zim05

We use to go to Grandma's house with all the relatives but the last couple of years the relatives all do their own things, since my aunts and uncles (dad's side) all lives within 30 miles of each other they tend to see each other alot. So my parents put on TG dinner for our own immidiate family, which is 5 of us children and three exchange students. It is nice not going to relatives' houses so it gives up time to talk BF plans.

My family's Christmas Eve dinner is very easy. After Church (around 6 or so) we put in a Lasagna (from the store that you just take from the freezer and into your oven) and some cheese bread. Well that is baking, usually a hour, we start opening presents or watch a Christmas movie. Very simple and delicious! Christmas Day dinner we go to Grandma's house and have basically a 'Thanksgiving' type dinner with an array of deserts.

I'm in the same situation! We are going for a smaller flat panel TV for my parents bedroom and have no idea what to look for! ANY help would be appreciated!!

My sister was in Target last sunday morning and they just got in a shipment of Wiis. So check that off the list! Also her fiance works at a Target and scored us a Wii Fit so he going to send it on up. We actually needed two (one for my sister and another one for our younger sibs) and my mom was in a smaller town for business and checked out their Shopko for the heck of it and got a Wii Fit. So it pays to keep checking those stores randomly and try stores in smaller towns.

I've been antsy for close to a month now...LOL I promised myself I would limit my time on the boards to about once or twice a day for fear of crashing! Once late October/early November hits and more ads leak these boards are going to get CRAZY and I'm just as excited about that as I am BF!

We snagged two last BF for my younger siblings and we got the DSes at Walmart and at Target we got the bundle (carry case, battery charger/car charger and game) I don't recall if it was a whole lot cheaper but it was a bit less... I would bet that they will be in most of the ads for this years BF (expecially Target, Walmart and maybe Kmart).

My sister and I (we live together) use 'green' bags for groceries and even everyday shopping. There are a heck of a lot more durable than plastic bags which just end up floating around in the ocean and clogging up the environment. For BF this year I think I'm going to buy those 'green' bags that fold small and use them. They will work perfectly for snagging DVDs/CDs and other smaller things when the doors open. That way I don't have to try and look for a basket (which is so bulky and hard to move around) and I don't have to worry about dropping stuff!

I tend to buy more for me on BF LOL!! I go shopping with my mom and sister and usually we shop for our younger siblings and exchange students on BF

I'm a college student so I have off and I work for my parents so its very flexible.

Our Kmart did the tickets for the Wii, TVs and GPS systems, but they handed them out an hour before opening!

I have yet to start and probably wouldn't until BF, the only thing I would get now is the Wii and the Wii Fits if I see them anywhere!

I'm the exact opposite, I'll go out on BF thinking that I'll be able to put a good dent in my shopping lists but end up letting my parents get the stuff for my siblings as part of their lists. So I'm usually always still shopping a week (or sometimes days) before Christmas! BF is basically my sister and I helping our mom get her list done, but the plus to that is a whole heck of a lot of good deals I'm buying for me !!!

BF is the ONLY time of the year that I will go to Walmart and even that is a nightmare sometimes. But its been easier to get Nitendo DSes, Digital Cameras, etc... there, since its a 24hrs store. Plus last year they had a heck of a lot of cheap DVDs!

Since we've started BF we've always done the following: 1. Walmart - It opens b/f Target and its a 24hrs store so you can stand next to the things you want. 2. Target - Walmart and Target are less than a mile apart so we can get to Target a good 40mins b/f they open. - My mom sometimes hits up Herbegers b/f Target opens and is back in time to load up the car or help out inside. 3. Best Buy - We only get DVDs and little things that are either lying around or are being passed out by employees. - While my sis and I are hitting up BB my mom is usually done or heads to Kohls. It may change this year b/c we want a TV (21' or 26') and we are hoping Target has a good deal, we've kinda already ruled out BB b/c I don't want to wait in line on TG morning! So it might go Target, BB, Walmart, but I guess once the ads all come out I'll know for sure!

Our traditons include a lot of the same types of things already noted! On TG, after the dinner, we spread all the ads out (usually have 2 copies of each). My younger siblings look them over to see if there is anything in particular they want and they circle them. We figure out a game plan/timeline and put it to paper, it includes the stores in order and what we need at each store in the order from 'definitely needed' to 'if we see it/if there are any left.' On BF, we all assemble into one or two cars and head off with a Christmas CD in. On the way we share the stories of the BFs in the past and explain to any newbies what they can expect. Once we get to the stores and they open we divide and conquer, everyone has a particular item they are after and if they see anything else we want on the way they grab it. After the grab we meet our mom and the cart in the area previously decided on, figure out what to keep/put back and we pay. After all the stores (which usually are only 3 or 4 - Walmart, Target and Best Buy) we are done around 10am and hit up McDonalds for breakfast. Then go home and stare at our loot and then take a nap. Sometimes I will go to a different (smaller) town next to us that has a Target and Walmart and go through to see if they have anything we missed.

Besides things if I camp out...the things I bring if I'm just waiting around are money (of course, usually credit card/debit card), purse that can go over my shoulder or a backpack type one so my hands are free, of course the ads (which I'm always responsible for) and I think that is about it. This year I'm thinking about taking a tote bag to use instead of trying to find a basket for the little things. I usually grab a crap load of DVDs/CDs and it would be easier to carry in a tote/mesh bag than juggling them and bigger items to the checkout. Plus there not that bulky!

Hits: The biggest hit was the Wii for my sis. Also the Guitar Hero 3 for PS3 w/ the two guitars from Target was a hit for my younger bro. I don't really remember any misses offhand...

We are out on BF around 3am at Walmart (24hr store), then get to Target b/f they open. My mom goes to various other stores after Target but my sis and I hit up Best Buy and usually we are finished by 10am!

I've been BF shopping for about 5 years, since high school. I think the first year my mom, older sis and I were looking at ads on TG and my mom and aunt needed a new tv so we decided to try it out. Before that I didn't know much about BF, but we were hooked ever since!

South central Minnesota!! Our routine has always been Walmart - Target - Best Buy but may change it up this year depending on ads.

The extent of my BF 'camping' expierences was last year at Kmart on TG to get a Wii. I got there at about 3am and was the second person (it was in a pretty small town). I only brought a chair, a bunch of blankets and a book. I just chatted with the woman who was before me and we had a great time! Besides that the only other waiting was done in previous BFs in Walmart (24hrs) and that was only about 2 hrs by the pallets of stuff. This year will probably be different since there are more 'hot' items that we want to try for, so all of this tips and lists are very useful!!

That is horrible!! If anyone threw water ballons here it would turn into ice before it hit anyone!! How long ago was this? Has it happened since?

Walmart is a hit or a miss on BF. A couple years ago at our WM they had to get authorization to accept checks (probably 5yrs ago when most ppl still had them) over $100. Then there are years when everything went relatively smoothly and you were out in 10 min. The one big thing I noticed about BF at WM is the employees don't, for the most part, seem to give a crap and they allow the pushing and shoving and the back-talk. In general once I leave WM and go over to Target my stress level and negative vibe dramatically reduces. Its probably the difference in the WM crowd and the Target crowd - people tend to be nicer and not quite as intense.

True that!! Once BB flier is known and if there is anything that catches my fancy I'll have to brave the bitter cold and line up. But I'm kinda hoping that Target will have something, in my town, Target line doesn't start nearly as earlyas BB. Only time will tell!

You're probably right, I'll just have to do some compare and contrast when all the ads come out and go from there!