So... is anyone here planning to brave the cold (it's cold here, anyway) and the crowds for deals the day after Thanksgiving?

I'm guessing with the economy the way it is, it's going to be INSANELY busy!!! For those of you who are veterans at bargain shopping, which stores have the best deals? Do you go with a gameplan? Has anyone ever tackled someone for a Tickle Me Elmo?

Loren
GGG Jan.2005 @ 28wks

Sweetened Taters - http://sweetenedtaters.blogspot.com

OMG This may be my first year EVER attempting this crazy tradition. I need 1 more Leapster2 and don't want to pay the bundle price I paid for the other 2 and have a repeat game. Weird I know. So I'm counting on it being on a good sale the day after T-day. Also some of the accessories that go with it, like the charger and the case.

Or I may just do what I always do and shop online for it and see what it gets me.

I hate crowds. I hate the craziness that I've heard about. I hate the thought of fighting a woman for a flippin toy.

Are you going?

Michelle

Tyler 17 1/2 years!!
Steph 15 1/2 years!!
Ayden, Ryley & Dylan 3 1/2 years!!
http://triplethefunplus2.blogspot.com/

You would think I'd be pumped to elbow my way down the toy aisle considering what I went through during the Easter Egg Hunt! (That might've been before your time at my site, I've got a link somewhere, hold on a second... http://sweetenedtaters.blogspot.com/2008/03/we-won-car-not.html there it is.) I'm really not that type of person. The only feeling I have when it's over is relief that it's over, lol.

So your kids like the Leapster? I haven't really looked into them because I assumed they were for older kids.

Loren
GGG Jan.2005 @ 28wks

Sweetened Taters - http://sweetenedtaters.blogspot.com

We got the originals handed down to us when the kids turned 3 and I thought they were too young, but they took right too them and just love them! Highly recommended!!

Michelle

Tyler 17 1/2 years!!
Steph 15 1/2 years!!
Ayden, Ryley & Dylan 3 1/2 years!!
http://triplethefunplus2.blogspot.com/

I am totally with you; I hate the crowds and the craziness but I am braving the NH cold and the masses for the first time this year too. We are too broke to buy toys at full price - LOL We have shopping done for my oldest already so I am just planning on visiting Wal-Mart and TRU for the babies' toys. I will probably stock up for their birthday, too. How do 3 months fly by so quickly now, when it used to be that the weeks would drag?

Mandie

Mom to:

and spontaneous GGB:


http://www.morethanweexpected.com/
http://mandiemonium.blogspot.com/

My Tip:

Shop online that morning. I got great deals last year at Sears.com. I got the girls their doll house, set of furniture both with free shipping, no sales tax and 40% off!

I also shopped Target and bought their strollers with free shipping and they were on sale.

I called my mom and sister and they both got online and found great deals.

*plus side...no crowd, no cold weather and I did my shoping in my pjs.

Audrey
SAHM
GGG"s 5-9-2003 (34weeks)

LOL! Last year I went to the store IN MY PJs. I was rockin' those sweat pants. I luuuuuuuuuurve online shopping, so I'll have to wake up early to check it out - thanks!

I don't know if I'm going this year. My sister DRAGGED me out last year and it was aweful. I felt like I was on Supermarket Sweep with all the running and hunting after the doors opened. That's kind of why I'm bringing it up so soon. I need to have my plan in place

Loren
GGG Jan.2005 @ 28wks

Sweetened Taters - http://sweetenedtaters.blogspot.com

It is a tradition for my girlfriend and I to hit the mall, WalMart and Value City on Black Friday. (IHOP falls in there too)

We have lots of fun and it is like a special ops mission! We always start w/ Wally World, then breakfast, while eating we strategize our stops in order to get the door buster deals at the mall.

By the end of the day I'm exhausted but usually have 90% of our Christmas gifts purchased.

Jes
B(GG) 8/04 34 wks
G 7/00

DH and I live for Black Friday. Every year we get awesome deals. Last Thanksgiving night we spent the night on the sidewalk outside of Best Buy even. Crazy!

Tara

Mom to BBG born at 33wks on 4/3/03

I am really considering it this year. I've done it a couple of times pre-kids and while exciting, also sort of nightmarish, lol. I don't particularly enjoy large crowds of pissy parents all looking for the same toy, but now I'm gonna be one of them!

I really want to find a deal on Leapster2 or maybe the Tag reading system. I don't have my gameplan of stores yet but was thinking maybe TRU, Wallyworld. Although shopping in my pj's from home sounds like a much better time.

Michelle
ggg born March 15, 2005
35.2 wks

I did it for the first and LAST time last year! There is no way a discount is worth getting up that early and being that cold (and I live in GA!). Nope, I'll be sleeping in that morning.

Kimberly,
Mom to Isabelle, Alyssa, and Makenna
www.guinntrips.com

Last year was my first time and made some good deals! I just scoured both paper and online ads and made up a game plan of where to shop first and what time, and what I was getting. No way I did any of the midnight shopping though! And be sure to bring the ad along with you!!! Not all the prices show up in the computer so sometimes you have to show the ad or else you'll be charged more.

I got a great dvd player for the car at Target (about $60 or $70) along with some jeans for me (like $9 each and I love them!). And a nice case for it at Circuit City. And a wool coat (again for me!) for $30 at Sears. I rarely shop for myself so this was an incentive to get some clothes! I've already bought most of the kids stuff at yard sales and our moms sales, so not much there I need.

Mary

born 12/12/04 33w2d