Black Friday Shopping Worth It or Not??

I do it for fun!! My in-laws come for Thanksgiving and my MIL and I head out around 11pm and don't get back until 8am. I'm usually done with my Christmas shopping by then, but just like to go anyway!

NO WAY! There is no way I would go shopping on black Friday. However, I'm not one for shopping at all. I prefer online shopping. It is so much easier and I definitely feel like I save a lot of money by shopping online as I can compare prices from so many stores at once.

I LOVE it! I go every year! My hubby watches the boys and I head out about 3 or 4 a.m. armed with my list, the sales fliers, a small box of doughnuts, and hot cocoa. I love the thrill of it and LOVE the money we save! Plus, we do not have to worry about boxes shipped to the house that the kids may identify before we can get them put away in a hidden spot!
If you do not like big crowds, get impatient with lots of people, and do not like the lights, music, and craziness that goes with it all, don't go. Otherwise, put on a festive holiday spirit and go for it!
Also, you are bound to encounter some rude, ruthless shoppers. If you can look beyond this and just be positive and have fun and realize that if you do not get a certain item, that it is not the end of the world, then Black Friday is a fun way to obtain a LOT of bargains!

No amount of savings is going to get me out of bed at 4am to go stand in line in the freezing cold at 6am or fight the crowds later in the day. I'm one of those people who watch the news later that day (because, of course, the leading story is ALWAYS "Walmart opened at 4am this morning and LOOK at all those people there to take advantage of the sales!!!!!") and shake my head in disbelief and roll my eyes. Of course, I hate crowds, driving for hours to find a parking spot, long lines, all the stuff Black Friday is famous for. So I avoid it like the plague. Last year, I did 90% of my holiday shopping online, dressed in my PJs, sipping my coffee (or wine if it was in the PM) and listening to some nice music...saved on gas and time-wasting, too. Everything arrived on time, in perfect condition and it was the best holiday shopping experience I'd ever had. It will be repeated again this year!

Not worth it--you couldn't PAY me to fight those crowds! People watching? maybe. Shopping--NO!

At my church many of us celebrate that day as "Buy Nothing Day." It's a little way to show our distress with the rampant materialism and need for acquisition so often seen in our society. (A little less so since the recession.) And who wants to be fighting crowds in stores all day? I like to shop late at night when the stores are empty.

I didn't read anyone else's answer but here's mine. If you look through the ads & see something that is a great deal and you really need or want. Then YES. Also if you just want to go experience it with your girlfriends.... get coffee, go to lunch then come home.. YES. lol

I don't do it.
Don't like the crowds nor parking hassles nor waiting in lines. Ugh.

Online shopping, is good, and they also have sales and free shipping specials too, like on Amazon.

It is only worth it... IF you have things you need or want to stock up on.... and want to get the discounts. Otherwise, it is still spending money.
As my Dad always said, "A sale is only a sale, if you need something worthwhile..... if not, you are still spending money no matter how much it is."

I go for the fun of it. Last year I took my daughter (12) and she had a blast! I don't think we spent $100 but it was fun! My family also has a tradition of heading to the mall on Christmas Eve day just to take in the atmosphere. We may purchase one or two things but thats not our main goal. And we valet park the car to avoid those hassles. Its holiday entertainment to us (is that sad?)

We shop on black friday every year. And it depends on what your looking for as to whether it is worth it or not. The year the nintendo game boys came out my husband had been laid off for several months. we had a set amount of money we had scraped together. toyworks advertised them for like $60 if you were there between 5 and 7. we were there at 4 to get into line. a few years later the kids were going off to college. they needed warm comforters for the dorm rooms. kohls had really great down alternative comforters for $19 if you were there early. if not they were like $75 so yes they were worth it. it is tradition for us now. we spread the sale papers out. make our routes, kids all go in different cars with different lists. then we meet up for breakfast. go home have a nap and then decorate the tree on friday night. ginger bread houses later in the weekend.

