It’s Black Friday! Are you alive??!

black friday
Have you already spent $500,001 on super sexy flat screens and the latest iPad 10,000? Did you run into any crazies out there who tried fighting you for the last Harry Potter video? Did you buy something for ME?? Can I ask you another 101 questions? ;)

As you can see – I have decided not to partake in this coupon-saving showdown.  Although I suppose this post could have been future-dated? But the reality is I just DON’T HAVE A CLUE as to what I wanna buy anyone yet. And I honestly have no idea how everyone can plan their xmas gifts so early on in the season.  It’s really mind-boggling.

I also don’t NEED, or WANT, a damn thing. Which is both awesome and sad at the same time.  Sometimes I wonder if all this finance talk has made me a boring spender?  Although I have been traveling around the world a lot lately, so I guess I AM spending money, just not on physical things.  But for today’s purposes, I doubt Black Friday will give me 1/2 off a plane ticket across the globe ;)  BUT TELL ME IF YOU FIND ONE!!

I also think my body would punch me in the face if I tried to get it out at 4 in the morning… I’ve been going to bed at that time every other night!!!  But I will admit I’ve always had a helluva good time whenever I’ve attended these in the past.  There’s something definitely exciting and energetic rushing around w/ thousands of your fellow human beings all on a mission to save like crazy :)  If it didn’t mean spending so much to begin with, I’d say it’s the perfect personal finance holiday!

Although I will say if you’re looking for specific things, and can STAY COOL and avert your eyes from the non-essentials, you can find some MAJOR deals. I’ve found TONS in the past! And maybe I’ll even head out in a few hours and survey the damage or something too, that would be kinda fun :)

If any of y’all went, tell us your BEST finds! I’ve got to live vicariously through you now since I’ve apparently turned into a frugal old man…

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28 Comments

  1. Geoff November 26, 2010 at 8:04 AM

    Way to go! I started having stuff in the cart online in Amazon today and then realized that if I don’t need it, why am I buying it? So I went in and cleared my cart right away. I’m still periodically monitoring for any good deals on things I actually need though. I don’t think having black friday deals online nowadays helps people save any money or only buy stuff they need.

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  2. Techbud November 26, 2010 at 8:28 AM

    Saved over $160 on a cell phones for my Son and Daughter. Purchased both on line @ Best Buy in my PJs!

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  3. Doctor S November 26, 2010 at 9:56 AM

    I am reporting to you right now from my cube, because my ass did not have off from work today! I’m not buying anything today, although I am scouring the web at the moment to try and find some deals. But I am like you, I just don’t need or want anything right now (The trip around the globe does sound dumb nice though!!).

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  4. MK November 26, 2010 at 10:18 AM

    I’m also at work today. May pop online and see if I can find anything… but the few items I want to purchase for people don’t seem to be part of any of these black friday sales. So I’m just going to hunt around for the best bargains. Honestly, I don’t know why I’m working, there is no one else here! but I’ll take the 8 hours of pay rather than lose the 8 hours of vacation!

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  5. SheBudget November 26, 2010 at 10:34 AM

    I’m also at work today, but even if I was off, I would not be participating in the craziness that is Black Friday. For one, I don’t want anything SO badly that I need to get out of my comfy bed at 4am and two, I hate the thought of people having to go into work incredibly early, so I refuse to contribute to the madness. I’m just glad I have Saturday and Sunday off. I do have to run some minor errands this weekend (pick up a few things at the store and get a hair product I’ve run out of) and I’m dreading it. I’m hoping to get out early on Saturday to get it out the way so I can be a lazy couch potato this weekend.

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  6. Kerry November 26, 2010 at 2:56 PM

    This is so random, but I bought 22 cases of cat litter (the REALLY good stuff) for $3.99 a piece at PetsMart. I saved $178! Buy in bulk, store in the basement. Did it last Black Friday and I still have 2 left!

