We know you're out there. Those of you who get up at 4 a.m. to get in line to buy a flat-screen TV at rock-bottom prices. You spend all-day at the stores looking for the best bargains. The front seat of your car is covered with sales fliers and a list to go along with them.
Tell us your best and worst stories from the shopping marathon this year. Maybe you almost got trampled or you missed that toy your child had to have by one number. Just maybe you decided to stay home with a hot cup of apple cider and ate Thanksgiving recipes while watching your favorite movie. Whatever you decided to do, we want to hear about it.
With the deals that can be had on a daily basis online, shopping in stores during the holiday season is a thing of the past for my family. Amazon is consistently cheaper than even the best brick and mortar sales, you get free shipping on most items, and you don't have to pay tax.
In fact, this year for the first time we subscribed to Amazon Prime, which is Amazon's $80/year subscription to get free second day delivery (with a $4 overnight option) on anything you order. The amount we've saved in sales tax alone has made up for that $80 and 2nd day is fast enough that we can order almost everything we use around the house online.
Overall, pretty awesome!
My family did no shopping on Friday but did have an enjoyable day cutting down a christmas tree and lunch at a favorite spot. I just recently went back to work after being unemployed for 9 months. Yes I am lucky to have found a job but we are continuing to live on less and enjoy what we do have.
Had a great time with my sisters and daughter at OakBrook Center. It always seems better there. I think the outdoor areas of that mall make it seem less crowded overall and just more pleasant. And the cafe at Nordstrom does a great, reasonably priced lunch. They are helpful getting you a table and seem to have the entire process down pat on that day.
I didn't buy anything other than a book for my son, but that's not what the day is about for me anyway. It's about spending time and laughing with my sisters and daughter.
We didn't get up so early this year. We were at Menard's by 6:30 am. Parking lot was jammed and store packed as well. Got most of the items I had wanted. We did shop at Wal-Mart at 12:03 am Turkey Day night to get a couple of the "all day Friday" specials. There were people camped out in front of the items they were waiting to buy but couldn't until 5:00 am.
Last year we waited out in the cold in line at Wal-Mart for over 30 minutes only to see people that walked up just as the doors opened and thought they could just walk right in. I definitely think Wal-Mart did a better job this year. No fights, no stampede.
Black Friday truly is a suckers bet for anyone foolish enough to even consider suffering through that kind of shopping madness. I was safe, warm, and sound asleep while the annual Friday after Thanksgiving feeding frenzy was in full gear.
I guess nobody bothered to tell the chumps who got up way before dawn that this season is forecast to be an even worse shopping season than last year so what is their rush? The discount sale tags that are going to start appearing in a couple of weeks will equal if not totally eclipse any savings that were to be had yesterday and it will be on much better quality merchandise not the off brand junk that was put out for sucker bait.