you will always miss out on something. Having reheated turkey the next day just isn’t the same.
I may be biased though, since I hate Black Friday in general. To me its just people trampling others (to death?) to buy stuff they don’t need. Fortunately, the hospital requires me to work the day after Thanksgiving, so I have a perpetual excuse for avoiding the stores.
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So, what I find interesting is that the responses so far – and I expect thoughout the day will be overwhelmingly in favor of not shopping on Black Friday. I find this fascinating. For a day that is purported (by the merchants) to be all about ‘saving big money’ on deals, people who bother to read a financial blog about getting rich don’t buy it. I hate to say it, but in my own personal experience the people I know that get really excited about Black Friday and the deals, the ones that get up at 2am to go shopping, and drag their kids along. They are the ones that I know will have no retirement savings (from other interactions with them). They get VERY excited about ‘saving money’ when it’s on junk from Walmart, but not so much when it’s about actually putting money in the savings account. I guess I probably ‘boycott’ Black Friday to some extent in an effort to distance myself from this type of thinking. I guess there are probably responsible people who shop on Black Friday – I just don’t happen to know any of them. It was also never a really big deal in my family growing up. We would do things like put up the xmas decorations, before kids our tradition was to go up to the mountains and go snowmobiling or snowshoing, after kids it’s putting the lights on the house and trimming the tree again. I’m hoping to get my dad’s old train set working this year, Friday sounds like a perfect time to work on that.
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GREAT point! I have a friend who brags and brags that she got this or that for 70% or 80% off… I look at what she bought and think to myself “Yeah, but you wouldn’t have bought this if it weren’t on sale because you didnt NEED it!’ I find this to be the case with most “coupon queens”… they spend buckets of money on stuff they dont need but bought it becasue it was a good deal. A good deal or a coupon is useless unless what you are buying is something you need or want. If I can get 4 snow tires for a 4×4 truck for $50, thats an AWESOME deal! But I don’t have a 4×4 truck and it never snows where I live… so thats $50 I WASTED. Some people don’t get that.
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Yes. Like like like like like.
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With our family having Christmas on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and not getting lists for everyone until the first of the month, we will all be out shopping on Black Friday. It’s a tradition of sorts, but I’d rather go out on that day than any other day between then & Christmas Eve. The BF crowd is made up of serious shoppers; they know what they want, and they go out & get it. They’re not out wandering around looking for ideas/deals. My other alternative is on-line shopping, although I am going to try to participate in Buying Local on Saturday.
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My secret: Don’t play the game. I’m again opting out of Black Friday and mindless consumerism.
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I will literally pay more for any item on the planet than go black friday shopping. I did it once and went in unprepared and left empty handed. The display of the worst in humanity shocked me… all for what? Materials that will last, what? A few years?
My wife and I solved our holiday budget issues last year:
We have 2 kids. We buy them 3 gifts each (kids are 1 and 4). Our parents get them gifts, so many that we “hide” half of them and bring them out later in the year, or for long trips.
We dont give each other gifts, my wife and I. We find a needy family at our church or in our community, pool our money with our families, and give them gift cards to grocery stores and such. Trust me, spending maybe $100 for a gift card for a needy person is not only more rewarding at Christmas than buying the latest gadget or toy but frankly, it is less expensive. I encourage everyone to at least TRY this. Make an agreement with your husband/wife this year. Commit to taking half the money you would buy on a gift for each other and find a family who is TRULY in need. Youll save 50% right there on holiday shopping and you will change the life of someone forever possibly. You will be rewarded either here on earth or in the here-after. THAT is what Christmas is all about. Not iPads and Kindles.
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I really do not enjoy shopping and even more do not enjoy the commercialization of Christmas. We certainly give gifts and celebrate, but I buy things all year long so that there is no horrible rush at the end.
If you want to get a perspective on Christmas shopping, look at the video on this website: http://www.adventconspiracy.org/
You don’t have to be a Christian to appreciate the message.
