I avoid Black Friday like the plague. In fact, I don’t think I have shopped on Black Friday in years. Eight or nine years ago I sent my husband out at 4am on Friday morning to get play-doh at Toy’s R Us that was $0.99 a pack. Actually he had an ulterior motive. He wanted to get something at Best Buy, I don’t remember what, but I am sure he would not have been up at 4 for Play-Doh.
He didn’t get what he wanted at Best Buy, they were sold out, so he headed to Toy’s R Us for the Doh. He found two packages and then waited in line for over an hour to buy them! All of that for two dollars! Needless to say he doesn’t hit the stores on Black Friday anymore either.
Usually we head out to the Christmas tree farm and cut down our Christmas tree. Then we come home, try to fit the too large tree in the too small stand, decorate the tree, watch the tree fall over, use fishing line and a screw to attach the tree to the wall, then head out at 10pm to find an open store that sells Christmas tree stands. One year when we lived in the middle of nowhere and were completely desperate my husband called a coworker in the middle of the night to see if he had a stand. Thank goodness he did, and that he didn’t mind us calling after 10pm, and that he didn’t mind if we came and picked it up, immediately!
One year, when we lived in Cuba, our tree was too small. It fell over too because the stand was too big. I think we have had a tree fall over almost every year for 14 years. You think we would have learned our lesson by now, but sadly no, we continue to get starry eyed looking for our perfect tree, and almost always pick a tree that is way too big for our home. The good thing is that in all of our tree topples we have only lost a few ornaments. We have lost significantly more ornaments to babies and toddlers.
Ahhh, but I digress, I started this post with the intention of passing on two websites sent to me by readers.
Both of these sites post Black Friday deals ahead of time. I don’t know much about them, but if you are brave enough to venture out, check these sites and make a plan before you go!
Finding our perfect tree 2007…
Keeping our perfect tree from falling, while my husband tried to adjust the stand.
For more Talk about Tuesday visit Lara’s blog.
What a great post! It gave some good laughs. Thanks for sharing.
I have never gone on Black Friday either. I’d rather shop online…more comfy and less hassles.
What fun memories (can’t see the pics, tho). One year my sis was playing Santa Claus and handing out the presents Christmas morning, she leaned a bit too far and the tree came toppling over. It was so funny.
That is so funny! You would think you would learn, huh? At least you are having a great time as a family. That’s whats really important!
I haven’t done Black Friday in a while either for the very same reason either they were sold out or it just wasn’t worth it.
Great pics!
You look like you are doing your best ballerina pose. 
What a great pic!
Thanks for the links…I’m not planning to venture out but if the steals are just too good might have too.
Is that you holding the tree? That is an adorable pic!!! LOL
I am trying to convince my family to go treeless again this year. (We didn’t actually go treeless, we just had a very small fake one!) I haven’t convinced them yet. (In case you didn’t know it, I am sort of a Bah Humbug.)
I do not do Black Friday either.
I hate shopping. I hate mornings. I would never combine the two!! LOL :-p
Yes, the Christmas tree is always a hot issue here. too. Things have gotten much better since we bought the correct stand a few years ago. Hanging the outdoor lights is another arguement waiting to happen every year too!!
Great post! Well, at least you found out that fishing line helped hold the tree up and you didn’t have to take turns holding it up.
As for Black Friday shopping, I loved pre-kids. I don’t know what happened after having kids but I don’t really get into it. I’ll shop online on Black Friday and Cyber Monday but no store shopping that weekend.
I used to love black friday, but now that I have kids it isn’t so fun. There are usually only a few things that are really worth the effort.
And I thought we were the only ones. Our trees generally bury the dog, or a kid, or sometimes if we’re lucky…both. We usually lose an ornament or two but haven’t lost any dogs or kids yet!
I think my hubby went to Black Friday once, but never again because it was sold out. I certainly will not be getting up that early!
I do take advantage of Black Friday deals but I do it in an unconventional way to take full advantage of the sale prices but not have to venture out early and fight the crowds.
First, I check out the ads ahead of time, like the links you mentioned and make a list of what is on sale where, at what price. Then, I go through that list and pick out anything that can be purchased at wal-mart and go buy those items there on Black Friday. But you don’t have to go early, because they are items that are not on sale at Wal-Mart, just at the other stores. Then, when you get to the register, just pull out your other ads and tell the cashier you are using their price match policy. As long as it is exactly the same item, you will get the lower price.
But…If there are really great deals on items that you cannot buy at Wal-Mart, I buy it on Tuesday or Wednesday of Thanksgiving week and pay full price. Then, sometime on Friday, usually as late as the sale goes to avoid crowds, my husband and I get hot drinks and drive to however many stores. I take my receipt in to the customer service desk (usually not busy at all, everyone is at the registers) and get a refund (price correction) of the difference because most stores offer this service if the price goes lower within 30 days. My husband takes the car in a circle around the parking lot (avoiding having to find a parking spot) and then picks me up and we are on to the next store in 5-10 minutes.
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And no, no Black Friday for me. I went once about a decade ago and found out at the worse possible moment that my friend (who dragged me out in the first place) has panic attacks in enclosed spaces with lots of people. (gulp) I am lucky I didnt get in trouble for beating and shoving people out of the way while I was clearing a path for my friend so we could leave. DID I MENTION the two year-old babies I was carrying at the time in ADDITION to dragging my friend, who could barely walk and was gasping for breath?
THEN a few years ago we stayed by family Thanksgiving night… and I went with my sister-in-law and her family. We arrived before the stores opened, had lists of sales and lists of stores we planned to hit. By 7am we were done, tired, broke, and looking for good (cough) service at a breakfast place. I will never do it again! The sales were not worth it… and I spent more money in the end anyway. I do better to stick to my list and shop smart.
Anne
i forgot all about black Friday for a few years now! funny about the play dough!
Black Friday is like a holiday tradition for my hubby and I! We’ve been going out before dawn for five years now! Most of the time the sales are really good on the stuff we’re looking for! I don’t think I would have gotten up early for play dough though.
I’m not a fan of Black Friday….to much anxiety for me. Now, the Christmas Tree is one of my favorites! I have one for me to decorate and the kids have their own.
Lovely blog, I had a great time looking around.