MariahA

I've done some shopping so far. Our WM clearanced off a bunch of the My Life As... Sets and all my nieces love those, $30 playset for $13. And they clearanced off tons of the Marvel Avengers action figures for half off so my nephew is set for bday and Christmas. Best buy of all though was at Kmart's store closing sale. $300 necklace for $35, and i got $15 in points for buying it so it was like spending 20! Trying to wait on the rest for BF, if I can go. DH doesn't like the thought of me going out 6months pregnant!

I've been driving my DH nuts already. I've actually had free time (unusual) and been reading thru the BF archives. Making my list and figuring out a budget. So many people to buy for and we're building a house so I'm going to be looking at furniture and house accessories this year, will be fun! And a 32 inch TV because we only have a 19inch. I can barely see that little screen from five feet away. Must get serious about saving money or I won't be able to get my house stuff and do Christmas presents the way I'd like to . We usually have our TG dinner the weekend before for the sake of all our sanities, which leaves me, my mom and sister free to go shop till we drop! (And then I get to go chase a classroom of 2 year olds on 2 hours sleep and a pot of coffee!) Have to love BF! Only 148 days to go!

I know, and figure they were already gone at 4. If I had been needing it I would have been there at 12 or 1 to be in line, but my mom won't hear of being at a store more then an hour and a half early. Our store usually tells you if you're in line for something and there isn't enough for you to have 1; started that after someone got a little huffy with the employees guarding an item a few years ago.

We got there at 5pm, and did not get it. That was as early as she would get there. They gave out the wristbands starting at 4pm, so now we know, 2 hours prior to start time. That's company policy according to the employees in charge of wristbands. We got her in line for the 1 hour guarantee touchscreen so I get to set that up for her at some point this week. She got one of the last ones in store. Thanks to everyone who discussed this and for the advice!

I started at 7 AM on Thanksgiving at Dollar General. Stocked up on the dollar soups, got some of the toys B1G175% Off for stocking stuffers, Christmas lights for $1, 50% Off Candles, and Play-Doh to finish off my eldest nephews present. Went to my mother's house to watch the parade and go thru the ads (newspaper was huge!). We went out at 5 and got to WM by 5:20, we actually got to park in the parking lot which hasn't happened in at least 5 years. Went in, the 199 HP Laptop was already gone, they did wristbands starting at 4pm and only had 8 in stock. Mom got in line for the 1 hour guarantee laptop, and she got the actual computer. While she was waiting in line for that I got; 4 pairs of Wrangler Jeans (3 for DH, 1 for my Dad) 3 of the 6.50 Realtree/Mossy Oak Thermals 1 Fleece Wrangler Shirt 1 pack of the Men's socks for $4 that are usually gone is seconds, they didn't even put them out, they were in their usual spot but rang up for the right price. 1 8pk of boxer briefs, had to argue with clerk over those, rang up full price and had been all night apparently. Showed her the ad and got it fixed but several things didn't ring up right. 2 yoga sets, one for me and one for my mother who was still waiting in line. 1 infinity scarf, only impulse buy of the night! 1 7pk Ladies crew socks in pretty patterns 8.76 Board Game- Life 2 sets of the $10 wooden blocks, one for angel tree gift 2 Fire Chests, 1 for us and one wedding gift 2 towels for 1.60 1 set of hand towels 1 sheet set 1 copy of BBT Season 8, last one in the movie area, and found it after 8pm when I finally went to the movie line that was still all the way to the front of the store. 1.96 DVDS- Night at the Museum 1 and 2, a Nature program, Imagine With Barney, Space Jam, and a few others 3.96 DVDS- Night at the Museum 3, Dolphin Tale 2- times 2 (1 for me 1 for my niece) 9.96 Blue-Ray- Paddington Gift Set (would have PM Target for $4 for just the DVD but liked the bear) Went to Walgreens about 9:40ish and picked up the 2/$1 Bobby pins, 2/$1 CarMax and bought 2 Marvel Action Figures for Angel Tree. They were 9.99 so I thought they would be 50% off, but nope, they have a section that is excluded from that sale and it is NOT posted. If I'd known that I would've did Dollar General and gotten 75% off the 2nd toy. Irritating but got angle tree girts done. On Friday I had to be at work at 7 so I didn't go out overnight, because chasing 5 2 year olds is not fun on no sleep. Went out when I got off at noon, Kmart's lines were ridiculous and since my Mom had already bought the 8.99 pillow/throw set for our family gift swap I couldn't do that. Went to Bass Pro after that, everything I went for was sold out and had been since Thursday at opening. On Saturday I went to a local supermarket that was doing 20% off all meat and cheese, not your usual weekend after TG sale but it made my grocery budget happy. Went to Dollar General again after that and grabbed another Marvel Action figure for my five year old nephew and a Frozen Tea Set for 2.50 that is usually 10. That will be going in Toys for Tots box at work. A very good year and I got most of what I wanted and needed. My husband wasn't so lucky though. He went to Academy for a handgun and got there 15 min. to opening. He did NOT get it since the line was all the way to the Sam's next door in a different strip mall. He said next year he'll listen to his wife and go earlier, if he goes at all. It all went smoothly and there were no fights in my area, and that includes the 3rd biggest city in our state.