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The video is great!
Thanks for sharing…
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That reminds me of the Red Cross video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dSjCG-n0Oo
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Did you read the story someone is already lined up at a Best Buy in FL? (Gizmodo)
It’s interesting to read the other comments. I always thought of Black Friday as consumerism gone wild, but its what you make it, and like anything, it can be a fun experience.
Upon reflection, this is kind of funny. This year I’m going to be a traditionalist and just buy my stuff on Amazon. Times are a changin;)
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I already know what the large gifts I am buying this year are and thankfully they are almost $200 off on black friday. The best part is the sale starts online on Thanksgiving so I don’t even have to go to the store with the mobs. If you have a plan and know the deals before hand it is well worth it.
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I went out one year, early in the morning and was appalled by the mass of humanity in all their less than polite splendor. The item I wanted wasn’t in stock anyway, so it was a wasted trip. Found it two days later, same price, no crazy people.
What I have found with Black Friday is, besides the Doorbusters designed to get you into the store (the $150 iphone or $200 laptop), many of the same exact deals are available for the weeks leading up to Christmas.
So, I watch the flyers for Black Friday, see what’s out there, and wait for the next week to do my shopping, sans crazy crowds and cranky store clerks. It’s much more pleasant, I’m still saving money (because most of the stuff my kids ask for doesn’t show up on the flyers anyway) and then I don’t support the BF frenzy.
You can also find some great online deals available starting on Cyber Monday that include free shipping.
I’ll stick with the turkey coma on Thursday and sleep through Black Friday.
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I would say do NOT shop with a detailed list – instead, take a vague one with things you want, but if you don’t get that exact model, it’s ok. That cuts back on the frenzy.
Second, research beforehand to make sure those prices are really a deal.
Third, consider alternatives to “black friday” including “cyber monday” and “small business saturday”. Personally, I shop online, the stores are entertainment, but not for serious buying.
Also, don’t forget to look for coupons that you can stack and free shipping and use the “extra cash back” portals to buy things (and your CC for extra protection!).
Fun fact: Black Friday is so called because it was the day of the year that would put retailers into “the black” for the year!
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I refuse to shop on BF also. I can’t stand the sight of people camping out in the middle of the night to SHOP!
This year, I’m taking my boycott one step further by not going to ANY store this season that is opening at midnight, depriving its employees of the chance to be with their families (they’ll be sleeping instead to gear up for their midnight shift).
So I WON’T be shopping at Wal-Mart, Target, Macy’s, Best Buy, and Kohl’s this season. There are lots of other places to shop.
My strategy is online shopping, and when I do have to go out to a store, go at dinner time during the week, when crowds are the smallest.
Honestly, if anyone can show me anything worth jumping into the fray in the middle of the night, I’d love to see it.
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Staying home. No need to go out at the crack of dawn to buy a bunch of (still) overpriced crap no one needs.
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Ha. Okay, from the responses, it sounds as if most GRS readers are on the same page I am. I guess that shouldn’t be surprising. Maybe I should have made this an ask the readers about “how to AVOID Black Friday”. Oh wait. You’re all turning it into that topic anyhow.
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Yeah, I’m a proud participant of Buy Nothing Day too.
But, I have started working on my holiday plan which is generally duplicative of prior years plans.
First, we send out 70 holiday cards, it is an investment in money, costs about $200, but we like to check in with far flung friends and family at least once a year.
Second, we have a long standing agreement with most of the adults in our familis, we don’t buy gifts for adults. I do send holiday wreathes, another $200, and if I’ve found the perfect gift for a family member I may send it during the holiday season. The holiday wreathes also support one of my favorite charities, it is a fund raiser.
Third, for the kids in the family, I give them cash for college and send them a little something, $250 ($50 in cash for 4 kids and $50 for little gifs).
Fourth, budget $50-$60 for work gifts.
Fifth, budget $100 for misc. expenses, hostess gifts, christmas tree.