It depends on your mind set. I love it! I look forward to it every year. I always take a vacation day the day after Thanksgiving, because I know I'm going to be up all night :) I meet up with my best girlfriend at around 3 am. we have our list ready and plan the day before. We are the best Black Friday shoppers and run from store to store getting all the best deals. Try getting a friend to go with you because it definitely helps to have a partner. You have to have a plan and go for the most important items 1st, usually the electronics. We have such a great time and have yet to not get the items that we wanted. Friends and family always want to join our jaunts but our timing has become so good over the years that we always go by ourselves, but usually have a list of requests from people not brave enough to do it themselves. Have fun with it, bring coffee and water, and make sure you pee before you leave the house, you'll have no time for that :)

I've done black friday shopping online. But you have to get on as soon as they are available. Many times the product is sold out in seconds.

I have panic attacks in large crowds... I would never even attempt shopping of any kind out and about on black friday.

EDITED TO ADD- Top Gun Shooting Sports doesn't have 'black friday' sales... I got range time and range ammo for my 9mm from my husband for Christmas last year. And I did his shopping online. : )

It depends on what you're looking for. I've found that some years something a family member or kid wants (or even something I've been waiting to get) is going to be 50% off or something, so it's worth it to go to the Toys R Us at 7 or the mall at 6. If you aren't after something or a few things specifically though, I wouldn't subject myself to it. I mean, it's great if Macy's has BOGO v-neck cashmere sweaters, but if no one you know (including yourself) wants or needs one -who cares?

When you add shipping and handling to the black friday sale you are not really saving anything. Going to the stores is a hassle, but if you have enough people, 1 person to sit in each line for each big item and some runners, and wow you are done in 2 hours, time for a nice breakfast.
Plan Plan Plan

I have a feeling this won't be a popular answer but here goes: Instead of getting out of bed early to spend money on things that were made in China and will fall apart before next Christmas, why not skip the sales and spend time making gifts, planning a fun party or planning a family vacation?

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for buying gifts for kids for the holidays (and I do tend to go overboard with the kids), but I think a lot of those black friday sales prey on our consumer-driven culture to buy more than we need. And often you end up buying gifts that people don't necessarily want.

This year I will try harder to create memories and keepsakes instead of debt. It's just my own personal goal though, and I know it's not right for everyone. Just a suggestion to take a deep breath this holiday season before diving into the shopping.

ALSO: don't people get trampled death every year at those things??? So not worth it!

I'm sure you can get some really great deals online too, I see that you already have 40 responses saying the same thing mainly. I guess I'm just a weirdo...I blame my weirdo mother or that. I love shopping the day after Thanksgiving. I never even heard it was called black Friday until just a few years ago. I love the crowds and the lines and the Christmas music and the ornaments going up. I even drag my husband along sometimes and he makes fun of me the entire time. It's a tradition around here.

I never shop on Black Friday. Never will. There is nothing I need badly enough to deal with all of that. I'm still snoozing in my warm bed the morning after Thanksgiving. No place I'd rather be.
For lot's of people, it's a tradition and that's cool.
They can have it!

I have been black friday shopping for several years. Some years alone, some with mom, some with friends. I have a great time every year.
The key is plan. Get the adds thursday (or for the really serious like me, online much sooner than that!) Map out where all the best deals are.
Every year not only have I gotten amazing deals, but I have a lot of fun. More years than not I am completely done with Christmas shopping and home to make breakfast for the family.
Have bought a few things black friday online as well (digital camera, etc). Many of the stores actually offer free shipping that day.
I am a bargain shopper. If it wasn't a great deal I wouldn't do it!

