OT- Who else has banned Black Friday?! Or has a crazy story to share!

I do not do Black Friday sales, because 1) I get severe anxiety in large crowds and 2) It's just not worth the hassle to save a few extra bucks! I do however occasionally shop online for a sale or two but it's not like I feel I must get up sunshine early to get them, and I REFUSE to shop at ANY store on Thanksgiving day itself, as far as I'm concerned those employees who are there to allow you to shop should be at home with their families not forced to be at work so people can be greedy and trample them down! I know this sounds harsh, but I really am against stores being open on holidays and preventing the employees from spending time with the most important people, their families!

 

I tried for the first time Friday and... NEVER AGAIN. I was trying to save money on a doll that I plan to give to my daughter on her birthday in February. The Water Babies is usually $29.99-$39.99 online and ToysRUS was selling it for $6.49.. wow... saving as much as $33. I decided I would try getting it. I stood in line for three and a half hours and by the time I got to the doll shelves, they were bare. I just wasted my time. Darn.

 

We went to Toys R Us tonight. Phillip wanted a Nerf gun that was $15 off, and came with a free extra ammo pack that runs $10.99. It was one of the things he REALLY wanted this year.

 

I shop for deals online every year, and usually buy only something that I really really need. It's so easy to get sucked into the great deals and rockbottom discounts.

On a side note, someone said "santa doesnt shop at ToysRUs"...sorry, dont remember who...but that was spot on! Love that one!!

 

Yes! I am also a planner, buyer ,leaver! But even thou I planned out exactly what I wanted, which stores had it and had my game plan in check... Still wasn't enough to win the battle of black friday lol!

 

This year hubby and I had an evil laugh around 10pm on Thanksgiving when we heard the rain start pouring down. We had seen people lining up at a few stores by 2 that day. So to have the visual of them lined up outside and then the rain coming down...ok, I know, not nice.:twisted:

 

We (dh & I) actually did Black Friday for the first time this year, and only because it was something we honest to goodness needed, but couldn't afford otherwise, that was 70% off. We woke up at 2:30, drove from the grandparents' house to San Antonio (no traffic), stood in line at 3:15 (not too long, and very tame), and then the doors opened at 3:45 rather than 4, so that people who actually stood in line could get in before those waiting in their cars could even blink. A few idiots tried to run in, and we hear a tiny scuffle, but otherwise, it was all very friendly. We got what we needed, got out, and made it back home by 5 a.m. to get a couple more hours sleep before the kids woke up.

If the line had been 17 miles long, or if I'd felt threatened, I would've walked away. My dh wouldn't have, because he's naturally the confrontational type. He gets mad if an ant crosses the road while he's driving. *sigh* But at least I'd be protected while sitting in my nice, warm car calling 911, right? :lol:

 

I went to Target at midnight... to get pajamas. It was so well organized that even getting just a few things was easy. I stopped by Kohl's, but it was a complete madhouse and so not worth it! I got out of there. For me, Black Friday shopping is about budgeting. No one in our family gets a 42 in TV for Christmas. (Our family TV is almost 14 years old and has to have adapters to even use a DVD player.) Extravagant gifts are never given at our house, but by shopping good sales, I get more for my small budget.

 

I don't go out to buy anything, but I do shop online if I see a particularly good deal during those sales days. Honestly, though, if you just wait and watch, you'll find most of that stuff goes on for similar sale prices all month. There are a few special deals, but most aren't anything out of the common way for December sale prices.

But, I do know a lot of people who do it for fun. There's a bit of fun in getting together with their family/friends to go out and do something so out of the ordinary, and they do it to enjoy that as a fun event more than to necessarily grab super awesome deals.

I say if it works for you, then have at it! I personally like staying in my jammies and surfing the web. LOL

 

One year, dh was given a nice TV by his brother. His brother's a pastor, and the church was getting a really cool, new TV and he offered Carl the old one. Of course, he doesn't tell me. So Christmas Eve, after the kids are in bed, he gets Rachael and they bring it in. AFTER we talked about how we weren't going to get anything expensive, how we were on a budget, getting out of debt, etc. I'm ready to kill him, because I thought he had splurged, and I'm telling myself, "You are NOT going to get all upset on Christmas Eve! LET IT GO!!! Keep your mouth SHUT!!!" But boy, was I boiling inside. Rachael knew EXACTLY what I was thinking...we really do have this thing where we just KNOW...and was cringing. Finally he told me it was free....

 

Just wanted to add to what people have already said about this. We are Christians and we celebrate Christmas. The greed that I have seen during Black Friday is disgusting. I will sometimes go for little things we need (this year our boys needed jeans) and I just like being out at odd hours, in all honesty. However, I HEARD a stampede and was disgusted. That's insane! Please don't assume that is what Christmas is about. It's not! I (like someone else also said) can guarantee you that people of all religions are out shopping on Black Friday. Black Friday is a cultural thing, not a religious thing.

Also, not all Christians do the Santa thing. My kids know Santa is a man in a suit. I have told them about St. Nicholas and how "Santa" got started. They still have fun with it, but they know the truth.