mcwalker

Looking forward to tuning in after I vote tomorrow!

Celebrate Alexa's Third Birthday: Eufy Genie Smart Speaker With Amazon Alexa, Voice Control and Hands-Free Use, Stream Online Music (Spotify, Amazon Music, Pandora, Sirius XM), Smart Home Control, AUX Output, Black SALE $24.99 & Free Shipping. (Regular $59.99, Save 58%) https://www.amazon.com/Speaker-Control-Hands-Free-Spotify-Bluetooth/dp/B071JN3KYN/ref=gbps_tit_m-8_4e0a_99f5df47?smid=A1U62USFOR8NN3&pf_rd_p=a1f464bc-5342-4d82-8dd8-98854e3e4e0a&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-8&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=11851273011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=4C0D1TN4QJDV28KZF8NK

Dev, it would be great if you could present one of your computer screens during the webcast to show some ads or parts of the web site. Just a thought.

It's time for a quick poll: do you expect to shop only on-line, only in-store, or a mix? I will be buying most anything I can online so I don't have to transport it on my three day drive back to home, but I will be going to stores, too.

My first Black Friday was 2006. I was in line about an hour and a half before the early morning opening at Best Buy. My maximum was around 2 hours ahead of opening for a few years at Best Buy or Target. I now arrive shortly after most openings and get most of what I am looking for.

I will be shopping in Weatherford, Texas (and possibly the Hulen area of Fort Worth) this year, visiting my parents who live in Fort Worth and have a farm house south of Weatherford where we spent may Thanksgivings when I was growing up. I have done Black Friday in a number of different locations since my first in 2006, as we travel for Thanksgiving many years: 2006 Chicago suburbs (Downers Grove area) 2007 Nassau Hub Area, Long Island NY 2008 Weatherford, Texas 2009 Nassau Hub Area, Long Island NY 2010 Nassau Hub Area, Long Island NY 2011 Nassau Hub Area, Long Island NY 2012 Lancaster, Pennsylvania (with Amish at the Target) 2013 Nassau Hub Area, Long Island NY 2014 Granbury, Fort Worth, & Weatherford, Texas 2015 Burlington, Vermont 2016 Gettysburg / Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 2017 Weatherford, Texas

The first few years with a nephew who was a teen at the time. More often alone. Recently alone most of the time but dropping off my wife and daughter (who don't drive) and connecting with them periodically or to take them home or to hotel. (We are very often traveling on Thanksgiving to different destinations--this time back to Weatherford, Texas for the second time).

AntiVirus software. I found McAffee LiveSafe antivirus/browser security software by chance at a Walmart a few years ago and have bought that same one since. Last year I bought three cards at Office Depot for $5 each, so my subscription is valid for three years, but I might buy another one or two if they have the same cards this year to extend further. (McAffee allows up to 5 to be registered.) I have usually bought some of the small kitchen electrics that are very cheap after mail-in rebates that most department stores advertise, but don't know that I will this year.

Mall Cop

My frequency is increasing. A few times a day now.

For me, I think that it makes little difference for my Black Friday shopping, but as Tracy0504 said, having Thanksgiving and BF earlier makes preparation for Christmas and the various activities (such as parties) that happen during that time a bit less frantic, perhaps.

I buy a fresh Christmas Tree from Home Depot around the first weekend in December, but I use a Black Friday technique to save a bit which can apply to either a fresh or artificial tree if you buy it from Home Depot or Lowes. For a number of years, including this year, Rite Aid has offered $50 "Home Depot" gift cards with $10 back in Plenti Points. I buy two of these and use one and part of the next to buy the Christmas tree, then the remainder to buy other things later. Although these say "Home Depot" on them, some or all of them are actually usable at any home store, including Lowes. (Be sure to read the fine print if you are thinking of using it that way.) You could buy the cards at Rite Aid Thanksgiving morning and then take them to Home Depot the next day or anytime to buy the tree and, of course, you can use them to buy an artificial tree or anything else at Home Depot.

Also, flying in or out of small airports is almost always more expensive and less competitive. Consider a flight on Spirit from Detroit to NYC if possible. Service won't be fantastic and watch out for fees, but the prices are great and the flight is short.

