Other than for the fact that I can’t stand people, that is. I do not understand the allure of getting up really early to hit crowded stores for so-called bargains.
About a decade or two ago, I remember one year my husband and I deciding to hit the stores on a Tuesday in very early November for the explicit purpose of completing our Christmas shopping without having to deal with crowds. We lived in Auburn at the time, so the nearest decent mall was in Birmingham.
We arrived at around 10:00am, spent a few hours in peaceful, shopping bliss before the high schools let out, then finished up and headed home. I believe we accomplished the task quite efficiently. Later that same month, the day after Thanksgiving, we were bored. (BOOOOOOORED….) So, we decided to head to the mall, I don’t know what for because we were done shopping. I believe we were after some people watching and a movie.
As we wandered around the stores, we noticed that every single item we had purchased three weeks earlier had been marked up, only to be marked WAY down. Fantastic sales, 50% and more off!!! Did we gnash our teeth and moan about the savings we missed? No. Because the final markdown prices were exactly the same amount we had purchased the times for.
Ever since then, I have never been out shopping after Thanksgiving. I also seem to be blessed with a family that does not have a big case of the “gimmes.” My kids still don’t really have anything on their wish lists. That’s a good thing, as far as I am concerned. I am also not very interested in those 3 DVD players that are only $20 until 7am. Peaceful bliss is worth it.
Of course, my tune might change after I have surgery later this month and realize I cannot shop at all.
November 27th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
I do the vast majority of my holiday shopping online. The shipping is worth the peace of mind of not fighting for parking and a place in line!
November 27th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
We spent the day touring the Jack Daniels Distillery and pigging out at Miss Mary BoBo’s Boarding House restaurant. We avoided University Drive like the plague…
I’m with Susan…online is the way to go. I think Amazon.com will be your shopping friend this holiday season. Hang in there and let me know if you need anything…shopping, driving, wrapping, cooking, baking, etc. I’m here for you!
November 28th, 2009 at 11:02 am
I am thankful that for the first time in 3 years I did not have to work that insanity!!!
I have done that shopping a few times in the past for very specific items that I knew were at a really good price. Toys R Us pissed me off once when they had good sales early in November, but on Black Friday had even better sales. I repurchased everything then went back and returned. Saved quite a bit of money.
November 29th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
I had to work in the mall on one Black Friday, and I swore then that I would NEVER participate. People turn mean, all in the name of saving a few dollars. I had a man tell me I had ruined Christmas for his entire family because I wouldn’t take his check (he had bounced one in our store before). It’s so not worth it.