Comments on: Oh, Black Friday, you miserable shopping day!

By: JennD

JennD — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 07:22:36 +0000

This was my first (and probably last) year of trying out Black Friday shopping. I went to get my budding photographer an inexpensive but quality digital camera–his only gift for the year. I couldn’t find better deals online, unfortunately. Black Friday shopping is for hardier folks than me! Crowds bother me a lot, so I probably will never do it again. Maybe Cyber Monday sales are the better bet…?

By: Shana

Shana — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 05:01:01 +0000

I *love* crowds and I adore being where lots of people and action are. Having said that, I think Black Friday is a complete waste of time. First of all, my sleep is precious and I cannot imagine waking up earlier than normal ON MY DAY OFF to score a few “deals”. The internet is a lovely thing and it’s so easy to find what I need or want for my children (most of the time) without going into lots of stores.

I did go one year to Marshalls (Or, was it Ross? TJ Maxx? They all blur.) – they had all of their fancy dresses on sale for $20 and I REALLY needed a nice one for my husbands Christmas party. Never again, though. Or, so I say :p

By: Julia

Julia — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 03:50:44 +0000

I hate toys that are “unitaskers”—they’re always the heavily-hyped ones, they never work the way the look in the commercial, and they are almost always noisy and annoying! Luckily, my son (8) loves Bionicles and art supplies and history books. Were in the toy aisle of Target a few weeks ago (a very rare occurrence, believe me, we were just passing through and he wanted to look although he knew we weren’t buying anything) and when I launched into my spiel about how toys like that never work right etc. he said “let me guess: it’s a one-trick pony” and I was rather pleased that he remembers me using that phrase about other dumb toys in years past! Frugal Jedi training proceeds…
Oh and also, there was a story on the front page of the Seattle Times today about Black Friday and in it, a woman was quoted as saying she was going to get up early and go shopping, looking for stuff that was 50% off because her husband lost his job last summer. My husband commented on that, how maybe if they have no income, she should stop shopping. Sigh. I hope she clues in soon, that frugal is the new black.

By: jan

jan — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:44:13 +0000

My first time ever was this morning, with hubby & sonny boy (17 in one week) … we wanted the 32″ tv they had at Target for $246. Guess what. We got there at 4:30 (they open at 5am), was about the 100th person in line (101 and 102) and we SCORED two tvs! Had my $5 off coupons (2 of them) and we got two $10 gift cards. The tvs were not ‘necessities’ but we are slowly upgrading our 20 year old tvs in the house to the newer, more energy efficient flat screens. Woohoo. I really really thought we were wasting our time but we got what we wanted. We were out of the store at 5:15am

By: Laura

Laura — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:34:56 +0000

In 2002 I went on my usual Black Friday shopping binge. I felt fine all day and made out like a bandit in the stores. However, by late evening, I had horrible sharp pains in my side and ended up driving myself to the E.R. I turns out I had a kidney stone, and that began a horrible month of surgery and recovery. I now associate Black Friday with that pain, and I have never again participated in the madness due to my silly superstition. As bad as the experience was, it did me a huge favor in the end! This year I will spend the day making Christmas cards with a friend.

By: Pam

Pam — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:46:51 +0000

I love black friday. Not because of the shopping though. I wouldn’t want to shop in the crowds at all. However, a group from our church will be going to Charlotte, NC, to one of the Operation Christmas Child Warehouses to volunteer with the shoeboxes. Are you familiar with Samaritians Purse? If not check out samaritanspurse.org. Children all over the world will receive a gift filled shoebox through this program, some that have nothing and have never received a gift in their life. It is true awesome. It puts our “black friday” to shame.

By: Milissa

Milissa — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:46:21 +0000

haha…. using my sisters favorite phrase True Story, i went once when i was like 18 just to see what it was all about… NEVER AGAIN.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:31:24 +0000

We are another family that goes for a Christmas tree on Black Friday. If we aren’t prepared for a tree then we decorate the house and do other things. I stay far away from all that craziness.

By: Michelle H.

Michelle H. — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:40:09 +0000

The older the get the more I dislike crowds. 10 years ago I loved the Friday sales, but now just the thought of allllllll those people crammed together in one store gives me the willies. But my aunts are really into it, so I just give them my shopping list and get what I want. : )

By: Anne

Anne — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:19:46 +0000

Black Friday, well, I went about 10+ years ago and there were fist fights over tickle me elmo. Tried again a couple years ago, thought the prices were pretty good, waited in the check-out line for over an hour. Went back to the same store a day later and the pretty good prices were still available, and there was no lines at the check-out. Black Friday is just a retailing stunt to get everyone whipped up into a frenzy.

My husband is working too, he left today at noon and won’t be home until Saturday night, we’ll have Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday!