What Will You Be Doing On Black Friday?
It is one of the biggest times for the retailers and the stores have been frantically putting together door-busting deals that will get people in their stores. Don't worry if there are only ten items available and you were the eleventh customer! You might as well make the most of it and get a few things while you are out and about..I mean, all of that effort! And the driving! And the crowds! And the mad chaos! And the trampling for the latest tech gadget!
The newspaper begins to get heavier with advertisements, your kids are circling items in catalogs until their hands go numb, and you are thinking of all you still have to buy for everyone else in the world... plus their brother. The commercials are becoming longer and the toys are just a little more expensive than last year. Heck, who knows if you buy it and wrap it if you will have to take it back to the store for the recalls that are being issued? You began to wonder just what is this all about...
Is this a picture of you or just a picture of me?
I, by choice, choose to stay home with my family on Black Friday and make it a celebration day for just our bunch. My turkey is in my fridge thawing for our own private family day-after-Thanksgiving-Day dinner. We celebrate with a day of decorating the Christmas tree, eating a special meal together, and then spend the evening watching a holiday movie. This sounds a lot more appealing to me than braving all those crowds.
Since we have large families that both live in our town, we often feel like we miss out on our own little private family celebration. It began last year that I decided that we would always have our own festivities, but they might not always fall on the traditional day as most. Black Friday seemed like a great choice for us because it kept us out of the stores and we got an extra day to celebrate all that we are thankful for.
This is not to say that I have my shopping done, but we are working on it. I have a few gifts left to buy, but I wait and watch for clearance sales and the good deals that happen around the holidays, rather than that one painful day out of the year. I know some people get a rush out of the deals and the shopping. My feelings towards these lean more towards panic attacks and a feeling of being overwhelmed. It is almost an out of body experience..and not in a good way. I love a good deal, but only in moderation and with as few people as possible. I find superstores very overwhelming so a day dedicated towards super deals in super packed crowds...um, that does not sound super.
No, an extra Thanksgiving feast and a day of holiday decorating...now that sounds super to me!
I am curious though what all of my favorite frugal shoppers are doing on Black Friday. Do you shop on Black Friday or do you have a family activity that you do in lieu of this shopping day? Share your story!
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21 Responses to “What Will You Be Doing On Black Friday?”
November 20th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
Years ago, I would have been out there…this year I’ll be helping baby-sit my nine month old nephew while his mama braves the Black Friday crowds.
November 20th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
I’m going, but I’m kind of dreading it. I enjoy going out with my sister and my mom for the bonding aspect, but overwhelmed is a good definition of how I’m feeling by the thought of the stores. I usually end up having a good time, though. I’ve been watching the deals all along and have a bunch of shopping done already, so I’m just going to try to relax and enjoy the company. I’m already talking to my husband about next year, though, and I think we’re staying home!
November 20th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
The closest town is 45 minutes away with Super Wal-Mart being the biggest store I do some shopping online while still in my PJ’s and sipping hot chocolate. There are some amazing deals, along with free shipping. The rest of the day is spent with my family decorating our house for Christmas.
November 20th, 2007 at 10:53 pm
I used to go out the day after Thanksgiving, but found it much too frustrating. The past few Thanksgivings, we’ve been out of town or traveling back home. But low-key is the way I like to keep the days after Thanksgiving. Online shopping, now that’s not a bad idea.
November 20th, 2007 at 11:57 pm
I absolutely refuse to fight the crowds on Black Friday! (Shopping this past Monday was frustrating enough.) Some years ago, I started using the day to set up the Christmas tree and decorate the house for the holidays. My oldest daughter will help me; her sister has to work, but she will put up the outdoor lights as time permits.
November 21st, 2007 at 6:26 am
We don’t go shopping on Black Friday, either. In fact, I never have. We haven’t made any special plans, though that is when I usually send out my Christmas cards. We’ll also pull out the Christmas decorations, but our tree won’t go up until Sunday.
November 21st, 2007 at 7:22 am
This is the very first year that I am heading out on the infamous “Black Friday”. Our little town, next to us has been growing with various big box stores, so I only have a short distance to travel.
I talked to a friend of mine, after talking to hubby of course, and we are going out at about 5 am!! I am very excited!! Some of the kids (technically teens) are coming with us. I already saw some things that I want, so the earlier we go the better.
I also have to be back because there is a Christmas parade that we want to go to. I know I’m rambling, but I’m excited because I am usually not home for Thanksgiving, so this is a special time. :0)
November 21st, 2007 at 7:32 am
I don’t have to go!!!
I have nearly completed my shopping (mostly online) and am going to stay home and save money. 
No need to shop just ’cause its a sale! 
Actually, I’ll be making Christmas wreaths in hopes that others will want to spend their money! 
I’m having a frugal Friday. 
