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Since most of my items were not available online, I went last night. For about 6 hours total (which, since I drive almost 30 minutes just to the closest store, not bad). Walmart was first. Hit there around 5:30, just to be safe. I needed a bike, Legos (they only had 4 of the Duplo, which was what I wanted) and Hot Wheels. I stationed one of my twins (20 years old) at the Legos which was by the hot wheels also. I stayed at bikes and the other twin was at her Roku. By 6:05, all three of us had what we needed and I stayed in the center by the PJs while they made their way to me (I had a cart for all the big stuff). They grabbed other stuff as they made their way to me, I then went to grab underwear for the little one and sleepers and more PJs. Checked out with all my goodies except for one movie they couldn't find. Was in the car headed to stop #2 by 6:40. Then Target for clothes and a few other movies. Out of there by 8-ish (its a 15 minute drive from Walmart). Michaels was a bust, I wanted Star Wars shirts, but they only had youth left. Boscovs at the Mall to get a few items, including better Star Wars shirts for a few bucks more. Looked for a few minutes. Left by 10. Headed BACK to Target to grab a few more pants (twin #2 decided she wanted them there after seeing a few stores in the mall). And then home by 11. Walmart was great (not just great for Walmart either). Though somewhere in the store I heard a fight break out, but I didn't see anything. The TVs were a mess I heard but all in all, I was in and out and so were a lot of people. Target had TONS of stuff still and a huge line both times. Boscovs was great as always. My largest disappointment in how they did was Target. The 40% off was great for me, but they had pallets of stuff and their registers kept messing up. I counted at least 4 managers who had to run everywhere to reboot registers. They had to have several empty for back-ups because they'd have to shut it down and move everyone over to a different register. And I finished all my shopping except for hubby (who I never know what to get) and my dad (who I still don't know what to get!).

I've never camped out. The closest is being at a store a few hours before they opened - sometimes out of desire to get an item, sometimes because of timing. I rememeber when stores would stagger their opening times - I loved it. I could hit almost every single store I wanted and be one of the first few in line. I really thought that was the best plan because I used to see the same people at every store. Now people have to choose where to go. I talk to people in line and they all say the same, "Well, since I wanted A,B, and C, I came here. I won't have time to go to store Z so, I'll just pay a few dollars more here and get it." Now, I'm not in retail, but I'd think if a person came to my store for one thing on BF, chances are they'd grab a few more items, so I'd want to do anything I could to get them there - even if it meant opening later than the other stores by an hour or so. Let them go to store Z and then come to store X when they finish.

Between stores leaking their own ads early, pre-BF sales that are often lower than BF sales, and basically a whole new crowd of BF shoppers, I think BF has changed completely. Problem is, I don't think the stores are changing to go with it. I've said for years if you aren't into tech gifts or you don't have a little one that is into fads, there isn't much selection. Last year was one of the first years I honestly considered skipping. I ended up going but only for a short time to a few stores. This year, I just don't know. Most of my gifts are going to be clothes (teen and young 20s girls to buy for), which those sales just aren't great anymore on BF. I need a kids bike. I might hit the store I choose if I can't snag it online and be done. Once upon a time, I could snag all my gifts (or almost) on BF and after dropping several hundred in one day be done. Now, I spend about the same, but I'm buying every week online at places with Pre-BF and post-BF sales - that I know about early because the stores themselves are leaking the info.

Am I not seeing the B1G2 toys or do they not have them? I always get some small toys and toys for donating from there.

It seems more than ever that the ads are focused on technology. And if you aren't up for technology, there isn't much so far.

I purchase 4 - 8 every year because: One in college - they disappear there like crazy. Two teens at home because somehow there are always 5 - 10 in their bathroom every time I search for towels. A mechanic as a hubby who often thought he was clean and wasn't. And a four year old who cleans up his messes by grabbing a towel - which is great because he's cleaning it up, but they get stained really quickly. So, in order to keep my family of 6 well supplied with towels, yeah, I stock up every year. LOL

GameStop was just leaked, which is EARLY according to the dates. So... here's hoping there are more soon!

