Ask the Readers: To Shop or Not to Shop?
Editor's Note: Congratulations to Jenn, Margaret Davis, and michelle for winning this week's contest!
The Black Friday ads have once again invaded TV screens and mailboxes across the nation. With many stores offering insane early bird specials, many people are planning on waking up at the crack of dawn to take advantage of sales. However, there are plenty of people who would rather sleep in than be up before 5am .
To shop or not to shop? That is the question! Will you be up early to take advantage of sales? Or will you still be sleeping when the stores open their doors on the morning of Black Friday?
Tell us if you will be shopping this Black Friday and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!
Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards
We're doing three giveaways — one for random comments, one for random Facebook "Likes", and another one for random tweets.
Mandatory Entry:
- Post your answer in the comments below
For extra entries (1 per action):
- Go to our Facebook page, "Like" us, and leave a comment telling us you did, or
- Tweet your answer. You have to be a follower of our @wisebread account. Include both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" in your tweet so we'll see it and count it. Leave a link to your tweet (click the timestamp for the individual URL) in a separate comment.
If you're inspired to write a whole blog post OR you have a photo on flickr to share, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.
Giveaway Rules:
- Contest ends Monday, November 28th at 11:59 pm Pacific. Winners will be announced after November 28th on the original post. Winners will also be contacted via email.
- You can enter all three drawings — once by leaving a comment, once by liking our Facebook update, and once by tweeting.
- This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered, or associated with Facebook.
- You must be 18 and US resident to enter. Void where prohibited.
Note: Due to recent changes in Facebook's promotions guidelines, we have restructured the entry format of our giveaways.
Good Luck!
Disclaimer: The links and mentions on this site may be affiliate links. But they do not affect the actual opinions and recommendations of the authors.
Wise Bread is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
HELL NO---I WON't GO!
No way would I wake up in the morning (whats a morning??) and brave the crowds and the people to save a few bucks! That is what my computer is for!
I will not be shopping on black friday--I hate the crowds
Nope! We'll be staying home and playing video games or reading. No shopping - in stores or online - for us!
No black Friday for me! Will be spending quality time with family, since they don't live near by. Maybe cyber Monday though...
I honestly am unsure as of this moment if I'm going to shop on Black Friday or not. I am leaning towards staying at the house, avoiding the madness, and saving my hard earned dollars. There are good deals out there but I haven't seen anything that is making me change my mind
No, I would rather stay home on my day off.
I like you on Facebook.
I'm not sure if I'll venture out on Black Friday. My mom and I used to go years ago (before it was popular) and we had a blast. It's not fun anymore though. I'll probably stick with the local stores and go later in the day.
i plan to NOT shop this year to save money - it will be the first year in many that i won't be black friday-ing!
i like wisebread on fb
tweeted https://twitter.com/#!/oshkoshbgosh123/status/139199800770965504
No, I will not be shopping on Black Friday!! It is insane out there!!!!!!!!!!!! I think that people quickly forget the spirit of the Christmas holiday. When everyone is hungry for the hottest deals they forget to be kind to the people around them. Not everyone of course but it only takes one rude comment from someone to make me want to go home.
Amanda
I'm definitely not shopping on Black Friday; I prefer to avoid crowds.
Me too!
I'm going to go for a walk.
no shopping on black friday...shopping small on sat.
I will be camping from Wednesday until Sunday to escape the craziness that goes along with Black Friday sales. What I personally have found in the past, is that these sales only make sense if you are going to buy a particular electronic item (that is probably unneeded in the first place) and are willing to endure the agony of waiting, fighting and rudeness that goes along with time-limited sales, it may make sense. But other than that, why put yourself through the pain? Rarely have I witnessed the sale prices being low enough to warrent the trouble. So, I will be sitting at my campsite, drinking a glass of wine, watching my children play tag-football and being thankful that I learned the lessons of Black Friday years ago. Happy Thanksgiving, all!
