Gumball

I quit carrying a purse years ago. Last one I had was big enough to get a change of clothes in. That's when It hit me that THAT was too big. Now if I can't get it in my jeans pockets, I don't need it that bad. I have my wallet in one side and keys, cell, and checkbook in the other. Back pockets hold a pack of tissues in one and notepad in the other. In winter I have a men's parka and it has a deep inside pocket that will hold the ads I take in for pricematching. It also has a zippered inside pocket to hold other stuff.

It varies from store to store but most have to be out of there the week before Christmas. Some places have limited space too and have been known to close lay-away to new purchases when they run out of room so keep an eye out. Might not hurt to ask the people working back there how much room they have left so you have an idea about a time frame. Lay-away lines on BF can be long too.

I bought 2 last year at pretty good prices, one was from Radio Shack and the other was from CVS. Can't remember the price right now but both were around $79 or so each.

I'm a single parent so I have to take my daughter with me every year. She's 6 now so getting her into a cart is getting tougher but she's still safer that way. I've told her in previous years that if she sees someone trying to take something out of our cart while I'm getting something else to yell her head off! She makes a great alarm. LOL

Whatever I get, it will have to be cheap. Looking for about a 13" screen at the largest or it'll be too big. No Best Buy or Circuit City close by either. I just had to replace the living room TV.. couldn't wait for BF this time. Got a 27" flatscreen at Walmart for $198. I've seen others at better prices but they were too big to fit the space I have for it.

I think the first time I went might have been 1995 since that's when I got my first computer at Walmart. :)

I just found out I'll need a new small TV for the kitchen so I'll wait until BF to get one. This time I'll try to get one with a DVD player in it. :)

The Meijer here this year has been remodeled and switched around so much I need a map now to figure out where stuff is. I'm dreading to see where they put the BF sales stuff this year. If it all gets put on the right side of the store by the pharmacy it'll be clogged with shoppers worse than it was last year. That's where they are putting the seasonal items and that side at the back of the store is also where the Electronics section is now.

I wish I had a Fry's around here. The nearest one is in Chicago. I went to the one in Houston this past summer and it was HUGE!

Is there a Hobby Lobby BF ad? I don't have a Michaels here now, just Joann Fabrics, Hobby Lobby & Walmart.

CVS here is open every day of the year.

Updated Central Indiana forecast: Thanksgiving Day: partly cloudy. Cooler. Highs in the upper 30s. West winds 5 to 15 mph. Thursday Night: partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Friday: mostly cloudy. Chance of rain. Highs in the mid 40s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent. Friday Night: mostly cloudy. Warmer. Chance of rain. Lows in the lower 40s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent. Saturday: rain likely. Highs in the upper 40s. Chance of rain 70 percent. Saturday Night: mostly cloudy in the evening then becoming partly cloudy. Cooler. Chance of rain. Lows in the mid 30s. Chance of rain 50 percent. Sunday: partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 40s. Sunday Night: partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 30s. No matter how I look at it or which day & time I go out, it's gonna be cold, wet & miserable out there. I'd better find some of the things on my list to make it worth it.

I look at it this way, no matter what store I got to, IF I have some change to spare and IF I have time, I might toss some in the kettle. I don't do it at every store, just one or two places. I had an extra 50 cents last week and let my 5 yr. old drop it in there and the bell ringer was so nice about it he let her ring the bell. :) That just tickled her silly. I really don't care what stores have bell ringers and which don't. If I want to give to the SA, I'll find a way.

I checked with my local TV station (I'm in central Indiana) and here's their forecast for the weekend: Thanksgiving Day:partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 30s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Thursday Night: partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 20s. Friday: mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain. Highs in the lower 40s. Chance of rain 20 percent. Friday Night: mostly cloudy. Warmer. Chance of rain. Lows in the mid 30s. Chance of rain 30 percent. Saturday: mostly cloudy. Chance of rain in the morning then chance of rain or snow in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 40s. Saturday Night: mostly cloudy. Chance of flurries. Lows in the lower 30s.

Meijer first here.. they have a 5" personal DVD player for $88.77 that'll be good enough for my 5 year old to watch. After I also get a couple of the coffeemakers they have for $4.44, I'm heading for Walmart for the Leap Pad at $20.00, then Radio Shack to wait for the Portable DVD Player w/ 7" LCD - $129.99 for me. :)

Meijer for me. I can get all my shopping done there before I go get in line at Walmart. :)

Same here where I am. Closed on Thanksgiving until 6 am Friday.

I heard on the news that it won't be finalized until March of next year.

Any word on Big Lots list?

I have to boycott them, there's no Home Depot here anyway. LOL We've got Menards and Lowes so who needs Home Depot?

Was just there today and had a blast. Bought a WONDERFUL back massager cushion for my chair after trying the demo near the pharmacy. It's a Homedics (sp?) brand and does a shiatsu style massage that you can program to do whatever area you want. On sale for $99.98 I don't know if all of the Meijer stores are doing it, but mine also has a deal where if you buy $100 or more you get a $10 coupon good on your next purchase of $25 or more. The coupons are good thru the 24th.

I had been planning on hitting Walmart & Walgreens first, but after seeing this ad I'm heading straight for Meijer on BF!! Found my coffeemaker on there for less than Walgreens has theirs. And the fact I can get in before 6 means I can get my stuff and be out of there early enough I can still go to the other places. LOL

I fixed it to call my house at 4am with Ice-T and call my cell at 4:30am with Cheech. I'll be sitting in the car in front of Meijer by then but it'll still be fun to get the calls. LOL

It used to be that just about everybody had some kind of giveaway item to hand out on BF. Now the few places that actually give out something are getting scarce anymore. Does anybody know if Big Lots will have anything like that this year?

Me too. The Meijer & Menards stores here are right across from each other. Can't wait to see Menards ad when it comes out.