Last night, I took my hubs to look for Christmas ideas for our two youngest. We picked up a few things. Then we went to Boscov's and I found a sweater I loved. I couldn't find it, so I asked an associate. When I found it, I also found several more I loved... ended up buying 5 sweaters - one for a present, one for me now and three for me for Christmas from my hubby. LOL They were gorgeous and a great deal, so I had to scoop them up.

I never print the ads, but I save them on my computer. I have a file every year named BF and then the year. In that file, I have a document (started as a document and now its a spreadsheet). I have a few different things that I document: store hours, items I want to get, items that are *must have*, hours of stores, notes, etc. I also note other sales (Sears Friends and Family or coupons I have that expire before BF). Then a column that I fill in after I look through all the ads to determine what order I hit the stores. When this is all finished, the week of Thanksgiving, I print it out and have lists per store. I go through the physical ads when I have them and number the items as well (in case I can't be in two places at once). All of this goes into a bag with a notepad (usually a composition book). In there, is an envelope with all my coupons and gift cards. That bag also holds all the actual ads when I get them. This way I have them all with me (or at least in the car) if I have a problem with something. When I have ads, I flag my must have items or items I might have questions so that I can quickly get to them. My process is totally streamlined and allows me to know exactly what I need, get in and get out and to the next store. My BF partner tries to keep up with my organization, but hasn't been able to just yet.

Worst gift I received was Aqua Globes. My BF partner saw me grab some one year because I wanted to try them out. She thought she would help me out and buy me two more boxes as my Christmas gift. It was a bit bizarre. Worst gift I gave was some little robot toy thing that I didn't understand, but the staff said was a hot gift... turns out it needed to be played with other robot thingies also. I totally forget what they were called, this was some years ago. Best gift I gave? Teenage girls + handbags & wallets on clearance + 70% off at Boscov's. I bought them each several and spent under $20 for each of them. They loved them. Best gift I received was a HUGE box of Whitman's chocolates. It was GIANT.

My two cents is towels from Target. I like these much better than Walmart and not much price difference usually. I stock up every year.

I've been alone, with one friend, with mutiple people. I prefer it alone or with like-minded people. My BF partner and I have been shopping together almose 10 years now. We're pretty good at planning together. We divide and conquer. I need sheet sets and cameras? She needs video games and towels? Okay, no problem. We head to our respective big tickets and must haves and grab what we know the other wants or what we think they might want. She share lists, take pictures and send messages via phone. Having an "underling" aka adult child that has no money but wants to go for the fun is great to have as a runner or line holder. I'll hold the line and send them for little stuff. Or have them hold the line while I go grab something. If you have a system, I think a buddy is the way to go. I rarely get held up long enough for it to be a big deal and the advantages outweigh the down sides.

A couple of years back we were waiting in line at Kmart. It was bitterly cold and we had a long time to go. My partner decided to grab her weather-proof blanket and made herself into a sitting burrito. I was standing to stretch my legs, when all of a sudden I saw a mouse. It ran right behind the line. People were screaming and running... and my poor partner (who did laugh about it later) was attempting to unroll at the same time as scoot on her butt out from the line and mouse. The mouse was so scared from all the chaos, it ran right under my friend's legs and then into the propane cage. I couldn't even tell my friend it was NOT in her blanket (which she thought) because I was laughing at the entire scene unfold.

I have used a Christmas planner for years. Started as a Binder, grew to a BIGGER binder, then I downsized to a composition book. This year I am attempting to just use a spreadsheet. I'm on the computer more than anything and it will do all the budgetting for me. And then I'll just use an envelope and small notebook for lists to take to stores and to store receipts.

