Why I won't be shopping on Black Friday

(The weekly frugal tip at Frugal Follies will now be published on Thursday night. For this week's frugal tip, I'm rerunning a post from last year, with some updates. Have a great Thanksgiving weekend!)

I love a bargain, as you can see from my shopping exploits at Wednesday Weekly Shopping and elsewhere here on Frugal Follies. So, you probably think that I'll be up early late Thursday night or Friday morning, racing to get the best bargains at the stores.

Nope!

Here's why I won't be shopping on Black Friday:

I like sleeping.
Okay, this is the biggest reason.  I just can't fathom getting out of a warm bed to go out early.  Even in my area, where it isn't that cold yet, it just doesn't sound like fun to me.


On a practical level, I just don't see how one can do bargain shopping while still so sleepy.  When I go to stores, I need my wits about me to make sure I'm doing the deal I planned right.  Even then, I make mistakes.  I think when you're tired, you also might be more inclined to buy something that you hadn't planned on that isn't a good deal.

I'd rather spend time with my family than with shopping crowds.
My kids and husband are off school and work that day, and I'd rather spend some quality, lazy time with them than look for bargains.  I am lucky enough to be a stay-at-home mom, so I have the luxury of shopping in the morning hours, when the stores are relatively quiet.  Shopping with crowds is a different experience for me.


I don't need the expensive electronics and other Black Friday deals.
Right now, we are saving to pay off our home equity line of credit (which I've been describing in my Elevate Your Savings in 2011 series), so we are limiting the gifts for Chanukah for ourselves and our kids.  The kids will get one large present; the presents for the other seven nights will come mainly from the dollar store.  My husband and I will exchange small gifts.  We don't give presents to our siblings or parents for Chanukah, other than perhaps a token gift if we are celebrating together. I have splurged a bit on my nieces and nephews, but since they all live far away from me, I will be sending them gift cards or making online purchases for them.

But...
I will be stopping - quickly! - by the drug stores Thanksgiving morning.  I'd really rather wait until Saturday for this.  But last year, I missed most of the free stuff after rewards that the drug stores have on sale, and I don't want to miss that again!  So I'll make one quick trip to CVS and Walgreens, then head home and enjoy the holiday with my family.

In case you disagree with me - and that's okay! - head on over to A Full Cup to check out all the Black Friday ads.

What do you think?  Will you be shopping on Black Friday?  Leave a comment!

For more frugal tips, please check out the bloggers listed on the left sidebar under Frugal Tips Linkups. There are lots of great ideas on each blog and I'm sure you'll find lots of wonderful tips!

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