Black Friday

I think one thing that helps is just posting exactly how many of the "hot" items you do have. I usually do go out on black Friday but not early in the morning, most of the sales run until 1:00 in the afternoon. I find going out later in the morning you still get the sales (unless you are out for one of the hot items) but not the crowds.

This year a local grocery plus store had Wiis on sale for a very good price. The ad in the paper said they had 50 per store. The store opened up at 5:00 and I woke up at about 4:40. Figured what the heck, may be worth a try. I got there just as the store was opening there were way more than 50 people in line waiting to get in. I did not even bother to get out of my car.

Later I ran into a friend at another store. He was at a store earlier and he was number 51 in line for an item that they also had 50 of. He said that if he knew they only had 50 he would not have bothered.

If they post exactly what they do have of an item you will still have the die hards that will get to the store hours before it opens (there was a story on yesterday's news about a lady that was at a store 4:30 p.m. Thursday waiting on the the 4:00 a.m. Friday opening) but there will also be a whole lot like my friend and I who realize that the chance of getting that item are pretty slim and not worth it to try and do our shopping later for some of the other items that we want. Spreading out the crowds.

DH has been doing the Black Friday shopping several years, but he focuses on one good deal and goes for that.

Maybe my perspective is different because we're Jewish and don't get caught up in the "gotta-have-that" hype of christmas. yes, we buy gifts, but we don't (and never have) gone into debt to do so.