November 21st, 2007 at 8:44 am
My husband is heading out to one certain store to purchase one certain tool. He’s calling it “buying tools for the Glory of God” since he plans to use the item to make a specific repair at our church (tongue only a little in cheek). His plan is to come right home, though, and join the rest of us where we’ll be hunkered down enjoying a batch of new movies and books from the library, completing some homemade presents, making a gingerbread house and just generally being together – this is the plan for the whole weekend, not just Friday! On Sunday we’re thinking of taking the kids to a small local museum that has a particularly nice holiday exhibit for kids that shows how Christmas might have been celebrated in generations gone by. I think it will add some nice perspective to our own celebrations.
November 21st, 2007 at 9:28 am
I am not a fan of shopping, and crowded shopping is even worse – I don’t do Black Friday – I stay home and enjoy my family. The bargains are not worth my stress level going through the roof. The day would involve tears and gnashing of teeth if I shopped. LOL
November 21st, 2007 at 10:30 am
Honestly, there really isn’t much that I need to get for the kiddos that’s on sale. They don’t get electronics etc (this may be a bit different when they become teens) and the few things we will be getting them aren’t particularly on sale. So I stay home.
I may try checking out the online deals this year though.
November 21st, 2007 at 12:46 pm
Once in my life, when I was a teen- my mother hauled me shopping on this day and I vowed never EVER again. It simply wasn’t worth it.
You can find quite a few Black Friday sales online on that day (sometimes during designated hours)so perhaps that is the answer for some.
I do the day after celebration- we invite my in-laws to bring their leftovers over and we reheat and eat together. Thanksgiving day is spent with my family and my husband is one of 9 siblings and so it’s nice to have the time to spend alone with his parents. It’s been our tradition since we got married.
We play games throughout the day and watch a holiday movie in the evening also. In all it’s a wonderful relaxing day in an otherwise obsessively crazy season.
November 21st, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Our family celebrates Thanksgiving on Black Friday. Our children are married and this gives them the choice to visit in-laws or friends on that Thursday.
Our children and grandchildren know that it is always a celebration of thanksgiving when we share a meal, Spring, Summer,Winter or Fall. We celebrate Thanksgiving all year round.
Enjoy!
November 22nd, 2007 at 6:31 am
I’m not such a fan of shopping but I am a fan of deals and coupons! My bunch of gifts is a year long adventure and stored away. Whenever I see something that I think would make a thoughtful gift for someone on the holidays, even if it’s March, I’ll get it. The advantage to this weird process is that my budget is not severely impacted all at once. I plan on shopping but mostly for deals. I mostly am lookng for books. My small town has only one large bookstore so Amazon.com is the back-up.
November 22nd, 2007 at 8:12 am
Once and only once I ventured out on this day.
What a hoot — I had the BEST time just watching people (mostly us women) count their places in line and telling others, in no uncertain terms, where the line started. Also lots of loud talking to their friends in other asiles, pushing, and as the day progressed, losing all sense of what this “Holiday” season is suppose to represent.
Did I buy anything at a good price, yes I did. A “Snoring Elmo”, remember him? Did I have fun, you bet. Would I ever do it again — not a chance.
Have fun out there, but try to remember what we are suppose to be celebrating, and try not to confuse “retail” with the birth of Christ.
November 22nd, 2007 at 2:33 pm
In the past I stayed home and did my baking on Black Friday. My cousin comes over, we put on Christmas music, and bake all day laughing and making memories. In the mean time we both have our Christmas baking done. This year I have a trip planned starting on Saturday so I’m packing on Friday and getting house ready for the sitter. I have a new grandson that I need to go meet.
November 22nd, 2007 at 4:05 pm
Hubby and I were out on Black Friday for other reasons a few years back. We couldn’t help but chuckle at the panic and mayhem in the parking lots of every big box store, and the lines of breathless shoppers waiting outside the doors. I was so glad to be a spectator rather than a participant!
November 22nd, 2007 at 11:02 pm
I don’t do the Black Friday thing either. If I do go anywhere, it will be to an independent store off the beaten path. Usually, I wait for the frenzy to die down and I can calmly shop without competing for parking places.
Best Blessings,
KJ
November 23rd, 2007 at 9:19 am
Okay, we headed this morning at 6:00 and it was not that bad at all. Keep in mind I live in a rural area, not a big city so the amount of people is a lot less. ;0)
I got some good deals and had a great time!! :0) I enjoyed it so much that I’m thinking of heading south next year into “big city”. Maybe it was the people I was with, because I really had good time. ;0)
November 23rd, 2007 at 11:28 am
From the point of view of someone in England this is all very interesting! I’m a bit surprised that everyone seems to be decorating for Christmas already – if I put the tree and cards up a week before Christmas day I think I’m doing it rather early! Some people here do it at the very beginning of December, but most wait a while after that.
November 24th, 2007 at 8:47 am
We were on our way home from celebrating with relatives. Since we were driving through Amish country, I was hoping to buy potatoes from the Amish. But they had closed their little stands because of the cold temperatures. We had lunch at a family-owned restaurant and stopped a few times to look at interesting stuff. We arrived home in time to get a little rest and then attend a “pie party” with friends. There we ate left over desserts, chatted, watched movies, and played games. It’s too early to start Christmas for my crowd.
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