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  7. J. Money November 26, 2010 at 3:48 PM

    @Geoff – Haha nice job. I actually keep things in there for future gift ideas :) Although usually when I go back and check I don’t really care for the items any more… but sometimes I do!
    @Techbud – SCORE!
    @Doctor S – It’s a good thing someone’s working today ;)
    @MK – Yeah no kidding! Get paid and enjoy the mini-work-break :)
    @SheBudget – I’m pretty good at being a lazy couch potato when I alott the time for it. Like, last night for 6 hours :) watched like 10+ tv shows!
    @Kerry – Holy crap that is good!!! And we get litter from Pets Mart too sometimes, I’m gonna try and sneak over there this weekend, thx!!

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  8. Jaime November 26, 2010 at 8:50 PM

    I honestly have no clue why anyone would go shop on black Friday, I think people who get up at 4am are CRAZY. lol. I was unfortunate enough to work last year at JCPenney as a seasonal person and was scheduled for 9 hours on Thanksgiving. NEVER AGAIN. I had to come in at about 3:30am. Working retail during the holidays is completely NUTS. You feel like a chicken with your head cut off. I just think its easier to shop online during the holidays.

    I work for a different company this year and they’re so nice to us, had yesterday off but yeah I also did go to work today, I was at work for about 5 hours and I usually work in the afternoon. It wasn’t so bad. I didn’t have enough PTO to have the day off, I was sick in late October with a cold and had to use all my PTO back then. :-P

    Anyway I got home by 7 and I intend on enjoying the rest of the weekend, but I’m with you on not needing anything. I don’t think you’re boring. btw since i worked in retail I learned that black friday isn’t always the best day to shop, I remember a week or two before black friday last year jcpenney had items in the store that were priced cheaper than on the day of black friday.

    Anyway have an awesome weekend JM. ;)

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  9. J. Money November 27, 2010 at 9:48 PM

    ooooh interesting to know! feels like we just got insider’s knowledge there, thanks ;) you have a great weekend too my friend! Enjoy it all!

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  10. K November 28, 2010 at 1:21 AM

    I went to Old Navy at midnight to get some of those $15 jeans. It was a mad house in there. Luckily I pulled my girlfriend away from the sales before the line for check out ended up wrapping around the store. We were in line for a good 45 minutes before we checked out.

    The best part was that one of the employees came around and said, “If you sign up for a Old Navy Card you can come to the front of line.” The people in front of us went and signed up for it but I checked out before them. :)

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  11. Christine November 28, 2010 at 3:06 AM

    I went to the Camarillo outlets, which is the biggest one around LA! My biggest door was scoring some beautiful french white 7 piece corningware serveware bakeware set for 35 dollars! If anyone doesnt know what that is, ask your mother. These things last forever and usually end up costing like 50 dollars a pot. Buttt my boy beat me. He got a pair of seven jeans for $27! Nordstrom Rack groupon for 22.50 for 50. Price was 100, with 30% off, plus another 30% on top of that…

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  12. Caroline November 28, 2010 at 3:08 AM

    uggh, I wanted a new laptop, but I’m not crazy enough to camp out and skip thanksgiving dinner. but I did end up going to best buy on black friday at around 2-ish. still crazy, but not as crazy. I bought a canon printer for $50 which was great because just 2 weeks ago my old canon printer died + a fm transmitter which surprisingly works well. that’s it. just stuff I needed.

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  13. J. Money November 28, 2010 at 12:31 PM

    @K – HAH! That’s pretty clever of Old Navy though – bringing up c/c applicants to the front like that. I’ll give them credit for that (bah-dum-ching!)
    @Christine – Haha it’s true, my mom talks about CorningWare all the time!! Good job :) Esp your bf, that’s awesome.
    @Caroline – Well done sticking to what you need, it’s not always easy!

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  14. Shawn Smith November 28, 2010 at 6:12 PM

    I personally love deals but hate Black Friday. I didn’t stand in one line or go shopping anywhere all weekend. I refuse to. One time, a few years ago, I did it. And I never will again. I got about $300 off some electronics when all was said and done, but I stood in line for something like 3 hours as well, waiting. It wasn’t worth the hassle. I am not a cow, so I don’t want to join the cattle…

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  15. J. Money November 28, 2010 at 6:41 PM

    Haha, good analogy. Although I’m starting to wish I at least went out to survey the damage! Didn’t walk into a store once this weekend… a record ;)

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  16. Molly On Money November 28, 2010 at 7:36 PM

    My first year of frugalism is also my first year participating in Black Friday (hee, hee).
    I got a laptop computer for $300 (too late for the $200 one!).

