Black Friday

So I don't normally partake in this yearly tradition. Mainly because I never had anyone to go with or because the sales weren't good enough to get me out in the Illinois cold that early in the morning. In my 27 years, I have gone out a mere 3 times. My first year was when I was 18. Before kids and when I could shop for myself. I went with my mom and soon to be SIL Katie. We were on a mission. It was the year of the scooter. Katie stayed at my moms and I met then at Wal-Mart after stopping for a much needed coffee at 5:30am. The store was PACKED. I had never seen so many people in that place at once and was just astonished that there were so many other crazy people up that early just to save a couple bucks (I later learned it was more than that). Our main mission was to find a razor scooter for my 6yo brother. We walked the store finding nothing. We walked a short distance to Target which was packed with just as many people. We searched again but found nothing. Leave it to the 12yo to overhear people talking and taking off running through the store. Dodging around people. Squeezing through places I wouldn't even attempt. By the time we made it to her, she was standing next to an empty palet with a smile on her face and a box in her hand. Mission accomplished!!

I gave it 2 more years before attempting again. There was no mission this time just great prices on clothes at Kohl's. I met my MIL and SIL bright and early...5am with coffee in hand. Not thrilled to be awake that early but it was well worth it. $180 coat for $40. Pants, sweaters, shirts...75% off. I made out like a bandit!!

This year was a bit different. There were things for my girls that I wanted. Disney 2nd Edition Scene It for $9.99, kids pj sets for $3-$5. I wasn't interested in the game bundles for the PlayStation or the Wii, we have those. I wanted the smaller stuff. I learned this year that Black Friday isn't intended for smaller shoppers. People that don't have a huge list of things to get but rather the small things for great prices. We decided to attempt Toy's r Us at midnight. That would be a first for me. I looked over their add repeatedly the day before debating whether or not it was worth it. Decided about 10:30 that night we would give it a shot. It's midnight and their add isn't that great, it shouldn't be that bad right...WRONG!! We get there at 11:30 and the line was out the door, across the front of the store, down the side of the store back to receiving, along the semi, and past the semi. It was CRAZY!! They finally opened the doors at midnight letting small groups of people in and then re shutting the doors. This process went on for nearly an hour. Our goal was to wait in the car until the line cleared the front of the building. 12:45 am the line was still wrapped around the building and back to the semi. We threw up the white flag and gave up. It was 30* outside and not worth it for the small stuff. We tried again the next day around 7:30 and learned a lesson...everything we wanted was gone. No pj sets at Target. No Scene It game at Toy's r Us or Target. All the sale items were gone.

I've now spent the weekend looking on-line for the Scene It game for a good price but can't find better than $35.

Will I attempt it again next year? Not sure. Guess it will depend on what the kids want and better attack plan!!