Beech Tree News Network

The Christmas shopping season is about to begin. Over the next few weeks, many of us will examine our Christmas lists while watching for deals to help us stay within budget. Christmas shopping is a joy, but it can also be a big job.

Over the past few years, Black Friday has been one way to save money. The sales brought people out to shop – in droves. Recently, Matt Granite, a consumer news reporter for TV, web and USA Today, stated that “the days of camping out and lining up” for Black Friday are over (http://www.wwltv.com/story/life/shopping/2015/11/04/10-huge-black-friday...). Granite also predicted that:
•    Many stores will offer identical items on their websites.
•    Apple will likely have their best in-store and online deals on Black Friday.
•    Black Friday remains the best day to buy a TV.
•    Cyber Monday will have better overall reductions, but not necessarily on some items.

For the last couple of years, I’ve heard comments about Black Friday shopping interrupting Thanksgiving. I wondered how people feel about shopping Black Friday and/or Cyber Monday sales; so, I asked friends and family whether they plan to do any shopping on these days. Their responses are below:
•    I plan on watching grandkids while the girls shop this year.
•    No, I will order from Amazon sometime between now and about the 18th of December. No hurry.
•    I will be working on Black Friday. Cyber Monday is a possibility.
•    Nope. Too hectic.
•    I will shop online. I will NOT go out on Black Friday.
•    Nope! I’ve never been Black Friday shopping. November/December are the months I have to save up for rent since financial aid runs out about mid-November.
•    Yes. I like Cyber Monday better!
•    Well, I don’t, but they (wife and daughter) probably will.
•    I will probably shop on Black Friday or sometime that weekend, but not Cyber Monday.
•    I refuse to fight the crowds. If I do any shopping, it will be online.
•    Not sure at this point. I’m probably more likely to shop online – just seems easier. I should go ahead and do it now; I just don’t know what they want/need.
•    I plan on shopping both Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
•    No, there will be time enough for that.
•    Nope. Stuff is cheaper later, and there are good deals now.
•    Probably. Just because I enjoy the time to shop in the middle of the night when daughter and husband are asleep and don’t need or miss me.
•    No, I don’t plan to shop then.
•    I plan to shop online on Black Friday. Sleeping in this year!
•    I don’t want to, but I think Mom’s going to make me.
•    Maybe cyber shopping, but no Black Friday for me! I’ll be sleeping and doing homework. I’ll also be eating lots of leftover turkey! I don’t like the crowds, and people are really rude sometimes; so, I opt to stay home.
•    Cyber Monday, but not Black Friday … too many crazies.

Humorously, someone said, “Black Friday:  … only in America, people trample each other for sales exactly one day after being thankful for what they already have” (https://www.pinterest.com/explore/funny-shopping-quotes/).  I plan to begin shopping this week and finish in mid-December. Since I like the convenience of online shopping, Cyber Monday might be my big shopping day. Meantime, I’m making my list.