leefamily23

What forum is this thread? I'd like to keep following but I'm using the app and without clicking the link, I can't find it.

We usually would this weekend to have the house decorated for Thanksgiving. However our plans have been set to the side on that, we are living in the middle of 7-8 foot snow drifts and not looking at getting out anytime soon.

Pretty excited by this ad. I think I was in the minority, I've been waiting on this one and Cabelas. Quite pleased.

I'm waiting on Cabelas and Bass Pro. Would like Amazon info too.

Decided to check before work and glad I did. Thank you!!!!

For me it's so dependent. I always try to start in October with my shopping. Unfortunately, I have 2 sets of lists. The "guaranteed" list and the "if I get a good bonus list". Unfortunately we don't know if we'll get a bonus until the 1st week of December and it has been nothing up to $1250.00. I will usually use bf to get me to at least the 50-75% Mark of my "guaranteed" list. The last few years I hit some really good deals in early November online and I'm not finding things this year so I'm a little concerned with how behind I am.

So disappointing. I was hoping for the Buffalo denim to be on sale.

I'm looking for some of the Disney princess lego sets and they don't seem to be any lower than on Amazon.

Last weekend I picked up the $199 HP laptop for ds's girlfriend. It will be good for what she needs it for. I did get both ds and his gf some clothes on clearance last week at Penneys. And I picked up some random items at the Cabelas bargain cave too. Ds's "ask" item won't be on sale anywhere. He wants Underarmour rubber hunting boots and the treestand line base layer. Cabelas sometimes has them $10 off so that will be as good as it gets.

I went last year at 5am. I got most of what I wanted and didn't wait in a single line. Granted, I didn't go seeking any hot doorbusters but I still got some great sale items. I did miss the atmosphere of chatting with other die shards in line sharing stories. However I'm not giving up our Thanksgiving so it is what it is.

I have a milk allergy (the protein-not lactose). I get severe hives break out and general swelling. Anyhow, my mom cooks Thanksgiving dinner and I bring a vegan butter (no milk) and almond/soy milk to use in the varying dishes. As things are cooking my dh helps my mom with dinner every year and he'll pull a serving out of each and use my items (for like the mashed potatoes and such). The rest of my family would pitch a fit if their potatoes and such had these items in it. That being said, my sister does our Christmas dinner and forget it. I barely eat there because she seems to like to cook everything with cheese.

We celebrate Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving with my family. Hubby's family doesn't celebrate. For Christmas though we celebrate on the Saturday before Christmas/Christmas Eve. We started doing this about 15 years ago as trying to get together on the holiday itself felt rushed. Its great because we have all day/evening to visit, play games, eat and relax. I really look forward to it every year.

The new snowboarding pants and jacket I bought for ds. He knows I got him a new snowboard but he thinks that was about it, so he'll be pretty excited.

Well similar situation. I was done but then work provided us with bonuses that were considerably higher than ever before (highest they've actually ever given). So, I am splurging on a few extra things for ds and dh. Not that I'm complaining, it's great we've had such a great year.

I get them for my nieces and nephew every year (used to do it for my son too when he was little). I just get the ones w/ a piece of candy a day. Anyhow, our grocery store has them for $1.99 each. Pretty much the same price I pay every year.

Went to Walmart just before 8am and they had lots of the socks, pajama's, scarves, sheets, towels and Skylander sets left to name a few things. There were still pallets of their deals everywhere we went. We also hit up a few less popular stores in the morning. Around 4pm I went back out with my sister to the mall and was delighted to see the number of stores there still running decent sales. Old Navy (at 5pm-ish) was the craziest place I seen all day w/ their 50% off.

On our 6pm news they showed TRU and there were no lines already (only an hour after opening). They then went to a Walmart live who had just opened and the "crowd" looked to be half of what it usually is. I don't know how well this early Thanksgiving opening time is working out. I think they did better when they opened at 10pm.

At the store at 7:30am, quiet as a mouse there. Able to get everything on the list. I truly think this was one of those times it paid off to actually go there. The level of poor planning was reflected when we commented to the cashier we couldn't believe how quiet it was and she said "she only found out about the sale at the start of her shift that day"

Even being in the Northeast I've tried to skip my heavy winter coat whenever possible. I usually only have to have it for the first store (where we wait outside). It's just too hot inside for it. Plus once we get to the mall, I'd be roasting! We keep the ads in the car and have a master list we take with us. It always had both my and my sisters items so we could split the stores in 2 and meet back in the middle. Never carried cash on BF, but did just have my debit card. I absolutely REFUSE to charge anything for Christmas. Thankfully, I think I have a decent bank though. Through the years (not BF related) I've had a very small handful of "odd" charges and they've always been very good and returning my funds with a claim quickly.

Not a big item but the Sofia the First doll is actually a good price. I picked it up a few weeks ago for $10 more because I had been watching it for awhile and when it hit $29.99 it was the lowest I had seen it yet.

Well there is nothing I must have this year as I've completed most of my shopping online already. Mix that with the fact I am in the camp of not giving up Thanksgiving to shop. So, since my sister and I had always spent the day together, we decided we are going to go out in the afternoon and just shop. Doorbusters will be done by then but we are just keeping up our tradition of spending Black Friday together. Her dd has a softball tournament in the morning so we have to wait until that is done before we can go.

Our budget varies year to year depending on how that year is going. We did make the rule about 10 years ago, nothing gets charged and we don't touch our savings for the holiday so it's all based on the cash at hand. There have been years dh and I didn't exchange and we spent about $300-400 total. Then there are years like this year where bonuses, project work and/or retro paid raises hit at the right time of year and we have been known to spend several grand. I have 3 nieces/nephews, my parents, dh, ds and dh's aunt (she pretty much raised him) to buy for and I think my budget this year will top out around $4000-4500. That being said we got dh's aunt a new snowblower from Lowes for Christmas so that really raised my spending this year. It was just one of those years that lots of things fell just right at the holiday shopping season and thinking back there is only 1 other Christmas that I think we spent that much.

Their giveaway sure beats the snowglobes at Penny's.

This is good.....made me laugh!!!!

I like the idea of having a few gifts and maybe a food gift card shipped to her house. That way she won't even know where it came from but I'm sure it will be a huge relief. it will be her own Christmas miracle.