By Jess Contributor
I hate crowds. I don’t think I’ve ever hit a Black Friday sale, ever. *Gasp! The horror!*
My mom just wasn’t into that stuff and despite the shopping genes I’ve inherited and the family members who hit up midnight sales on Black Friday like it’s their job, I just don’t do it.
I’m sure the sales are great. But on the items that are really that great, they’ll probably only have one or two and those will be gone. I saw something on the news that said that actually most stuff ends up cheaper throughout the holiday season. Who knows.
Did you hear about that nut that’s been camping out at a Best Buy since last Monday? What a freak. How does he plan to hit all the sections to score these valuables? Does he think everyone behind him in the mob will wait patiently till he gets everything he was shopping for? (Can you tell I find this absolutely absurd? Did this dude just take 2 weeks off work? wtf???)
Anyway, back to Black Friday and this working mama. Basically, I don’t do it. I value my sleep. And I try to start my Christmas shopping early. How you ask do I do that with a 5 year old that’s always inquiring about the things I have in my shopping cart?
ONLINE, BABY.
I am a huge Amazon addict. Huge. I buy everything on there all year long. Especially diapers. If I can do it without having to go to a store, get free shipping and don’t have to pay tax? That’s a huge win.
I usually get on Amazon at least a few times a week scoping out the toy section for stuff my cousins/nieces/nephews would like. Since we go home for Christmas, I have stuff shipped directly to my dad’s house so I don’t have to take it there.
I also ask family members for sizes, characters, and toys of interest. I write it down in my notebook and consult when I’m out shopping if I see a good deal. I make a list of kids and when I find something, I write what I bought and cross them off.
Seriously, I have so many kids to buy for that if I don’t do this, I’d go broke and probably forget someone.
But if price was no object and I had a day of shopping to myself… I’d go here:
Chicago's Magnificent Mile (Photo Credit: english.peopledaily.com.cn)
I’d wear this:
Photo Credit: polyvore.com
and I’d also hit these stores: Target, Dillard’s, Nordstrom’s, Academy. (random selection, I know)
A girl can dream right?
So how do you do Black Friday/Holiday shopping as a working mom?
i also do my shopping online….this year, i am trying to support local + small businesses, so i am doing a lot of my shopping on etsy. i love your idea of how to keep track of all the kiddies!
pemora recently posted..Black Friday, Buy Local (4)…by pemora
Twitter: urbanrhetoric
I will admit that I am a Black Friday shopper… However, I don’t think I am as crazy as some. It is the one day a year I spend quality time with my brother, catching up while in line and people watching. I am done with just about all of my shopping by 9 am, except for stocking stuffers. And it is great! But I do shop throughout the year for some things, especially clearance for the kids. I may be a working momma, but I am still on a budget.
I’m a huge Black Friday fan, but I’m also never shopping at Best Buy and Wal-mart, which seem to attract the crazy fighters and the lines like no where else. This year? I was after kid’s pajamas. I often go after $300 bedding sets for $20. Totally worth the half an hour wait in line.
As for the people who do wait in line for days, while I do think that’s crazy, Best Buy usually hands out numbers “What are you here for? Okay, you’re #2 for the TV, #4 for the video game system” etc for the bigger items. If you were self employed or wanted to waste a few days of vacation, I can totally see why people are willing to camp out for a day or two to be guaranteed to save $600 on a huge monster TV or whatever….
WeeMason’s Mom recently posted..It’s beginning to look…