i have barely done black friday shopping but i did it enough to realize unless you're out for big stuff (tvs, computers etc) then it's definitely worth it. i went last year by myself because i was bored and wanted to be out. i came back 1.5 hrs later regretting i stepped outside. it was bad. i went to stores like jcrew, BR, gap etc, as i was only interested in clothes. i got nothing because prices were more expensive and i had gotten cheaper stuff using coupons weeks before black friday. but i do use slickdeals.net to follow deals and if there is something i need/want i get it cheaper that way. otherwise, so not worth it

It depends on what you're looking for. If there is a big ticket item (like a TV, computer or other electronic item), we will sometimes go, but keep in mind that they run out of those great deals pretty quickly, so you have to get there really early. We used to live in Fort Worth and the crowds didn't seem as bad there. We live in Houston now and last year I went to Toys R Us at midnight when they were opening and there was almost a riot (literally). The employees were afraid to open the doors for fear of being trampled and the police were called. SO NOT WORTH IT! We left. I went back the next morning when the crowds weren't so crazy and I was still able to get most of what I went for in the first place. So, I guess the short answer is to know ahead of time what you're looking for (scan the ads first) and go into it knowing that it might just be too much and you may come up empty handed. Make it an adventure and it can actually be kinda fun, although I'll admit it was a lot more fun before we had kids! They still get up at the crack of dawn whether you've been up since 4am shopping or not! :-)

It depends on the item. Look online for the different offers, they release the offers about 72 hours before.
My husband is a techie, and he is always looking for electronics, those, so far are worth it.
Good Luck!!

They can be very worth it! I love black Friday! I look forward to it every year. I have a great time shopping and getting good deals. I don't get too upset if they are out of what I want, Christmas isn't about the stuff anyway. One thing I've learned from going every year is that you can change a situation in an instant.

If you are around a rude or obnoxious person, smile, be helpful and watch them turn around. I was in line outside a store one Black Friday while it was cold and raining and some people cut in line. People were starting to get very angry about it and I could tell something was brewing. So I cracked a joke and started talking about my pregnancy. Changed everything!

That was the same year that I filled the back of my van while only spending $10 of my hard earned cash. (that was a great year)

I started going about 3 years ago with my cousin and we do it every year now. We don't really go for the deals, we go for the fun of it. It's just fun to be out there with everyone...we don't go to the places where it's crazy deals and where everyone else wants to go. We hit the mall...thats about it...but we have fun with it!!

I know this is a little late but last year I found out pretty much everything I need to buy on Black Friday could be ordered on the different stores websites Thanksgiving Night with free shipping.

There is not a darn thing I need, nor does anyone in my family need, for me to go through that!
But I've got a friend of mine who starts planning NOW and loves every minute of it.

I love Black Friday sales, but for some places, Best Buy is a big one, online is just as good and most of the time they have free shipping if you spend $50 or $100.

you can get a lot of the same stuff online - BUT you have to watch out because a lot of times they only allow a certain number to be sold at the sale price. i got up super early last year, got online, and all the things i had wanted to buy were gone already- so i hopped in the car and still found them at the store. my advice for if you go in person is - KNOW WHAT YOU WANT AND WHERE TO GET IT. i have a low tolerance for chaos and crowds, i start to get panicky and very super uncomfortable...so a plan is a must for me. i usually limit it to two or three items that are the best deals and let the rest go. it's truly madness!!

We always went out for black friday. Last year my best friend took the ads and went online and got some of the stuff we didn't b/c the stores were out. She stayed up and most of the stores online deals started at midnight whereas the actual stores usually start at 5 or 6 am. This year we are trying online instead, especially since we use our debit card anyway and not cash. Good luck and God Bless.

My sis has done this black friday for yrs now that she has 3 boys it is more than important for her to go yes hubby too along with friends thaey have alist & find those items she get sthings more than half price from Toy's R Us Walmart Target & other places she loves to go I have gone I waited in line for 2 hrs I was the first in line @ Radio Shack latst yr to get this Kodak camera they told me they didn't have it in store come to find out after searching for it it was there only 2 of them & this other guy wanted them both noway did that happen but Radio Shack is one that I would shop online for because there were so many people looking for online only items & that wasn't posted in the flyer...
I do go to Walmart buy baragain priced toys,jammies sweatshirt movies..

