Do you avoid Black Friday shopping because of the potential for harm?

That is the same reason I went out one year. Once I saw the line waiting at the door, I went home and back to sleep. There's no way I'd ever want to deal with those nuts! I didn't know the percentage but I knew that most people do go to those sales for themselves. My youngest son wants a flat-screen TV, nothing big, and one is on sale Friday, the size he wants. Well, you won't find ME in the store trying to buy it! I know that they have a limited number of these sales items and usually many more people trying to get one. My son said that one thing they have for this sale, they have 50 of and they've been told to close the line after the 50th person so there will be no shoving or fighting. They seem to have it planned well; let's see if it goes as smoothly. I hear ya about what Christmas has become! I would be just as happy having my family together for the day and enjoying our time together without any gift-giving. So many people forget the real meaning behind Christmas and get so aggressive in the stores. I try to get my shopping done early so I won't have to deal with those greedy mobs. I HOPE I'm able to this year, although I normally have my shopping done before Black Friday. This year, because of those lazy people at Social Security, I'm STILL waiting to get what they approved back in August. Unbelievable! I'm like you, though. I don't buy much. I make a lot of things like cookies, cakes and breads and give them as gifts. I also like to make other gifts. I found a stuffed penguin holding a rolled up throw at Goodwill. I'm planning on removing the throw and putting a potted spruce tree (small, about a foot tall) in it's place, decorating the spruce with mini-ornaments and giving that to my friend who always shares Christmas with me. That's the kind of stuff I like doing. I already have the spruce and the penguin cost me $3.00. I also have mini-ornaments so this personalized gift will cost $3.00 and I know she'll love it. Also, after Christmas, she'll have a new tree to plant. I think my son will do fine. Luckily, he'll only be working for 2 hours after the sales begin tomorrow morning. He works until 7:00 a.m. He's only supposed to use a walkie-talkie if there is trouble. He calls the office, they call extra security to the area and, if necessary, call the police. Actually, he said he thinks he's going to be bored stiff. He's been told to stand in one area and keep his eye out for trouble. Standing in one spot for 2 hours is, well, I couldn't do it! I'd probably fall asleep standing up. LOL I hope your Thanksgiving is a great one!

It is scary, believe me. It shows the true nature of some people and that is pure greed. I don't think it's as much about saving a few dollars as it is about getting something cheap. I honestly think that some of the people who are determined to get to these sales don't even need the things they buy, they just want the bargain. I can't see how anyone could hold their head up when they can so easily push others aside, even harming some, in order to save some money, especially since Black Friday is the first official Christmas shopping day here in the US. They put more importance on material things than they do on their fellow human beings. It is disgusting and makes me sick. Christmas is not supposed to be about material things, yet so many people seem to think that way.

Hi pergy! I do my acutrement shopping right after Christmas. Most things end up being 75% off so I stock up for the next year. Then, right before Christmas, when I'm wrapping gifts, I'm always so thankful that I did it! Not only is there less to fight the crowds over but it's less I have to think about when Christmas season rolls around again. I hate crowds, too. During the holidays, most people seem to be irritable and in a big hurry and don't seem to care how they treat other humans. I don't want to deal with that stress. I try to keep the holiday season as stress-free as possible. I usually have everything planned out, which day to do specific things, start decorating 3 to 4 weeks before Christmas and start baking in the last two weeks, starting with cookies, then breads, then cakes, with the actual meal begun the day before. Christmas is NOT a time for stress! Well, it shouldn't be. I can't understand why so many people go to these insane sales and do things at the last minute which always causes stress, year after year. One year, wrapping gifts at 3 a.m. Christmas morning taught me to never do that again. LOL