len_mullen

I start with a gift list -- who I am shopping for and what I plan to spend. I create a list of gift ideas (I'm doing that now) and read reviews to figure out what models are suitable. Then I scour the deal sites for best ever and best recent prices for those items and set up watches for each. When a good price pops up, I buy. I am happy to price match, return/rebuy, or whatever other games the retailers play. Finally, as the holiday approaches (and once it passes), I shop for bargains not on my list. My oldest has a birthday in February, so extra gifts tend to go to him.

For me, it has always been Staples. I have never been interested in camping out. Where I live you could pull up just before opening and walk into Staples without missing out on the door busters. It's a little more competitive these days and the door busters are not as good, but I still have fond memories of waiting in line with the same people year after year.

So, I'm in the middle of the state of Maine in a place called Ebeemee Township with a drummer, an engineer, and two retired teachers. We start talking about computers and I amaze them with tales of a Raspberry PI. Now, I have to buy these for all... https://www.amazon.com/Vilros-Raspberry-Clear-Power-Supply/dp/B01D92SSX6/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1508207394&sr=1-1&keywords=raspberry+pi

Every year, I grab a couple gifts for both kids which are relatively inexpensive but have great potential for fun. Last year, I must have been tired because none were hits. The virtual reality headsets top my list of misses.

We have been dabbling in home automation since the 90s (anyone remember x10 vouchers?) and have found it to be mostly gimmick. I remember using X10 to 'manage' energy usage in areas of my home where lights were left on and I think I toned my arms a bit keeping those motion detectors happy. We also had a programmable thermostat before smartphones. Unfortunately, our family did not have patterns of presence that could be easily detected or anticipated. In the end, I turned the thermostat down before I went to bed and turned it up when I got up in the morning. We also automated a coffee pot which we often forgot to fill with coffee and water. The most success I ever had was to program a remote in my bedroom to control lights and the television. That, in fact, was the reason I initially invested in x10. We had lights in our bedroom which were controlled by a switch at the door but were easily turned off from the bed. Unfortunately, once you turned them off at the bed, the switch at the door did nothing. The remote also dimmed the lights...which was fun...for a while...for me. In the end, a Clapper probably would have solved the problem for less. These days, a couple strategically placed low power LEDs light the once automated paths. I manage to find the lights (and most other things) on my bed in the dark. We do have Alexa devices scattered throughout the house but that is just to help me maintain my shopping list, figure out how many tablespoons of juice in in a lime, or know when dinner is done. I do like the drop in feature (we have three shows). I have not decided whether to install garage door openers and have only used the remote starter on my car once (to see if it works -- it does). I have never used the remote for my air conditioner. I do appreciate being able to program my TiVos remotely. But I will follow here hoping to find motivation in your hopes and aspirations for automation. Good luck!

Be sure to post those manufacturer discounts on this thread!

We DO live in New Hampshire, so it helps.

60x1080p, 50x720p, 43x720p, and 42x720p plasma TVs exercise my electric meter. Worth every penny!

1. You get a TV! You get a TV! Everyone gets a TV! 2. You may kiss the bride. 3. I'll take two.

Same here. When I was young -- before the day after Thanksgiving was called Black Friday -- I worked in a department store for a short time. One of the managers put together a crew to get ready for Friday -- which was even back then an important shopping day. They paid us double time to work on a holiday, bought us breakfast in the wee hours of the morning, and gave us the Friday off. He also turned the lights on and left the doors unlocked. All the upcoming sales were active. And people came in. So, I guess Zayre's Department Store in Seabrook New Hampshire was probably the first store to open on Thanksgiving. I was pretty happy to have the bump in my paycheck. They probably never placed orders for Christmas.

I don't go out on Thanksgiving, though I have stopped by Walmart on my way home from dinner at the in-laws. I also do not wait overnight in lines. BUT, this creates a great opportunity for those who do to wait on two nights -- Thursday for BB or Wallmart then Friday for something special at a second tier store. Hope the weather is nice for these die hards. Also, condolences to those who will be losing money over the closings. It's tough to lose one or two days pay during the holidays.

60" tv in the bedroom and a Deere in the barn. You are LIVING LARGE, my friend!

In for two and PLAN to win a third. Otherwise, you will see me in the shirt in my avatar on BF.

You can real all about it here. Among other things, ATSC 3.0 promises... 4kImmersive audioEnhanced linear TV, plus on-demand supportSubscription and pay-per-view (PPV) supportConditional access and digital rights management (DRM) capabilitiesMobile and fixed device, plus companion device supportHybrid delivery (broadcast and broadband), combined with pushed contentMostly ATSC 3.0 brings pay tv and targeted ads to broadcast television. When I said as important as 3D tv, I meant unimportant. Bottom line is that it's something you do not need to worry about because if it arrives and if you want it, it will probably be streamed from a router (think Tablou TV) to a set top box (Roku).

LG WM3270CW Washer and DLE3170W Dryer < $1000 @ Best Buy!

Keep an eye on Toys'R'Us. They have filed for bankruptcy and will likely be liquidating their inventory this holiday season!

It depends. First, you need to work out the minimum specs required for your work and make sure you get something that reasonably exceeds those specs. If you will be doing this coding in an office (home or at work), you probably want to ignore weight and battery life and focus on screen size and performance. If you are a road warrior, you might want to focus on battery life and ease of working off your lap (i.e., no Surface).

No electronics at the table. It's a RULE. Now you know why.

BF is just another sale to me. I actually enjoy this part more than the actual shopping. I start by compiling a list of people I need to buy for. I assign a spend limit to each. Then I brainstorm gift ideas and add them to my list (spreadsheet). For each gift idea, I research good brands and best past prices for each. Then I set up alerts on all the deal sites. Once I get within the return/rebuy period, I start buying. If a better deal comes along, I negotiate a price adjustment or return and re-buy.

My two sons, my mother and father in-law, two brothers-in-law, and one of the BIL's SO.

Your homeowners insurance policy may cover the lost food.

Harbor Freight 10/15

I'll be shopping for a washer and an electric dryer on BF. I have been slow to act on this need because I have read nothing good about the current crop. Reviews talk about exploding Samsung washers, failed transmissions in front loaders, and rusting drums after only a few years. Besides looking for good prices, I will watch this forum for recommendations from people who LOVE their washer. Thank you!

Tons of potential for this discussion to drift off topic. Should be fun. I just bought a 55" 4k HDR television. I mostly bought it because it was an inexpensive Roku TV and I needed a set for a place I cannot get to with coax or ethernet. I think it looks pretty good. $400 well spent. - There is a lot of 4k programming available and it is featured prominently on this Roku TV. Mostly, though, it isn't worth watching. - Future-proofing is not possible at this time. - ATSC 3.0 will be almost as important as 3D tv in the home.

Just got a 'we want you back' from Verizon. Hoping a couple months more absence makes their offer grow fonder.