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  17. J. Money November 28, 2010 at 8:08 PM

    Damn, that’s awesome.

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  18. Wade November 28, 2010 at 11:04 PM

    I did my shopping online. I noticed that you had mentioned Harry Potter movies, and I got the box set for $23 (regularly $50). I just can’t see getting up at three in the morning. I have done it in the past as a fun thing to do with friends, but I just hate the crowded stores.

    You also mentioned holiday shopping, and I’m right there with you as I do not know what I want or need either.

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  19. Melissa November 29, 2010 at 10:29 AM

    I’m renovating my kitchen and have been monitoring prices on the microwave and fridge I needed to buy since June. I picked up the fridge at Sears on Labor day for $600 off the regular price and scored an $80 gift card with the transaction. Fast forward to Black Friday and my microwave was $100 off, bringing the price down to $119. My total transaction ended up being $41.73 for a $220 microwave. It was worth getting up at 3AM for.

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  20. GJ November 29, 2010 at 3:06 PM

    I used to swear I’d never participate in Black Friday. That is, until I got married. The ladies in my husband’s family make this an annual tradition. And (I can’t believe I’m saying this) it is actually a lot of fun.

    We grab coffee and go to the closest mall together. No one has an agenda (i.e. shopping list) so we avoid the big, chaotic stores and snag some killer deals at the smaller, less busy ones. After a few hours, we head home and have breakfast while the guys go shopping for a few hours. We are all usually home, eating thanksgiving leftovers and leisurely setting up Christmas decorations and listening to Bing Crosby by noon.

    Deals this year:

    – 3 wool sweaters and 3 tank tops from Gap (original retail $190, paid $21)
    – Prada sunglasses from Macys (original retail $245, paid $49)
    – BluRay movies from Best Buy for $7.99 each

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  21. Sandy @yesiamcheap November 29, 2010 at 5:28 PM

    If you were going Black Friday shopping at 4am you were already too late. ;) Die hard get in line before midnight these days.

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  22. J. Money November 29, 2010 at 9:42 PM

    @Wade – Don’t tell my wife! She’ll buy everything Potter!!
    @Melissa – Oh hell yeah it is, no joke!
    @GJ – WOW I am jealous of those Pradas!!! I really want a pair myself (a very manly one, if that’s possible?). And I’d totally venture out if I had a fun group of people doing that :) Sounds like fun for sure… the opposite of going by yourself.
    @Sandy @yesiamcheap – Yeah yeah ;)

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  23. FinEngr November 30, 2010 at 5:59 PM

    Various Internet & Anti-Virus Security (Norton, Trend Micro, McAfee, Kaspersky) from Staples – All 100% off with check, prepaid card, or store credit (???) options

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  24. J. Money November 30, 2010 at 8:54 PM

    Did you remember about your old friend, J? I think he likes that stuff too :)

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  25. LB December 1, 2010 at 2:59 PM

    A couple of years ago I went to Home Depot on Black Friday for deals. It wasn’t very busy and I got some killer deals on household stuff. I was planning on shingling my roof and painting. I ended up saving a lot of money and I didn’t have to get up at 3am.

    This year I ended up in a smaller town that had lots of snow around Thanksgiving. I ended up at Wal-mart around noon on Black Friday and most of the deals were still around, because of all the snow. I didn’t need anything, but it was so much fun heading out once the snow had ended, and watching every vehicle driving around had new Televisions in the trunk.

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  26. J. Money December 2, 2010 at 2:38 AM

    haha nice. oddly enough it’s almost 3 a.m. as I type this ;)

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  27. FinEngr December 2, 2010 at 3:05 PM

    Well –

    Considering I did get plenty of copies, I’d be willing to part with some for you. I can do you a solid and give you a 50% discount off the retail price! ;)

    Reply
  28. J. Money December 8, 2010 at 10:14 PM

    I’ll pay you in beer :)

    Reply

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