Yep, I'm one of those crazies who are out and about on Black Friday. (I guess we already established that last year.) I visit websites weeks before the event searching for ads that have been leaked, planning my shopping lists. I really was not at all impressed with the deals out there this year, but somehow still managed to find enough I was interested in to spend a small fortune. Funny how that happens, huh?
My mom was sweet enough to get up with me at 3 in the morning and head to Walmart. There was way too much I wanted to get there and no way that I could've done it on my own. Plus, it's just no fun to shop on your own on Black Friday!
We went to the one in Centerville, and it took me less than 30 minutes to realize that they must actually LIKE to create chaos. The employees had no idea where any of the deals were hidden around the store (since they don't put them in the right department. That would make it too easy!) They also couldn't agree on what hadn't been brought out yet. The SHOPPERS knew way more than the employees. After trying to find a memory card on sale forever and getting no answers from the employees, some fellow bargain hunters informed me that they were all gone already. Apparently a cart of them had been wheeled out but not wrapped up, so everyone grabbed. Guess I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
One of my favorite parts of the experience was getting yelled at a thousand times to not touch ANYTHING that was on sale until 5 AM exactly. (Darn that little $3 jogging suit that jumped in my cart!) One manager was threatening to kick anyone out of the store who did. I also learned there are a lot of people who should not be allowed to work that early in the morning since they're so grumpy!
I got everything I wanted at Walmart for the most part, just missed one item. A little before 6 we finally made it through the checkout line and were on our way to the next store. We had planned to go to Target next but were starting to worry about the Cabage Patch dolls we had hid at Shopko the night before. (Yep, we're some of THOSE people.) We wanted to make sure we were able to get them since they were such a good deal. We needn't have worried. The store was almost DEAD and there were still even a couple dolls left out in the open, but we went and found all the cute ones we had picked out the night before. (Jossy will be getting one for Christmas and one for her birthday.)
Next we moved on to Target, then Ace, Smith's Marketplace, Kohl's (where the line was too rediculous to stay), and on to Old Navy. Luckily I had ordered a bunch of my stuff the night before online for an even better deal, so I just needed to quickly pick up one pair of jeans. Then we went back to Kohl's, and the line was much more reasonable that time. One last quick stop at Home Depot and finally headed home around 11. I couldn't beleive we'd been out since just after 3 AM!! It didn't seem like that at all, but my feet were killing me.
I tried to sleep, but only managed 30 minutes when I woke up freaking out that Walmart hadn't put a pair of jeans I got for Matty into my bags. I knew I wouldn't sleep until I got up and looked for them. I searched everywhere, finally going to my receipt to make sure they were listed. Nope. That's when I remembered that I had decided not to buy them and put them back on the shelf. Dan at this point told me I needed more sleep. I tried but couldn't. It was too hard to sleep when I couldn't stop laughing at my own freak out over a pair of jeans I didn't buy. So I got up and went back to several stores with my mom to return items I had decided against.
It's been a couple days since this all and I still feel a little loopy from the sleep deprivation. One great thing came out of this though. For the past few years I've made it a goal to have my Christmas shopping done by December 1st so that I can actually enjoy the Christmas season. This year I didn't make that goal, yet somehow I've managed to finish my shopping for Dan, Matty, Jossy, my dad, Dan's dad, and one of his sisters. I was able to spend way less on the kids than I had planned. I only have a couple people left, but I feel like I'm pretty much done! I love it!
One funny story to share:
The second time we went back to Kohl's, I left my mom waiting in line while I wandered around for something for Dan (which I can't say in case he read this.) I found something I loved for just over $20, but I wasn't willing to pay that much for it. I took the item back to my mom in line to show her. I mentioned that sometime I'd have to get one of those $10 off coupons Kohl's occasionally puts in the paper and come back for the item then. The guy behind us then pulled two out of his pocket, told us he could only use one and wanted to know if I wanted the other. I was thrilled and being a little sleep deprived and out of my mind asked him if it would be inappropriate if I told him I loved him. He laughed and I said my husband loved him too. He laughed harder. Yeah, I needed sleep. I came home to Dan and told him I confessed my love to another man. He was confused but laughed when I told him the story. (I might have left out how cute the man was. . . )
If you read this whole boring tale, you deserve a gold star for being a good friend. (Or you're just really desperate for something to do.)