If you know there is a great deal on something you know is wanted, then yes it can be worth it!

I woke up early and waited in line at Toys R Us a few years back to get my oldest nephew a Playstation3 ...it was on Major Sale and saved us big $!

It depends on what your shopping for. I've gone a couple of times.

One year a needed a few larger ticket items and they were selling for 70% off, and there were a few other items I wanted, and to top it off, I had an additional 10% off coupon. So I bought about $600 worth of stuff for $250 and got 85% of my holiday shopping accomplished. Was it worth it, definitely!

Another year, I decided I wanted to purchase kayaks. They had them on super sale, and it would be the only way I could afford them. I made hubby go out (one of us had to be home with the girls). He was the 2nd person through the door and they were sold out, each store was suppose to have 5 in stock. Explain that one? Anyway they called another store and put them on hold for us.

Two years ago I went to J C Penney, I only wanted 2 items. I got there about an hour after the store opened. One of the items they were sold out of. I found the other 2 and picked up a couple other things in my travels. After spending 20 minutes waiting in line (there were only 2 cashiers) and I wasn't even 1/2 way to the front. I saw a manager walk by and I asked why there were 6 registers with only 2 open and no baggers. He gave me some lame excuse that made no sense. I said I guess you don't want my business, he made some rude comment so I told him I would take my business elsewhere. The 2 ladies behind me said I agree with her and we left our pile of items in the middle of the isle and walked out. Was it worth it, NO.

As far as shopping online for black Friday, I haven't had much luck. The better deals are in the stores. Online lots of times they're sold out of the "super deal" items, but usually have something comparable to offer. Then on top of it paying the shipping and handling. I hate the idea of expensive, large items sitting on my doorstep all day.

not worth it unless you get one of the doorbusters(300 HP Laptop from walmart). Here, on the biggest sale days they have 30% off. On lesser sale days it is 40% off, better selection, and less people.

I look at the ads and decide if there is anything on my list worth the traffic, the rude people etc. The last year that I went out I went out for one door buster item that they had at Toys R Us, it was on my list, it was going to save me over $50...it was worth it...would I go out and do this just to shop? No way. This year I am so happy that none of the toys that are "popular" are on my kids lists, so this year I will probably be half way done with shopping Before Black Friday hits = )

Black Friday? I had to read some of the responces to see what was meant by "Black Friday". When I was growing up the history books called "Black Friday" the day the stock market crashed in 1929 and that was the '60's history books.

I love the bargains on the after Thanksgiving sales. I analyze the sales ads and go to where I can get the best bargains on what I need. I ALWAYS save lots of money. I'm glad to read where several readers won't go because of the crowds. It lessens the competition. My kids shop the Friday sales too. And the Saturday morning sales too!!! But then again I love a bargain.

I'm willing to put up with the hassle of the crowds to save the money. I'm a big fan of making a dollar work for me. I don't have money in a bank CD earning 1.0% when I can have money in a stock paying a dividend of 3% or 5% or more. I buy my groceries when they are on sale, not pay regular price when they aren't on sale. I don't shop at Costco when my neighborhood grocery store has the same thing cheaper. I buy my cars when they are on sale and then bargain with the dealer, not just walk in to the dealership, point to a car and pay the sticker price. When I looked for a vacation, I looked on the internet for bargains, not just called and paid what the cruise line asked.

If you have more dollars than cents (sp? ;-) ), you don't need to go to the after Thanksgiving sales. Me? I've always rather had the money in my pocket than someone elses pocket. Abraham Lincoln said, "Good things may come to those who wait, but only those things left behind by those who hustle." Sounds like he would have joined us in shopping the sales.

Good luck to you and yours.

