fluffkin79

I've never tried it before, but this year I plan to bring along a reusable shopping bag. My Walmart bag has a pretty long strap that will fit nicely over my shoulder. Since I am going mostly for movies, games and other small things this seems to be the way to go. My only concern is security - they won't have a problem with us carrying items in a open-top bag, right? I think I may need a cart at WM - I might be picking up a bicycle. I'll just have to see how it goes and how crowed it is. I plan on showing up at an off time, so hopefully it won't be too bad. I got to WM around 8:00 last year and had no problems at all. I Strolled the store with my cart and there were cashiers waiting at the end of their registers for customers to check out.

Cleveland area. Anyone with experience have advise? I plan on visiting Walmart, Target, JCPenny, and a few minor stores. I'm considering going to Strongsville but could go to Parma, Great Northern area, or maybe Macedonia instead if they are better areas to shop in.

Thanks for all the great ideas! I am looking for classics and some newer ones. I was definatly leaning toward Hallmark or (some) Lifetime movies. You really got my mind going in the right direction. I bet there will be some good ones for her in bins at Walmart and Target. If not, Amazon here I come!

I plan on giving my 85-year-old grandmother-in-law a DVD player for Christmas. I'd like to give her some movies to go along with it, but don't know what to look for. Cheaper is better - I'd rather give a few from the under $5 bin than just one newer release. I'll include a kid's movie or 2 for her to share with the grandkids, but I need some ideas of movies she might enjoy. She's no stick-in-the-mud, but not exactly trendy either. I don't think she would appreciate anything with excessive intimacy, drug or alcohol use or other vises. She does like reading mystery stories and loves watching Judge Judy. She did tell me about a movie she enjoyed, but doesn't remember the title. It is about a child and mother who move in with grandma. The mother has diabetes and (I think) gets ill/possibly passes away. I did a search and the only thing I could find was Steel Magnolias, but I think this movie is a bit more recent. Any ideas would be appriciated. TIA.

About those 20" bikes - are hot, fly out the store items? Is there a descent chance of getting one if I'm not there right away? Does anyone have any first hand reviews with this brand? And do they come assembled? Are there similar or better deals usually offered in the springtime?

It's comments like this one that are making me rethink going to WM. If the response on here is any indication (and it usually is!) then WM is going to be packed! For those that have been to WM at opening: do you think that we will be able to choose our $2-9 movies and $7-10 video games before midnight and just wait till 12:00 to check out (for 24 hour stores)? Or will they keep them hidden till 12:00 and toss them to the wolves when the clock strikes midnight? I'd be there at 11:00 if we can shop early, otherwise I won't go till 2-3 am and take my chances that there will be something left. Since so few titles are listed, people are going to have to look through everything instead of getting what they came for and getting out of the way. I don't want to be a part of that madness if they pull it out at the stroke of 12.

This is a half-dead deal. I think some of the bikes might be on sale, but the 25% off coupon was for 11/13 only. Just curious on what I missed - did anyone notice the price (after coupon) on any 20-inch girls bikes? I'm in the market and trying to get some idea of what retailers will offer.

I'm not going to try to evaluate the ads overall or compare them to last year. I didn't really look at the high-end electronics, appliances, tools, or other pricier offerings. I am a parent with 3 young kids and have a very small budget this year. From my point of view the ads that I have seen are doing just fine. I will be picking up some of the traditional BF offerings like slippers, small appliances, jackets, kids clothes, and cheap movies. I am counting on Target to impress me with the wide selection of movies that AREN'T shown in the ad as they have had a good selection in the past few years- much of which was a surprise at the store. I wish that some of this year's hot toys were being offered. I was hoping to find Go-Go My Walkin' Pup and Zoobles playsets discounted, but no luck. Right now they are just above my price range so we will have to pass. Maybe Kmart or Walmart will come through for us. Otherwise I will just be patient and pick them up when the go on clearance. Luckily, my kids aren't too picky and will be content getting 2 "warm" toys instead of 1 "hot" one. Drug stores will be getting my business on Thankgiving Day (and maybe Kmart). Nothing terribly exciting, but some good "freebies" if you can handle the coupon/free after store coupon confusion. I have some love for Michael's too, since they let you make your own deal with store coupons.

Fake. I grew up with fake and that is what we have always done. I picked up a new one 90% off last year, so we have a prelit one again! Last year our old "prelit" tree only had 2 out of 6 strands of lights working, so we strung whatever was in the box on the tree and ended up with an "interesting" looking tree. All of the lights we used were multicolored, but they were different styles. One stand has multiple blink options and my DS kept turning it on so that we had one stip on the tree that blinked, but the rest stayed on. Well the kids loved it and that's all that really matters, right?

Thanks! I will still try to get on at Target on BF (hoping it will count towards the $100 to get a $10 GC), but this is a great back-up plan incase Target sells out. I can't read the fine print in the online ad. Does it say anything about limited quantities or "while supplies last"? I know it's not likely, but is there any chance any Michael's coupons work on these?

