More Shoppers Will Hit the Mall on Black Friday
This will be interesting if it's true. Consumer Reports' latest holiday shopping poll showed that 26 percent of Americans say they will hit the malls on Black Friday -- that's up 5 percentage points from 2007.
It may be a young person's game, though. CR says that the biggest percentage of those planning on fighting the crowds and hunting for big deals are between the ages of 18 and 34.
That's surprising to us since most of the commenters here are saying they're cutting back this year. Reader Don said:
Don't buy into the hype. Just tell family/friends you're not exchanging gifts so there's no guilt. This holiday shouldn't be about spending your bank account on "stuff".
Reader WillClark4HOF also said:
Shopping? Who can afford to go shopping this holiday season?
So many others have talked about trying to save more this year, making handmade gifts and buying only for the kids to make shopping more manageable. So the idea that more people will hit the malls this year seems out of whack with the chatter we're hearing. But, perhaps, there will be crowds because everyone knows there will likely be really good deals out there.
If you know you're going to find a bargain, it might be more tempting to head out on Black Friday. Anyone out there thinking about hitting the malls the day after Thanksgiving? Tell us why and where you're headed.
(AP Photo)
Categories: Budgeting, Economy, Holiday shopping
Comments
I'm not between 18 and 34 and I will be out at the malls on friday and my 72 year old mother will be out there with me. After we hit all the morning sales we will stop and get a crab cake and then hit some other places after that. After I take my mom home I will pick up my wife from work and we will go out shopping. My budget this year is more than last year but we will be using cash instead of credit cards this year.
DD: Dean, thanks for sharing this with us. Do you have a strategy for the big day to make sure you get the best deals? Or are you just winging it? And bravo on the use of cash this year.
Posted by: Dean | November 21, 2008 3:50 PM
I'm not getting anywhere near the malls! I think online shopping is the way to go. I use websites like www.extrabux.com to get cash back rebates on everything I buy from lots of top online stores. They also post tons of coupons which save me even more. AND I can shop when it's convenient for me, not just mall hours.
DD: Thanks Mandy. Great tips!
Posted by: Mandy | November 22, 2008 1:30 PM
We are not really big into the Black Friday sales - mostly because what I want isn't on sale or because we are traveling for the holidays and there aren't malls in the mountains. I prefer shopping online, so I look forward to Cyber Monday. However, overall this year, we purchased our big ticket items throughout the year, so this Christmas is more about getting the accessories to go with those items. Christmas is one day - I think people should go easy on themselves this year, no matter what financial situation you are in. We have decided to spend less but share more - of our time, our resources and our goodwill to families less fortunate.
DD: Fantastic ideas on all counts, Kimberly. Thanks.
Posted by: Kimberly | November 24, 2008 10:16 AM
DD, we usually head down to Marley Station and hit Sears and JCPenny for there sales in the morning and maybe 1 or 2 other places in the mall until about 10 or 11. Then we head over to Namco and buy some XMAS decorations and head to G & M for lunch. After lunch is when we will go to Target, Wal-Mart and Toys R Us. We avoid those places like the plague in the morning the crowds thin out in the afternoon and they still have some great deals. Then around 3 my mom is getting worn out so I will take her home and then pick my wife up from work downtown then we will go to places like Best Buy. The wife and I will do some shopping until about 9 or so. I am off every friday until the first of the year so I get a lot of shopping done then. My wife takes a friday off with me and that is when we are out from 8 in the morning until about 6 finishing up our daughter and our family. IMO there are alot of great deals out there now up until XMAS eve so you don't have to do it all this friday. I have to confess that I did use the credit card this weekend. We bought our 8 year old an American Girl doll on their website so I had to break out the plastic.
DD: Dean, you actually make it sound like a pretty sane way of shopping on Black Friday. I'm going to have a lot of time on my hands starting next month so I plan on getting my shopping done early this year.
Posted by: Dean | November 24, 2008 1:04 PM