Black Friday...Let's go shopping!!!

I haven’t yet decided if I’ll be going out on BLACK FRIDAY, but I’m seriously considering doing so. You know the day I’m talking about, the day after we fill our stomachs so full of food that we feel as if we are going to split open at the seams if we dare to bend down and pick up something. Thanksgiving is a time when we think of family, getting together, and good old fashion FOOD. It is a great time to see family members that we don’t other wise see very often, or haven’t seen in years, and to just hang out with friends. This year I’ll be doing both. First, I’ll be spending most of the day with family that I haven’t seen since last Thanksgiving, and then for the following weekend I’ll be cooking for some friends coming to my house.

Between these two glorious feasts, and stuffing myself until I feel like I want to explode, the day after Thanksgiving, I’ll be spending sometime walking off Grandma’s homemade hot rolls, turkey, stuffing and gravy early in the morning at Wal-Mart. Then it’s off to the mall for a little more shopping.

Now I am never excited about waking up at 4 am the day after a holiday when I’ve stuffed myself like a turkey, but I always managed to go out for a couple hours, sometimes more, just to find that right gift...at a price that I feel is acceptable. Sometimes making your way through the crowds can be one of the most strenuous workouts that you will ever have. But, by the time I down a couple cups of French Vanilla coffee, I feel wired enough to walk off those 5 pounds I feel like I put on the day before, and make my way through the toughest of crowds without getting shoved to the side. I think the reason I love to go, is the thrill of trying to find a good deal, plus I just like shopping.

Here are some tips that I follow to make sure I have a great day.

(1) Get there early! If you are like me and stay up late anyway, you might as well forgo sleep and hit the stores (especially Wal-Mart) around 3 am. If you don’t others will have already filled their carts with the sale items before the sale even starts…leaving you with nothing.

(2) Make a plan. Decide before you get to the store, what you are planning to purchase. What is the most important thing you are looking to buy? Plan to make that your first stop.

(3) Have fun, and don’t let yourself get overwhelmed. Remember everyone is there looking to get themselves a deal.

(4) Number 4 is important…Please remember to watch your purse or wallet! There are many more people out at this time of the year shopping, but there are some, who are shopping for your cash. Never turn your back on your purse sitting in your shopping cart. A thief can grab your purse, and be gone in less than 5 seconds.

Have fun on Black Friday!!! Let’s go shopping!!!