Black Friday
WHAT is Black Friday?
The day after Thanksgiving where all the retail stores have a ton of sales specials and kick off their holiday shopping season. They plan to sell so much that they are "in the black" after the day is over.
A lot of us frugalistas LOVE Black Friday for several reasons;
--the thrill of the hunt
--the door buster specials
--the fun you have with "the girls"
If you plan it right, you are not just shopping for the holiday, you are shopping for the following year!
Think Birthdays, wedding showers, household items for your family!
I have a "birthday shelf" where I put things for specific people and a stash for those "last minute" affairs that we get an invite too. This stockpile is now getting an addition for the little parties that Ms Sarah will soon be invited too. Ms Sarah has a birthday in June - so it is easy to tuck a game or two, video or two away and know she will enjoy it.
Then there are the household items: I have a friend who needs a new TV - she isn't going to spend $400-500 on a new one right now, she is waiting a month and getting a huge discount. Don't forget things like new towels, sheets, and photo frames for those adorable school photos that you are going to give the grand parents!
In addition to that, I help my disabled brother do his holiday shopping. He has a limited budget and I score him nice gifts at a great price.
HOW do I work it?
On Thanksgiving, my Mom and I comb over the sales fliers - and circle what interests us. THEN we make a list, store by store - and have their opening times on that list. Occasionally we split up, but usually end up going together as we have simplified over the years. Cell phones come in VERY handy! If you have a network of friends or sisters out there, it is easy to divide and conquer!
I am not a huge Walmart shopper (another story for another day...) but they price match any add - even the door buster specials.
They win.
Think new Disney DVD releases for $2.99 instead of 29.99, Cricut Cartridges for $15 instead of $89.99, a TV for $79 instead of $400, Ants in Your Pants for $2.99 instead of $9.99. Yes, they win.
You used to have to wait outside the store until they opened up - we didn't even bother with a cart but took large Tupperware Kit bags so we could easily maneuver the toy and electronics departments...but, after the fatal tramplings, they have the store open 24 hours and you line up inside, by the item you are looking for if they have a limited quantity.
If you are lucky enough to get everything in one shot at one store - then you go out for breakfast. You earned it and like having somewhere to sit and warm up. (it's ALWAYS freezing that morning).
=)
There are specific websites that let you know ahead of the time what store circulars are going to offer and Walmart always sends their "cease and desist" letters out - it doesn't really make a difference what is in THEIR ads as long as they honor everyone else's adds, LOL!
SO, make a list of what you need now so you are ready when the fun starts in about a month from now...we will talk more later!
The day after Thanksgiving where all the retail stores have a ton of sales specials and kick off their holiday shopping season. They plan to sell so much that they are "in the black" after the day is over.
A lot of us frugalistas LOVE Black Friday for several reasons;
--the thrill of the hunt
--the door buster specials
--the fun you have with "the girls"
If you plan it right, you are not just shopping for the holiday, you are shopping for the following year!
Think Birthdays, wedding showers, household items for your family!
I have a "birthday shelf" where I put things for specific people and a stash for those "last minute" affairs that we get an invite too. This stockpile is now getting an addition for the little parties that Ms Sarah will soon be invited too. Ms Sarah has a birthday in June - so it is easy to tuck a game or two, video or two away and know she will enjoy it.
Then there are the household items: I have a friend who needs a new TV - she isn't going to spend $400-500 on a new one right now, she is waiting a month and getting a huge discount. Don't forget things like new towels, sheets, and photo frames for those adorable school photos that you are going to give the grand parents!
In addition to that, I help my disabled brother do his holiday shopping. He has a limited budget and I score him nice gifts at a great price.
HOW do I work it?
On Thanksgiving, my Mom and I comb over the sales fliers - and circle what interests us. THEN we make a list, store by store - and have their opening times on that list. Occasionally we split up, but usually end up going together as we have simplified over the years. Cell phones come in VERY handy! If you have a network of friends or sisters out there, it is easy to divide and conquer!
I am not a huge Walmart shopper (another story for another day...) but they price match any add - even the door buster specials.
They win.
Think new Disney DVD releases for $2.99 instead of 29.99, Cricut Cartridges for $15 instead of $89.99, a TV for $79 instead of $400, Ants in Your Pants for $2.99 instead of $9.99. Yes, they win.
You used to have to wait outside the store until they opened up - we didn't even bother with a cart but took large Tupperware Kit bags so we could easily maneuver the toy and electronics departments...but, after the fatal tramplings, they have the store open 24 hours and you line up inside, by the item you are looking for if they have a limited quantity.
If you are lucky enough to get everything in one shot at one store - then you go out for breakfast. You earned it and like having somewhere to sit and warm up. (it's ALWAYS freezing that morning).
=)
There are specific websites that let you know ahead of the time what store circulars are going to offer and Walmart always sends their "cease and desist" letters out - it doesn't really make a difference what is in THEIR ads as long as they honor everyone else's adds, LOL!
SO, make a list of what you need now so you are ready when the fun starts in about a month from now...we will talk more later!
Comments
Post a Comment