I have never heard of a Black Friday special on air fare, and I would not put much trust if one used the 'Black Friday" label. Airline pricing tends to be very computerized and systematic based on selling trends now. No harm hunting for air fares after you have finished other Black Friday shopping, but you are probably better reading one of the sites that study airline pricing to guess the best time to shop and which days of the week to travel on for the best prices (Tuesday/Wednesday). That said, the best time to shop is usually "now." Prices sometimes drop, but generally they rise as seats are sold until the time of the flight.

Last year the B1G2F items were only "limited to stock on hand, no rain checks." (so no other limit). In 2015 they were limited to "2 offers per card." Note that this would mean that you can buy 6 for the price of 2. Due to the fuzzy scan that we have so far, it is hard to read the line below the word FREE to see if it states a limit. The line below that says, "of equal or lesser value." Hint 1: I have a Rite Aid Plenti card in my name and another one in my wife's name. Same for CVS. Hint 2: Since this is not a points back deal, you may be able to visit multiple stores (or different times) to reuse the deal.

Homemade Cranberry Sauce This is probably my favorite dish at Thanksgiving and Christmas, in part because I rarely eat it at other times. This recipe and photo are from a cooking web site. Ingredients 2/3 cup sugar 1/2 cup of orange juice 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt One 12-ounce bag cranberries Directions Combine the sugar, orange juice, 1/2 cup water, the cinnamon, salt and cranberries in a medium saucepan. Bring up to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 15 minutes. Let cool completely before serving. Yum! http://food.fnr.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/food/fullset/2012/9/18/0/CCDFMSP1_Fresh-Cranberry-Sauce-recipe_s4x3.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.462.suffix/1371609919166.jpeg

I am a fan of No Contract (Prepaid) mobile service and sometimes Certified Refurbished phones, so here is one of many examples. For anyone who needs a mobile phone, especially if they are willing to forego the latest (overpriced) models. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017A603DA/ref=sr_1_5_twi_col_ti_2?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1508765646&sr=1-5&keywords=prepaid+phones

My first store on my first couple of Black Fridays was Best Buy. But I would say that my favorite has varied from year to year, depending on where I got my top deal or a few key deals. Target and Kohls have each been a contender a number of years. Last year it was Office Max both online (new laptop and router) and in store (great deal on McAffee). I always get to Walmart at some point, though it is never my first store, and it is NEVER my favorite.

This is interesting. Show more.

Wooden train track set 52 Piece Pack. Good for kids that have a basic set of wooden trains but want to expand. https://www.amazon.com/Wooden-Train-Track-Piece-Pack/dp/B005AW85YG/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1508649813&sr=8-17&keywords=train

My favorite shaver. For men who like an electric shaver. Mid-priced and mid features, but does a great job. https://www.amazon.com/Braun-ProSkin-Electric-Shaver-Rechargeable/dp/B0115I2DRI/ref=sr_1_5_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1508638977&sr=8-5&keywords=series+3+braun

K'NEX Education: Roller Coaster Physics Set. Pricy but educational and fun for aspiring engineers. https://www.amazon.com/KNEX-Education-Roller-Coaster-Physics/dp/B000O94QV6/ref=sr_1_60?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1508388323&sr=1-60&refinements=p_n_age_range%3A5442388011

Clue game (retro edition) for the (board) gamers in the family. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013TO5PDU/ref=gbps_img_m10_4eb7_5a4403d3?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=674cf523-5484-43c7-9521-389c3afd4eb7&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-10&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=17278590011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=MQMM1VD2JYX98KNM52YS

A large "G" scale Christmas (or year-round) model train. Good for girls, boys, adults--anyone who likes a little nostalgia. https://www.amazon.com/Bachmann-White-Christmas-Express-Electric/dp/B0042MMW4O/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1508253219&sr=8-2&keywords=model+train+bachmann+g

Pruning Shears for the gardener in the family. https://www.amazon.com/Professional-GPPS-1002-Trimmers-Secateurs-Clippers/dp/B01HHK9JG6/ref=gbps_img_s-3_792e_44679af9?smid=A3I1KRJ9T4QRVZ&pf_rd_p=0631beb3-d6e3-4881-b7b0-ec3a1b1f792e&pf_rd_s=slot-3&pf_rd_t=701&pf_rd_i=gb_main&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=AGVX1G1SEQFV5545QF7Q