Seniors, will you celebrate Black Friday after Thanksgiving or Buy Nothing Day?

I've never gone shopping on Black Friday -- in fact, I always host Thanksgiving -- tons of fun and I love all the family but by the time they go home Thursday evening, I am exhausted. I usually sleep until at least 10:00 a.m. on Friday morning, get up, Frank makes coffee and we have a very leisurely breakfast. Then we do the dishes from the day before. By then, it's time for showers, relaxing and reading or watching tv, then time for those delicious leftovers. Another Thanksgiving bites the dust!

Leftcoast - The term - Black Friday - sorta sounds like dooms day to me.

And this year it may well be - if they are spending money they don't have.

I no longer - get out to shop.

Hubby shops very early in the mornings - to avoid the crowd on a normal day.

We will have a Buy Nothing Day.

I worry about shopping on a day like this. Too many people will end up buying things the don't need and a lot of thing they don't want.

DeeJay - frugal me - that's what I am.

I use to go shopping on Black Friday when I was younger, but no more. We live out in the country and I don't like driving 17 miles in the dark, I no longer care for the big crowds and standing in line to wait to pay. Guess I am getting to be an old fuddy duddy :-). This year everyone is getting homemade, or made in the USA gifts, including a bit of money included in the grand kids gifts. I'm still helping the economy, our economy.

What Christmas presents I have not already made, I have already bought in the summer sales. The only present I have not bought is something for my hubby. But I will get that sometime in December. It will give me an excuse to go stroll through town and look at the Christmas lights.

So I will be relaxing with friends on Black Friday. I cannot be bothered with shops when they are heaving with humanity.

Beulah

I will not be out there after Thanksgiving. I will wait until Monday when most people have gone back to work. Then I will venture out in the early morning to shop. The clerks won't be tired and there should be plenty of parking. At my age, I can only handle about 2 hours tops.

I WAS planning on going but after doing lots of walking these past days I don't think I can handle the waiting in lines etc anymore..I made a list of what to get for my daughter to get for me instead LOL..she loves going!! But in realities I think they should do away with the Black Fridays, but that will never come..we just have to deal with or stay home..I do like good deals though..=)

I think the thing to do is boycott everything not made here. Buy local, since our communities/areas/

counties/cities and states are suffering alongside everywhere else. It's a rescue we'd be performing. Works by local artisans/artists/ like potters, painters, poets, small business owners who perform services, local salon treats, local gyms-for-a-day, therapeutic massage in the home, a special cake made by a local baker customized with personal preferences. If there are children involved, stuffed animals made here. Any way to keep our money local.

Jesus is the reason for the season! I do not need to support Third World economies which does not support the poor people. I can support an orphanage in Honduras (Amigos de Jesus) with Spanish books from Amazon. I rather focus on the needy, not some store's "Black" budget.

They're not saving anything. I'll shop for gifts on my own terms in my own time frame and Black Friday does not affect me one bit. I'll be home wrapped in an afghan with the dog and cat watching all the antics on TV.

This was sent to me as an email. I think you will find it has some excellent ideas in it. It is a little long but worth the read.

A NEW KIND OF CHRISTMAS

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is!

It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper? Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking down the Benjamin's on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre.

Your local charity Thrift Store has more that used clothing! A gift for small children doesn't have to be NEW!

Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.

THIS is the new American Christmas tradition. Lets let everyone know. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about?