Mission accomplished: Black Friday

It seems that people either abhor Black Friday or they love it. I happen to be one of the people who love it, for all different kinds of reasons. All throughout the many years I have shopped Black Friday I have only once had a bad experience.

Two years ago, I was seven months pregnant with my sixth child and getting really big!  My sister-in-law and I had gotten early to a well known electronics store, stood outside in line for three hours and were some of the first people in the store. I was there specifically for a printer which was priced at an unbelievable steal. As I bent over to pick one up, I was shoved so hard out of the way that an earring I was wearing actually flew off and one of my shoes went flying down the isle.

I looked up to see who had pushed me and surprised to see a middle aged, professional well-dressed man grab the last printer that I had been about to pick up! He didn't even look at me as he marched to the register. A few other people in the store had seen what happened and took it upon themselves to yell at him and help me up. I did get another printer that year, but I woke up the next day with a softball sized bruise on my hip and an even bigger bruise on my feelings! 

But I still went Black Friday shopping the next year! Why? Because it is fun. Despite the one ugly person you run into I have met a hundred more nice and interesting people. We stand in line together, share deals together, share store ads and strategies. 

Black Friday for me starts on Thanksgiving Thursday--we sit down and plan our siege! All the women in the family gather around the kitchen table while the men sit in the living room watching the game. We make lists of the best prices, we cross-check that with what you can find on the internet, and plan when and where we need to be at certain stores. We never go alone; one person can stand in line while another does the shopping. Nothing is worse than being done shopping only to have to stand in line for another hour to check out. Also, if you know what the other people in your group need you can grab it for them if you see it first and save them the time and chance of it being gone.

We always bring snacks and water bottles. Black Friday gives you the chance to find interesting items that you never had considered purchasing, but after seeing it in person you know exactly who will love it. Personally, I always make lists. Lists of what I am looking for and who, this way I don't over buy. With six children, presents can become lopsided in one child's favor very quickly if you don't keep track! There are many free iPhone apps such as Shop Savvy, Santa's Little Helper and Pocket Santa that can make your shopping experience more enjoyable. 

This year I will be staying home and blogging for the readers of my blog the very best deals out there all day long on Friday. Thanks to internet incentives such as Swagbucks and Ebates I am already almost done with my shopping this year. Online shopping can score you amazing deals sweetened even further by free shipping and no tax. Websites such as Savings.com have provided me with coupon codes for all the stores I normally shop at, but now I have been doing it in my pajamas.

I have found that shopping online has saved me more money and time this year, I find it easier to not impulse buy and can shop when my kids are in bed. Retailers are transferring deals from in store to online at the same price and saving consumers the trouble and time of Black Friday. Online items are almost unlimited in quantity as compared to the low number of items that can be physically carried in the stores. Other advantages shopping online is that comparison shopping happens much faster, I can know the prices of an item from five stores in 5 minutes where it would take me a few hours to drive to all the stores to check the same item. 

Black Friday shopping isn't just shopping for the Holidays. If you plan on making any large electronics purchase, I would suggest waiting until Black Friday or the following week to purchase it. The deals are way to good to not hold out a few months if there is something you are looking to buy. 

Although I am staying home this year and taking advantage of online deals I will be back out there next year! Black Friday feels like the official kick off to the Holiday season and is a tradition that I look forward to. I enjoy the adult time away from the kids with close friends and family.

But, whether it is online or out in the cold, the thrill of finding a great deal and saving money is what it is all about!