It's Black Friday! I got up about 3:45 am to go shopping. I have never left that early on Black Friday (last year, I thought 5:30 was early), but my sister-in-law wanted to get a fake Wii game system from JCPenney, and we weren't sure if it would go fast. I just bought a couple of outfits at Penneys for my in-laws to get for my kids for Christmas.
Then, we headed to Kohl's. The line was wrapped around the store, but it moved pretty fast and was very organized (one line...multiple checkouts with someone directing you). I got some clothes, a large George Foreman grill for $30 after mail-in-rebate, some backpacks with sleeping bags for my kids to bring to gramma's house, and some Batman sheets. They were all Christmas gifts for myself or my kids (except the grill...but we needed that and had been waiting until today to buy one).
Next, we went to Target to get a DVD player for my sister-in-law. We got there about 15 minutes after they opened, and the line was still entering the store. It was crazy in there, since the DVD player was near both the electronics and toy departments. Then, the checkout was crazy again, since there wasn't much order to the lines. We got out of there in about an hour, and I didn't buy anything.
Finally, we went to Walmart (ours didn't open until 7 for some reason), and I got a GPS (as a gift for me from my in-laws), a portable DVD player (for long drives to go camping), a Flip video camera (as a gift for me), a digital photo frame as a gift for my in-laws, and lots of practical gifts for my kids (such as $4 pajamas, $4 slippers, another set of sheets, throw blankets). It was really busy, but didn't seem as bad as Target...maybe the aisles are wider??
I thought that I did pretty good. Almost everything that I purchased was either a gift for others or a gift for me (my family usually just gives me money for Christmas and wants me to buy my own gifts). I did make a few purchases (like the George Foreman grill and the portable DVD player) that were not gifts, but I had been waiting for the deals today to buy them. Plus, I had the fun of shopping with both my sisters-in-law. I'm also almost done with my Christmas shopping. Although I enjoy going out today, the crowds annoy me the rest of the season :-).
So, did any of you get up early to go shopping today? Did you get any good deals? Please share in the comments (with a link to your blog post if you have one) I would love to read about your experiences today.
jenn
My sister and I hit the mall at around 1 am, and then were standing in line outside toys r us at 3. They opened at 5! We were about 20 people back, and by the time they opened, there were about 400 people behind us. It was crazy! But...I got a $30 digital camcorder for my son, and a $10 MP3 for my daughter. In walmart I got some $2 DVD's and a $4 mixer, since mine broke last week making gingerbread. I doubt highly I will do this next year...it's insane!
"Hello... It's Me Again..."
Nope, no shopping for me. This was my day to cook to get ready for family Friday Thanksgiving! Of course they all went shopping, but I was home with my daughter preparing our feast. That was the best part though, doing it with my teen daughter.
Glad you got some good buys!
Also, hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving!
Casey
I did do some shopping in my pj's on the web. No lines for me today.
I love your site thanks for the tips.
Hope you and yours are having a wonderful holiday....
Jennifer
I went out this morning with my family. We only stopped at a few stores. Kohl’s was one of them. I really wanted to buy some toys because they had good sales, but couldn’t wait in line. It was just like you describe at our local store; very orderly and they had all checkouts open, with one big line formed. But, I asked a lady in line and she had been waiting an hour. Unfriendly, I couldn’t wait that long.
Anonymous
No shopping for me today. I started decorating our home for Christmas. I have 2 trees up, but neither one has any decorations yet. It's supposed to snow tomorrow or Sunday, so that will "put me in the mood". 🙂
Proud Mommy
No shopping for me today....kids were sick, into the doctor (where there were no lines for once!!!) and off to get medicine!!!
Jennifer
Corrie- You have more energy then me! We got to WalMart at about 7:30 a.m. and I got some of the $4 kids sweatshirt/pj deals. It was too late for me to get the cheap IFlip so I'm jealous of you! You have to let me know how you like and if I should get one.
Felicia
Brave... very very Brave....
Good Girl Gone Shopping
This was my first time EVER heading to the mall at 5. I had a lot of gift cards to use from my birthday last week, so as me, me, me as it sounds, I basically shopped just for myself. So I got awesome deals at Macys, Forever 21 (I won a free tote bag cause I was one of the first people in line!), Mervyns, and H&M Then I take a nap in the afternoon, and missed TWO article deadlines...and that was after 3 cups of coffee. So, next year, I may have to balance priorities a little better ;(
Tonya
Yay for great Black Friday deals! I'm glad you got some stuff for yourself! I think we deserve them for getting up so early and "fighting" the crowd!