I rarely actually see rude shoppers, but a lot of newbies that just don't get it. Especially now that the times are on Thanksgiving night. Last year I saw at least a dozen babies - as in still in the little car seat type babies. That is ridiculous to me. I have witnessed fights, but I just go about my business and walk away. There are a few stores I avoid or hit later simply because of this. I live near 2 Walmarts and I always go to one and avoid the other because of this reason.

I normally don't buy much for myself, but I buy a ton for the house. New towels, new pans, appliances. Hubs bought something the other day and I said, "It couldn't wait till Black Friday?" Typically for myself, it might be a shirt/sweater, jeans or PJs.

I have a lot of great BF memories. One of our family favorites was a few years ago when I first started taking my twins (18 then). We were waiting at store (back when they opened at different times in the middle of the night) and everyone had silently agree to stay in their cars where it was nice and warm. It was probably 2 hours till opening time and well below freezing. I'm in the driver seat, trying to catch a cat nap, my daughter is in shotgun. An obvious newbie pulls up next to us. And breaks code and gets out of the car. My daughter sits up right and as she is fumbling for words says, "Stupid lady almost made me cuss in front of my mama!" Worst BF: we got stuck in an endless line at a TRU (literally in line over an hour) when they were having lots of technical difficulties with their registers. Missed so many openings and so many other great deals, but we each had some MUST have items that we knew would be gone if we left. That one or when a fight broke out the first year I took my daughters. There was a fight and it turned pretty big before it got settled. My daughter was on one side of the fight and very close to it. My friend had to literally hold onto me to keep me from climbing through it to get to her. She was 18, but it was still too much for my mama bear side.

Every year I hope that I will start seeing major ads in early October or even (gasp) late September. *sigh* and here it is November now and I'm bracing at the bit once again. It helps to see when the ads were truly released, because in my mind I'm positive I've been sorting through ads by this time in prior years.

I too get anxious. And nervous. And then all of that turns into excitement and energy. I think all the good BF shoppers get it a little bit! The nerves had mostly died down, but with the new opening times and stores here change their rules every stinking year, the nerves are back. I never know what is what and if I can find it, let alone get it.

In years past it was Kmart (Thanksgiving day and usually BF), Target and Walmart (these are always my first, but which one depended on what I wanted to get). However, last summer they closed my Kmart, so it's no more Kmart for me. We typically hit the same ones, but these are all the first ones and each and every year.

My very first experience was going with mom and a friend when I was young (early 80s maybe). She hated it, I hated it. She tried a few times as I got older and she hated it every time. 95 and 96 I tried again, too inexperienced and ended up frazzled, but I got a thirst for it! 1999 I finally got a game plan and I've been hooked every since. Twice I haven't went: child very ill and on vacation. Other than that, I've been every year since.

Our traditions went out the window with the new start times too. Once upon a time, we headed out around 2 - 4 AM (depending on what, where and when). Shopped, dropped items, shopped the later openings, had breakfast somewhere in that time frame. Came home had leftovers and then a huge wrapping party. We always try to do most of the shopping in groups because stores here can be spread out almost 30 minutes or more. (Rural America is great any other time, but on BF it is a pain.) However, with the new start times, it just isn't the same. We're coming home when we would have been starting out and I just can't get into it like years past.

The last two years, I finished my shopping on BF. I had about 50% or more completed by then and finished up except for some smaller items here and there. This year, if I don't get moving, I'm going to be way behind my schedule. I have purchased exactly 2 items! I'm just lost as to what to buy too many people on my list though.

I mostly use cash in order to stay on budget. Hubs is the money man (he knows how much we have to the penny almost 100% of the time!) and we discuss in depth what I want, what I need and what I'd like to get. If I am buying something that costs a lot, I'll use the debit card for it and then cash for everything else. If I go over by more than $50 or so, I'll text him and say, "So, there was this great deal..." and he responds with "And how much did this great deal cost me?" Typically, due to BF sales and other sales, I'm well UNDER budget overall, so it all works out in the end.

Dover, Delaware Actually, it consists of a few suburbs of Dover too because the stores are so spread out.