Finally, $50 bucks for stocking stuffers for my husband and dog. We don’t give each other gifts, instead we are taking a trip this year which was already budgeted in our travel savings acct.
And last but not least, I sponsor a needy child through a charity for which I sit on the board of directors. $100 for clothes and books.
My/our budget comes to $1000 for the holidays. We establish the budget at the start of the year and put aside money each month so when Dec. rolls around we have the money allocated ir holiday ING acct.
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Black Friday for me is about the tradition. I get up early and just enjoy the insanity. I rarely have expectations, although last year I did come away with some deals that, when I checked back later, were the best deals I could have gotten. They were big items, though, and we had been eyeing them for six months or so.
This BF, I have one item in mind, but I doubt it’s in high demand, so I’m hoping the industry will offer it for sale in order to generate interest. Either way, I’ll meet my cousin for beer and pizza at noon, like we’ve done for a decade, and then I’ll be home by 4 PM.
That’s successful Black Friday shopping, to me. My mantra is this: the best deal you’ll ever get is on the money you don’t save.
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For us Canadians, your Thanksgiving is just another Thursday and Black Friday is, well, just Friday. My husband and I are taking our daughter down to Bellingham on Thanksgiving Day to catch a flight. We originally thought we could shop that day, but somebody told us EVERYTHING is closed (even the Walmart???!!!). Now we’re hoping and praying that the gas stations are at least open, so we can fuel up and get a snack. We’ll be saving our shopping dollars for the following Monday and picking up some stuff at the outlets. Gotta spend our Loonies while they’re actually worth something
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The reason why Black Friday turned into such a big shopping day is because, traditionally, nearly everything’s closed on Thanksgiving – as if Americans choked up at the idea of going for 24 hours without making a purchase.
Generally, on Thanksgiving in the U.S., about the only things open are convenience stores, most gas stations, and some farm stands selling pies to take to dinner. Walmart is closed, Target is closed, all offices are closed, McDonald’s is usually open only for breakfast and then closes by lunchtime, the grocery stores are closed (a few might be open only in the morning). Nowadays a few restaurants might be open for Thanksgiving dinners, but often an advance reservation is needed.
It really is a day for getting together with family and some friends. Not for shopping. We’re already stuck with Black Friday for that.
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I’m terrible at BF shopping so don’t listen to my advice. This year, I plan to be very focused and get only the 2 things I really need. A space heater and maybe a new dishwasher.
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Black Friday is such a mad house. I can’t say that I’ve ever been a big fan. This year they are opening stores earlier, and employees have to work on 1 of the 2 days off they have a year. So, in protest of that, I won’t support those stores that are opening on Thanksgiving and taking away from family time.
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I cannot even imagine a scenario more likely to make me miserable than these black friday sales. If I have the day off, why would I want to shop in a huge crowd. Every year I puchase everything I need for Christmas before Thanksgiving. Then we just sale through the holidays relaxing and taking it easy. I don’t give many gifts. To me more things to own are such a burden. I realize that other people don’t necessarily feel that way, but I actually feel guilty giving anything other than consumables. And since most holiday consumables are also really bad for people (sugar, fat), I kind of feel guilty about giving then as well. I would much rather enjoy people’s company (wouldn’t a walk in a park together be nice?), but not all that many people live that way. I really, really miss the companionship that used to happen before American culture decided it was all about work, work, work and buy, buy, buy. I have never liked it and I just don’t do it anymore.
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I hate getting out on BF shopping. What I usually do is get up and go coyote hunting in the morning. If I call in a coyote or two for some of my family members that are in, that is great! If not, at least we get to enjoy the morning.
Then we’ll gather our gigging gear together and go sucker gigging that evening, cooking them on the river bank with some potatoes fried in bacon grease and onions. That is the best way I’ve found to enjoy Black Friday.
I don’t usually go shopping, but when I do, I have a list.
