Saturday, November 29, 2008

Was it Black Friday?

I am one of those crazy people who have the tradition of getting up early and shopping the day after Thanksgiving. I do it every year. While living in Hawaii one year we did the midnight run to Wal-Mart to line up for the 5 am opening. (Wal-Mart had to do as Hawaii still does not have a Target!) This has become my holiday weekend tradition. Some years I even have all my Christmas shopping finished in one day. I make a plan, scour the adds and have in mind which items I will buy. I usually go with a buddy so that someone can stand in line while the other person shops and then switch. I am a shopper at heart so I really look forward to this tradition. This year something was different. I am still a little perplexed as to what happened. I had every intention of hitting the stores early on Friday. I have my Christmas list completed so I knew what I needed to purchase but as I looked through all of the adds for Black Friday, nothing on my list was on major sale. Most items were $5-$10 off but not the hot door buster deals that I usually get. I found plenty of things that were on sale that I personally would like to buy for myself but I feel weird buying something for myself so close to Christmas as I feel that my husband should! After several attempts to find that one hot item that would be my excuse to hit the stores early, I decided that there was nothing worth fighting all the crowds for! I stayed home, slept in, laid around the house until my kids said that we needed to do something. At 2 pm we finally got dressed, and went bowling with the kids. Then we came back home fixed the kids some pizza. At 8 pm my hubby and I went out to dinner for a date and just 45 minutes before closing I stepped into my first store, but not to buy anything, just to look. What happened to my fabulous tradition...is it because of the bad economy? Am I growing up and finding that I shouldn't spend money if it isn't want I really want? I am feeling lost this morning. Something is not right in the universe.

7 comments:

John Ivie said...

I was noticing the same thing this year. I thought because of the economy that stores would be having even more screamin' deals than previous years but that was clearly not the case. I was kind of bumbed to not head out Thanksgiving evening for shopping either. I feel your Pain!

winspears said...

You didn't miss much...after waiting in line for 55 min to check out of Kohls...I decided to forgo Walmart and Target...there was nothing that great in their ads to get me to go stand in more lines...I did however get $120.00 in Kohls bucks! So...I'm going back in next week. :)

Jessica said...

I am so with you. I usually head out at 4:30 am and was the same, didn't head to the stores until we realized we were low on milk and headed to Costco at 5 that evening. It was definitely weird.

Janell said...

This was my first year ever going out at 4:30 am and I thought it was insane, I saved a few bucks here and there, but I am with you, I don't think it was worth it!!!

kali said...

LOL...this post totally made me laugh! You are right though, black friday was kind of lame this year. It sounds like you had a good day. Sleeping in, bowling with the family, and date with the husband sound like a perfect day in my book. :)

Margo said...

Hi Amy I am so glad to have found you through facebook and be able to see your family blog. Wow you have such a beautiful family. Congratulations to Peny for his US citizenship. I got mine a couple of years ago. So you guys live in California we live in Utah. Your kids are so beautiful. Love how we can keep in touch now through our family blog. Here is mine www.la-joie-de-vivre-mw.blogspot.com
Good to see ya and let's keep in touch.

Unknown said...

sleeping in is so nice. as is pizza. and bowling. and dates. which means I like the description of this (possibly) new black friday tradition! :)