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Now is the time to pick up that e-reader you've been wanting for Christmas or those expensive books going on sale...
Saving money is all about being organized and thinking ahead. Black Friday is a perfect example. Most of us are completely exhausted after all of the busy activities of Thanksgiving and still have dirty dishes in the sink the next day, but the organized shopper wakes up early the next morning, ready to hit the stores and grab the bargains. Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving, and it marks the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season in the United States.
The term dates back to at least 1966. "Black Friday" originated in Philadelphia in reference to the heavy traffic on that day. More recently, the media have used it instead to refer to the beginning of the period in which retailers go from being in the red (posting a loss on the books) to being in the black (turning a profit). In many cities it is not uncommon to see shoppers lined up for hours before stores with big sales open. Once inside the stores, shoppers rush around and snatch up what they can, as many stores have only a few of the big-draw items in stock. On occasion, some shoppers are so overly enthusiastic about the savings that injuries and even fatalities have been reported. No savings is worth that!
This year, in hopes of surviving the rough economy, some stores have started their Black Friday sales already! Check out these helpful web sites to find some of the great deals out there:
Now, having said all of that, the best gifts are those which come from the heart, and not the shopping mall. In a tight economy, we should never go into debt just to purchase gifts. There are plenty of inexpensive, yet meaningful gifts we can give to our loved ones without breaking the bank. Remember, spending quality time with others is priceless!
Many retailers allow discount code web sites to "leak" their sales information several days before Black Friday. If you love to shop at a particular store, do a Google search with the name of that store, plus the words "Black Friday" and you might get to find out what steals and deals they'll be featuring after Turkey Day! Target and Wal-Mart have already released some sneak peek info about nice discounts on their flagship door-buster electronic items. BJ's Wholesale Club, Harbor Freight, and Ace Hardware have already released their Black Friday catalogs as well.
While the best deals are usually found in the wee hours of the morning when the stores first open, most retailers this year are planning on extending their bargains through the Thanksgiving weekend to encourage more consumers to spend their dollars and kick-start the Christmas shopping season. Do a web search with your city’s name, plus the words “Black Friday” and you’ll find some store listings with their special hours.
