Yes. I will admit it.
I am one of the crazy shoppers who enjoy the thrill of power shopping all of the Black Friday sales.
I am on a team, actually. My sisters enjoy the same thrill. We spend time on the phone and email making sure we have a game plan for how to get the items we want. It helps that we live in 3 different cities, so our shopping options are more open.
A few years ago, I shopped all the sales, buying a ton of stuff I did not need.
When we shredded our credit cards and made the commitment to get out of debt and live debt free, my Black Friday shopping changed course.
Now, I save money for Christmas shopping. I make a list of gift recipients I will shop for this year. I plan out what gifts we want to purchase for the kids. Then, I scope out all of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.
This year, I think I am feeling the greatest thrill of all. I have managed to purchase nearly all of my Christmas gifts at a discounted price. Majority of that shopping has been done online, with discounted prices and free shipping. I have been able to save tremendously from the comfort of my own home.
I still enjoy getting up early and joining the crowds at the stores. I like to be around people, so I find the crowds of wild shoppers to be fun. Yes, some folks are intense. Others shop as though it is an athletic event. Some are rude. But, most are hyped up on the thrill of a good deal.
This year, I worked Thanksgiving evening, until 1am Friday. Some stores were already open by midnight. Others were opening at 4 and 5 am. I decided there was no point in going to sleep. I would work, shop, then sleep the day away.
My sister called me at work to say that the camera deal I was wanting was available online. So, after work, I shopped at home from my computer. I covered most of my shopping list with amazing online deals.
The last thing on my list was fancy clothes. Jersey #1 wanted to go with me when I went shopping. So, I woke her up at 3:30am and introduced her to the wild fun of Black Friday shopping. She was shocked to see the long line of folks standing outside the store, before it opened. Since the clothes we were seeking are not a popular item, there was no reason for us to get in line. We waited those few minutes in the warm van instead. When the store doors opened, we enjoyed a laugh as we watched the line of shoppers start running into the store. Yes, running. That was amusing. I like a good deal, but it has never occurred to me to run for it!
We enjoyed the fancy dress section of the store all to ourselves. 60% off turns those $50 dresses into $20 dresses. Jersey #1 picked out her own fancy dress for Christmas this year. She helped me find great dresses for her sisters, and suit sets for her brothers. In addition to Christmas clothes, we shopped for fancy red dresses.
Jersey #2 was invited to participate in the Go Red For Women fundraiser for the American Heart Association in February. It is a fancier luncheon, where everyone wears red. By February, the Easter clothes will be out, and those tend to be pastels. So, I knew my best chance to get bright red fancy dresses was the Christmas season. It worked! We found some gorgeous red dresses for all 3 daughters, since the girls will be participating in the luncheon, while the boys enjoy time home with Daddy.
It was funny to go to the cash register, among a sea of shoppers carrying electronics and household goodies, carrying 8 child-sized fancy dress outfits. This year, my thrill of shopping the sales was enhanced by the fact that I bought only what we needed and budgeted for. I left all the excess "stuff" for the other shoppers.
I am one of the crazy shoppers who enjoy the thrill of power shopping all of the Black Friday sales.
I am on a team, actually. My sisters enjoy the same thrill. We spend time on the phone and email making sure we have a game plan for how to get the items we want. It helps that we live in 3 different cities, so our shopping options are more open.
A few years ago, I shopped all the sales, buying a ton of stuff I did not need.
When we shredded our credit cards and made the commitment to get out of debt and live debt free, my Black Friday shopping changed course.
Now, I save money for Christmas shopping. I make a list of gift recipients I will shop for this year. I plan out what gifts we want to purchase for the kids. Then, I scope out all of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.
This year, I think I am feeling the greatest thrill of all. I have managed to purchase nearly all of my Christmas gifts at a discounted price. Majority of that shopping has been done online, with discounted prices and free shipping. I have been able to save tremendously from the comfort of my own home.
I still enjoy getting up early and joining the crowds at the stores. I like to be around people, so I find the crowds of wild shoppers to be fun. Yes, some folks are intense. Others shop as though it is an athletic event. Some are rude. But, most are hyped up on the thrill of a good deal.
This year, I worked Thanksgiving evening, until 1am Friday. Some stores were already open by midnight. Others were opening at 4 and 5 am. I decided there was no point in going to sleep. I would work, shop, then sleep the day away.
My sister called me at work to say that the camera deal I was wanting was available online. So, after work, I shopped at home from my computer. I covered most of my shopping list with amazing online deals.
The last thing on my list was fancy clothes. Jersey #1 wanted to go with me when I went shopping. So, I woke her up at 3:30am and introduced her to the wild fun of Black Friday shopping. She was shocked to see the long line of folks standing outside the store, before it opened. Since the clothes we were seeking are not a popular item, there was no reason for us to get in line. We waited those few minutes in the warm van instead. When the store doors opened, we enjoyed a laugh as we watched the line of shoppers start running into the store. Yes, running. That was amusing. I like a good deal, but it has never occurred to me to run for it!
We enjoyed the fancy dress section of the store all to ourselves. 60% off turns those $50 dresses into $20 dresses. Jersey #1 picked out her own fancy dress for Christmas this year. She helped me find great dresses for her sisters, and suit sets for her brothers. In addition to Christmas clothes, we shopped for fancy red dresses.
Jersey #2 was invited to participate in the Go Red For Women fundraiser for the American Heart Association in February. It is a fancier luncheon, where everyone wears red. By February, the Easter clothes will be out, and those tend to be pastels. So, I knew my best chance to get bright red fancy dresses was the Christmas season. It worked! We found some gorgeous red dresses for all 3 daughters, since the girls will be participating in the luncheon, while the boys enjoy time home with Daddy.
It was funny to go to the cash register, among a sea of shoppers carrying electronics and household goodies, carrying 8 child-sized fancy dress outfits. This year, my thrill of shopping the sales was enhanced by the fact that I bought only what we needed and budgeted for. I left all the excess "stuff" for the other shoppers.
I must admit - I'm one who runs very far away from Black Friday. Last year, Steve decided to join in the fun at Target .. his first and last experience. We usually cut down our Christmas tree on Black Friday .. heading out of the city and into the mountains.
ReplyDeleteSO VERY happy for Jersey #2.