You can click "Shop now" on some of the movies in the WM ad, but only the more expensive ones, not the 1.96 or 3.96 DVDS though; which drives me nuts, that's mainly what I get movie wise. Will be getting NCIS at WM for sure, favorite show and my DH will actually watch it with me. And Aladdin, as long as it really is the combo pack with a DVD inside for 9.96.

It's supposed to pour in my area but it makes me happy honestly; less browsers go out when it's pouring and I love rain! Going to be in the 40's to 50's from TG through Saturday when I'm finishing up my shopping.

My mother wants to try for the $199 HP Laptop this year. Our store has used wristbands the last several years but I was wondering, how early do people usually have to get to the store to get a wristband/the laptop? We don't usually go for the bigger items, so if anyone has an idea on timeframe for getting in line and getting the computer I'd appreciate it! The ad says there will be a minimum of 6 per store and ours usually has more than the minimum but not by much. Thanks!

Probably the worst BF memory for me was last year. My sister's oldest daughter asked to come with us (she was 8) and since our WM is usually pretty calm we let her come. In the initial chaos at 6pm when all the toy pallets got opened she got separated from her mom. She was a pallet away but couldn't get over to her mom. My sister almost had to fight her way back to her, and then my niece got sick all over the floor of WM. My mom camped out on an aisle in home-goods with her and the 6 dollar storybooks while my sister checked out. She was not a happy little girl; she's not going again for a few years. The earlier opening times are making it crazier. Best was the years when we got up at 2am to be at the store at 4. The same niece came with us because my sister had to work. She slept in the cart on the pile of coats and one of us waited in lines with her or parked ourselves in an empty aisle and everyone came to the cart when they couldn't carry anymore. It was fun getting out with all the girls in our family. I miss that, it's just 2 or 3 of us now.

We had dinner at three, and would have been at Walmart with time to spare, aside from the fact my mom (and favorite BF shopping buddy) decided she wanted to at least get the part of the dishes done before we left. I was not happy with her, she dropped me off at the door at five minutes until six while she went to go park at the bank across the street. I dashed in and asked an employee where the movies were (cannot trust the map at this WM most years) and they told me the LINE was in produce, with the movies at the back of the store in the deli. First year they ever did this, I was in that line for 45 minutes before I saw a single movie. Still got all the movies I was after though, so that was the only pus side to the line. t wasn't the usual free-for-all. I kind of like the free for all though, was fun. While I was in line my mom had ended up with the bulky stuff for most of our family members who were shopping while someone found her a cart for it, and my nine year old niece who hasn't been shopping with us on BF/Thanksgiving since she was two (she slept in the cart with our coats as a mattress, with her bear under her arm and her blankie.) She had a panic attack/go sick about 15 minutes into the sale. Her mom offered to take her home, but she told her mommy she was okay to stay if she could stay with her Nana away from all the people. So my sister went and got every single thing on her list- in under 45 minutes, and it was a big list, and then left. While we were coming home from WM and Walgreens, my mom's car started to shut down, one system at a time. It totally died in a dark parking lot on the edge of our county's largest town where we shop at. We had to call my anti-Thanksgiving Day shopping dad and fiancé to come get us, at 11pm. They were not happy. We got the car home, by midnight. I got most of my list though- DG (At nine in the morning) Fountain Speaker $10 50% of Christmas lights 2 for $3 GE light bulbs for my fiancé who keeps getting them for $4 a box at the expensive grocery store0 WM at 6 1.96 movies- Dolphin Tale, Rio 3.96 Movies- McKenna Shoots for the Stars, 12 Years a Slave, and various ABC Romantic Christmas Comedies 7.98 Movie- Despicable Me 2 9.98 TV Shows- Last 2 copies in the store of BBT season 7! $3 Gloves BHG Waxwarmer set 2 of the $6 story books Taste of home cookbook Ladies 3 piece sleep set Ladies Mossy Oak Hoodie Men's Mossy Oak Thermals 100 tealights for $3 Bathmats (2, red) Electric griddle Monopoly 2- 2packs of Ladies Fleece-lined tights 6 packs on the thick yarn. and a few other odds and ends, Walgreens B1G2 Wrapping Paper B1G2 Jar Candles 9.99 memory foam pillows that were on sale anyway, not BF- but better then the ones WM had and I never saw aside from in other people's carts. Spent more then I intended but that usually happens. I have to work till 6:30 tonight or I'd have been at Bass Pro and K-Mart today. Had fun, one of our craziest BF's yet!

1. It depends on the ads, still waiting on the Walmart ad, but probably under $300 for the whole week. Small budget and I've been buying already. 2. I usually stick to WM, Dollar General, and Walgreens; but DG and Walgreens didn't excite me this year. But my mother wants to try going to Kmart, so probably 2 stores. Walmart and Kmart. 3. I will not be shopping online during Thanksgiving week, so same as last year.

1. I think Walmart will have the best ad because of the variety of items available. 2. I will be shopping Thanksgiving Morning at Dollar General, head home to cook dinner with my mom and sisters, then we will be headed to Walmart. On Black Friday I either have to open or close at the daycare I work at; so I can't plan that until I get my schedule! 3. I think Walmart will start their sales on Thanksgiving at 5pm, though I hope they will at least stick to 6pm. 1st post on Gottadeal, I've been around but never signed up before. Yah!