A lot of stores do sales on Thanksgiving too...they have good sales and I did that last year and was home in time for breakfast. I didnt need any big ticket items so I have never done Black Friday. I have sent my husband out in the past though to get things like our camcorder, etc...but only big ticket items are really worth it. Wal-Mart has PJs for kids for really cheap, but I just give my friend that goes every year the money and tell her what size and she gets them.

i hate black friday, havn't gone to a black friday since i worked one at a walmart....i'll pay the extra to keep away from the crazy crowds and rude people.....the people today are so focused on "buy buy buy" for christmas and spend the year paying off the cc debt just to do it all over again...Why?

think that black friday helps take away the true CHRISTmas meaning

Last year I went Black Friday shopping for the firs time in a LONG time. It was totally worth it for me. I have 4 brothers, 2 sisters in law, one niece, and my mom and dad that I needed to shop for. I got one gift per person and only spent $100 on things I knew they needed or wanted! I found that traffic wasn't anywhere near as bad as I thought and the lines in the major shopping stores (Sears and JC Penny's) were almost non-existent. I did not brave WalMart or Toys R Us....I did that a couple of years before and it was such a nightmare I didn't even get out of the car.

Personally, I LOVE the excitement of Black Friday shopping! I know, I'm nuts... I get so excited to go!

There are bargains to be had, but they have to be on things you want to make it worth your while. And there are places I WON'T go anymore, based on previous experiences. We have an outlet center about an hour from us, and I made the mistake of going there last Black Friday. It took us over an hour just to get into the parking lot (from the parking lot entrance), and an hour to get back out, and the sales weren't worth it. But the local stores, Walmart, Target, Kmart, our local mall, I'll definitely do those!!!

I will say this, though... one thing I learned is that the prices of items drop substantially in the days just before Christmas... the Black Friday deals seem like the best, because they're the best prices we've seen YET this year, but if you wait until the days just before Christmas, stores put EVERYTHING on sale, often for less then they were on Black Friday. Everytime I see this, I say I'm going to wait until just before Christmas to shop, but I can never do it!

I wont go. It can be worth it if you need a big ticket item like a tv and money is tight, but too me it is worth the extra money to not have to stand outside for hours to try to get one of 50 tvs that are discounted. Plus, if I am interested in big electronics, chances are the purchase can wait until the after Christmas sales, which are usually better.

I love it!!! I have been doing it for the last 15 years or so.Nothing can stop me. It doesn't matter if it is storming out or we are visiting family in Florida.I am out there shopping. I started it when my daughters were young. I go through the ads on Thursday and write down everything I want. Then I put the adds with my list in order of which stores open first. When I first started going it was for the great bargains but now I go with my older daughter and we have a great time together. Our favorite is getting all the DVD's for $2.00. In the past I got a scanner for the computer for $10.00, a DVD player for $5 and I am always home before the real crowd comes out.

TOTALLY worth it! I sent hubby out last year for his first time and we saved a ton of money on toys for the kids. You MUST be prepared, get your fliers out and make a plan of where you're going based on what time the stores open, what's most important you etc. But most of all....BE PATIENT! If you go out thinking everything is going to happen quick and easy - you will be frustrated quickly. There are lots of people, lots of lines. We're going to have my Mom watch the kids this year and we're both going out! Good luck.

some of the deals are the same online but they also have online only deals. We usually do our shopping on online. No crowds, they usually have offers for free shipping, no lines, you can read reviews of what others think about an item, etc.

Hi S. T. I don't shop on Black Friday. The crowds are too big and it takes too long. But, I do a GREAT DEAL of shopping on Cyber Monday (the Monday after thanksgiving). SHipping is almost always free on that day and there are usually great deals! Plus, it all comes to you and you don't have to go anywhere!

You can certainly get the same deals online during Black Friday. Check out dealnews.com They will be posting Black Friday deals as they get leaked over the next month or so.

Here's their Black Friday predictions: http://dealnews.com/features/The-dealnews-2010-Black-Frid...