Stay frugal, my friends.
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I also do not go out on Black Friday because I don’t like crowds. I prefer to shop from the comfort of my home on Cyber Monday. There are many bargains to be had and free shipping. I can sit by the fire and click away! I got a fantastic price on a netbook 2 years ago, and my husband picked it up at BestBuy during the week – no stress!
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The deals on Black Friday are unbeatable for the most part. I’m not a big fan of big crowds nor waiting in line for an hour either, so I choose not to shop on BF. I have found that if you wait until the next Monday, shop online and many companies will offer even lower prices. Without the hassle of crowds it is worth it to wait a few days and maybe pay a little extra for shipping.
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I am more of a Cyber Monday guy. I might haul some shopping bags for the family on BlackFriday though.
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I think I’m going to wait for Cyber Monday …. but I do plan on going shopping with companions on Black Friday just for the heck of it.
I’m cutting back on spending this year but that doesn’t mean that I can’t tag along with the big spenders. We’re all being a bit more frugal this year because we either have so much stuff already or we’ve spent time getting rid of stuff and don’t want to accumulate again. I’ve found that some of the best sales are those that are not advertised. You have to get out there and walk to find them!
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Almost everyday is buy nothing for me! I shop ver infrequently. My wife and daughter will be out there on Black Friday, they view looking for bargains as recreation. They usually do pretty well.
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I LOVE the black friday sales, I can stretch my gift giving dollar further, and not just for family, but for all of the toy drives, and Salvation Army angels we pick off the trees. We get up and go around 6:30/7am, and the lines aren’t usually too bad at all the check out (except at Kohls or JcPennys) and most of the time we get what we wanted, and if we didn’t, it was just like the $2 DVDS (always love to get those for the little guy for long trips, or rainy day/sick surprises) or $5 video games.
My tip is don’t kill yourself trying to get there at 2am, or 4am…really, the lines are doing to drop down, and most of that stuff will still be there at 6am. Stores get a lot more of those hot items in now than they did a few years ago, so that people don’t feel so discouraged about not having gotten whatever they wanted.
Example: 7 years ago, I managed to get the last all in one HP printer off of a tiny, tiny display, last black friday, I thought for sure, since we wern’t there til 7:30 they’d be gone, but nope…they still had close to 50 of the $39 all in one HP printers.
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I don’t really have any tips, because I’ve never actually gone shopping on Black Friday before. Your readers left a ton of tips that will help if I do try it this year.
Thanks.
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I can’t remember if I’ve ever intentionally gone out shopping on Black Friday, so I suspect I never have. I’ve seen a lot of movies the day after Thanksgiving though!
Personally, being associated with anything that inspires people to promote “doorbusters” is kind of just not me. I don’t like crowds, and there’s nothing on earth that I need badly enough to cope with a shopping mob.
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My wife is the one who is into this shopping during black friday. I guess I am more lazy to be out there early shopping after eating a big dinner the previous night.
However, this year I plan to look for good deals on the internet. Browsing the internet during black friday is much better alternative compared to physically going out early in the morning and deal with rude crowd.
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I shop for a living, so Black Friday feels a little too much like work to me to be fun.
While I am “working” I usually have a list in my wallet of who I have bought gifts for throughout the year. That way, if a good deal catches my eye and I think “Aunt Jo would love this!” I can see that I already bought her something awesome a month ago and move on. I realize that not everyone spends as much time in retail stores as I do (spending other people’s money while trying to hold onto your own is an…interesting dynamic), if you know what you have and what you “need”, you are able to take advantage of deals as they come up instead of risking a trampling when you could be spending time with your family.
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Shopping? On Pie for Breakfast Day? Never! That day’s reserved for family excursions – often museums, sometimes walks or hikes. We don’t need the big-ticket items that drive all the discount programs because our giving budgets are intentionally small, and we shop smart the rest of the year. And the retail/consumer crush just isn’t our idea of a good family holiday time.
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