I love having a lot of things for my kids to open, and also try to make it even between kids. I think that I would go against popular opinion here and give her other gifts and let her buy the ipod with her own money (if you are sure she would have enough after the holidays). She has been saving for it and buying it for herself would be a great reward for her efforts. Either way she will get the ipod and some other things, but this way she will have more to open on Christmas and have that feeling of ownership from spending her own money on something she really wants. Is she wasn't already saving for it I would agree with everone else and say get her just that one thing.

Ugh! Walmart and TRU both offering different items at different times?!? As if it wasn't comlicated enough trying to make a BF plan! I can see it now - next year each store will offer a small group of select items on sale for just one hour, with a different selection for each hour between 10pm and 10am. It'll kinda be like an Amazon lightning deal, only instead of data racing over a wire you will have to physically race all over town! If that's the way things are going it'll be time to trade in my car keys for a mouse and doing what shopping I can online. Or maybe that is the point. Maybe they are trying to lessen the crowds by letting many people get the movies, jackets, and PJs they need online (assuming they will be available online) before lining up to get the doorbusters at 5am.

Not a MUST have, but a would "be nice at that price" kinda thing. I was just wondering if it would be available online so I could have a chance at it. Meijer is about an hour away in an area I don't know so I don't plan on going to the store. Ideally I would like to get an ad a PM at Walmart, but not sure how to do that. The savings aren't worth the gas to pick up a local paper.

Good thought on the price adjust! According to the price protection policy Brad posted they won't match competitor's BF prices, but they will adjust their own. Now I have to find a store that has the right coat in the right size...

I would like to pick up a jacket in the BF ad. I went to the store to check it out, and I think I found the one that will be on sale. If that's the one then I like it and want to get it, but they have a limited quantity and none in my DD's size. Will they get more in? Can I have them order one for me and pay on BF? If I try to order online for instore pickup is it based on store availability?

I helped my sister get a set a couple years ago. We ordered online for instore pickup. They actually sold more sets than they had onhand in the store, so her set wasn't even available for pickup for a week or two.

Will there doorbusters be available online? I am looking at the $8 DVDs, especially Princess and the Frog.

TRU has them for $5 (I think) on BF. I picked up some "houses" there a couple weeks ago when they were B2G1, combined with a $5/$25. I don't know if they will do that again, but I joined the rewards club (store card) and the have sent me a few 20% off ony one item coupons in the last few weeks. Aldi had some. I didn't see which ones or price, but sometimes they have good deals. I have seen them advertised all over the place, but I haven't really paid attention to price since we already have the ones we want.

I just went Christmas Shopping in my closet. Let's just say I won't be needing to hunt for many toys this year (or kids clothes, or stocking stuffers, or sheets, or towels...) Thanks Target!

Thanks for the coupon link!

What do you have to do to get a snow globe? Do you have to make a purchase? Do they hand them out at the door or do you have to find them? Are they gone the in first 5 minutes or are they still around when the end of the line get inside? I've never tried to get one, but this year I am considering it.

10 pm? Seriously? Come on, TRU - this is supposed to be Black "Friday"! Couldn't they wait till midnight? At least there would be some chance of getting a nap in before heading out. This could be dangerous. You know there are going to be people out there (maybe you) who stay up all night Wed cooking and cleaning, entertain their families all day, stay up to plan their attacks, then head out shopping. With the staggered shopping times they will be up over 52 hours before heading home Friday around noon. And this kind of shopping - no matter how much you enjoy it - is strenuous. I do appreciate that they are doing something to try to control their crazy crowds, but expecting us to wait in their lines twice? Is this torture?

The one thing this ad missed (IMHO) was a great deal on Go-Go My Walkin' Pup. I was hoping Target or Kohl's would come through for me, but no luck.

I see a lot to get excited about here! I like: $17 Scooters $25 iTunes card for $20 $19.99 DVD Player $3.99 Yahtzee Jr. (my kids liked the one we had enough that it needs to be replaced) $3 Sandwich maker $7 Girls embellished jeans (debating between these and the $5 plain ones at Sears, but my DDs do like pretties...) $5 Hello Kitty nightgown or slippers (both DDs have been asking for Hello Kitty this year) $2 Fleece hat/gloves Need to check out before BF, but considering: $5 Slippers for the family $7 Girls tunic $4.99 Pillows (others my be cheaper, need to check quality before I decide) And on BF I may add in some rugs and DVDs, depending on what they are offering. I think that should be enough to get me over $100 for the $10GC. If not, I will probably be close enough to make it worth my while to add on some groceries, cat food, toilet paper, etc. to get over $100. This could be my first stop (to increase my odds of getting the $3 sanwich maker and iTunes) depending on what Walmart and Kmart have to offer.

Yes. I always see them. As a matter of fact, I've seen some advertied already this season (I don't remember if they were for BF)- from $20 cheapies that fit in the corner to $200 all-wood sets.