Black Friday

Ok, so here it is...the much anticipated blog about how to save a bundle this Friday and get your holiday shopping done! Well, this would be the case if Carson Pirie Scott includes a coupon in their ad like they have in previous years.

First, let me give you some history about myself and this amazing shopping day. When I was 21, and my oldest son was 11 months old, my sister and I got up extra early, and headed out to Kohls to do some Christmas shopping. Talk about a madhouse! We weren't there right when the store opened and being inexperienced Black Friday shoppers we spent more than an hour in line that day. Oh my...did I mention we took my 11 month old with? Thankfully, he was a perfect baby and never cried. In fact, I think he slept most of the day. After Kohls I vaguely remember heading to Walmart so that my sister could get a price adjustment on something she had recently purchased, and I headed to the food court with Adam. I remember having the $1 nachos---I was pregnant at the time with my youngest son. Yup, here I was pregnant carrying around a toddler and not knowing a thing about what I was doing that day! I gave up shopping that day, and vowed to never do it again!

Yeah, right! I did wait a few years though. In fact, it was three years ago that I decided to brave it and go out again. Carsons had the above mentioned coupon in their ad, $10 off an item $10 or more! Well, I have to go! I gathered up my coupon, and a few others (mom's, gram's, etc etc). I made it to Kohls at 4 am, and then headed over to Carsons. I picked out my five items, and spent under $20. I then decided to meet my sister-in-law for breakfast---doh! I should have never stopped shopping--but hindsight is 20/20 right?

The following year, two years ago, I went out shopping alone for the first six hours. This was my first year as a semi-professional Black Friday shopper. I had reviewed the black friday ads online (blackfriday.gottadeal.com), and had purchased a television from Best Buy a few days before Black Friday. Let me make sure everyone got that---I purchased a tv from Best Buy on the Monday BEFORE Black Friday. It was in the ad for Black Friday for only $35, regular $99. Many may ask, why would you go into the store before the tv was on sale? Well, it was so I COULD AVOID STANDING IN LINE ALL DAY ON FRIDAY! Yup, that's right! You can receive a price adjustment on any item you purchase that goes on sale within two weeks (I think)! So, I walked in, walked right up to the customer service counter and received the difference between what I had paid a few days earlier, and what the sale price was that morning! I glanced at the line for the check outs, and it was winding back to the back of the store! Wow! I had just saved hours and lots of $! I then continued on my way, meeting up with my mother (again, a mistake, but live and learn). We shopped until about 9 PM that night. Whew---I totaled up my purchases, and I had saved about $800, while only spending $200! This gave me an idea for next year.

Ok, so last year I decided I was going to be a SERIOUS shopper on Black Friday. I had visted the website, blackfriday.gottadeal.com all fall. I knew the sale ads, and knew what I had to do. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving I went and previewed the sale items at Carsons. I was hoping they would have the $10 off coupon again, and I wanted to be prepared. The coupons states that only one can be used per customer, but they do not stick to that rule. Ok, so I had a list ready, and I was excited!

However, life always seems to never go as planned. While I had been out previewing items, my two sons had been playing real life transformers, and my youngest seemed to have lost. He ran right into the table, and cut himself above his eye. So, we had to spend the evening (and part of the early morning of Thanksgiving) in the ER.

I didn't let this slow me down the next morning though! I was up and ready to go at 6 AM. Let me clarify, that this is now the morning of Thanksgiving, NOT BLACK FRIDAY. The sale ads for Black Friday come out on Thanksgiving. So, I went to every gas station/grocery store/paper stand in a 10 mile radius. I purchased SIXTY newspapers. That meant I had SIXTY $10 coupons! Of course, I purchased one paper first, checked for the coupon, and then continued on purchasing the papers. My car was FULL! But, with sixty coupons I could purchase items on my Christmas list as well as some basic household items for under $1 a piece!

I had arranged for my two sons to spend Thanksgiving night at my mother-in-laws so that I could leave at 3:30 in the morning. And, I did! I was at Kohl's at 4 am, but decided to skip that store. The line was just too long, and I have found that Kohls will have many of the items on sale on Black Friday morning on sale again on Wednesdays or Friday evenings/Saturday mornings. So, there was no need to waste time there. I headed into Carsons with my sixty coupons and began shopping. I purchased dish towels, crystal candy dishes, plates, Kitchen Aid houseware items, Christmas decorations, bath towels, etc. I used all sixty coupons! I totaled up the regular prices with tax, and found that I had over $1000 worth of items! So, how much did I pay? Well, it was $109 with tax! OH MY! What a deal! I had spent 7 hours in the store. While you can use more than one coupon at a time, I only used enough to cover the items I could carry. I would then take them out to the car, and head back into the store.

Also, Carsons put that coupon in their ad on Christmas. It was good for use on the day after Christmas (which happens to be my birthday!). So, if you are able to stop on Christmas and pick up a few newspapers I would highly recommend it!

Another note---while the lines may be excrutiatingly long upstairs or in the main departments, the lines at the Cosmetic counters are not. And, yes, you can take your merchandise there for check-out on Black Friday!

Another tip I have, is to gather the ads for the basic items you find on sale on Black Friday and take them to Wal-Mart, Meijer, etc. and price match. You will find a better stock at those stores and quite possibly a shorter line!