I have never been shopping on Black Friday and I never will! I absolutely hate crowds so shopping on Black Friday would pretty much be my worst nightmare! I wrote about it last year: http://thejennypincher.com/i-dont-do-black-friday-the-top-5-reasons-i-av...
I wish those who are brave enough to shop that day the best of luck!
Tweeted about my no black friday shopping! http://twitter.com/#!/thejennypincher/status/139347678252376064
No shopping. I refuse to participate in the madness.
No way, in the stores--Cyber Thursday, definitely! The deals are just as good ad you don't have to fight the crowds!
If I happen to go shopping on Black Friday, it certainly won't be early in the morning! Sleep is more valuable to me at this point in my life. :)
I may do limited Cyber Monday shopping but I will avoid retail areas throughout the "Black Friday" weekend.
I'll look around online, but definitely not in actual stores!
I'm only heading to Target, so shouldn't be TOO crazy.
No black Friday shopping here .... I'm doing it all online this year.
I tweeted my comment via @KeriRitenour. http://bit.ly/vDCS7l
I liked your Facebook comment and commented my self via Keri Slinde Ritenour.
No way! I have found better deals on Cyber Monday and I don't have to leave my house to get them.
I make most of my gifts and prefer to buy the rest online, so no Black Friday shopping for me.
If I see something small and low-priced that suits someone while I am out and about, I *might* pick it up, but no, Friday, I am *not* intentionally making a list and checking it twice. My friends and family know that I am strapped for time and money. Most "gifts" I give are things people need throughout the year as I see them, and it does not make financial sense for me to save up and spend on Black Friday.
I like you on FB as Octavia Keats.
I will be staying as far away from all stores as possible on Friday!
Same here!
No way! I know some people thrive on the "festive" crowded atmosphere but I dislike large crowds of people and I also dislike shopping. I've done most of my shopping online this year or I go to stores when I know they won't be crowded.
There is no way I'm going to be standing in lines or in a brick and mortar store this Friday. I will most likely take a look online for a bit on Friday and Monday though! Nothing like avoiding the crowds and getting a good night's sleep after eating too much turkey! Best of luck everyone!
Absolutely not shopping. Online or in person. I can't stand the crowds in stores. And all the Web sites are slower than usual. I opt to just stay in and enjoy my family.
Nope, not a dime. Maybe at the Goodwill...
I currently don't have any plans for going shopping, so I'll probably be sleeping.
No way! I'm old and need my sleep. Seriously, we shop for bargains throughout the year.
Some folks certainly consider it a contact sport...
Shop till you drop!!!
I'll go shopping, and find a few deals online, but I'm not agressively waiting in line and stuffs.
nope we are hosting our family thanksgiving//but we did do a sneak peak earlier in the week
No shopping for me! I always celebrate "Buy Nothing Day"!
I've always been able to avoid the shopping crowds that descend on stores on Black Friday or any other heavy shopping day. Luckily, I have just a handful of people to buy gifts for and can usually shop ahead of time, purchase some items online, or pick up good gift cards at the supermarket. Like most men, I think about what I want to get, go get it and go home, without roaming throughout every store and looking at everything before I decide.
no i wont be shopping in brick & mortar stores. Online? Probably! :)
i like wise bread on facebook :)
tweet https://twitter.com/#!/ReneeAChapman/status/139919739295244288
Sleeping!!! Don't like crowds, and only have my husband left to buy for!
Noooo!!! I value my sanity and physical well-being much more than any sale! I loathe crowds. If I do any holiday shopping at all today it will be online only.
I am too old and it is just too dangerous to go out and shop on Black Friday. People are way too aggressive!
No way I'll be shopping on Black Friday. I avoid it like the plague. I get claustrophobia in crowds, especially moving crowds. I'll be checking my lists twice on Cyber Monday instead!
My husband and I won't be shopping this Black Friday, firstly because we have so little discretionary income, but also because we hear every year about injuries and deaths associated with the mad stampedes. In future years when we have more discretionary money, we'll probably limit ourselves to online sales and avoid the crazy lines and crowds.
I get stressed out by shopping at the best of times. No way could I enjoy shopping on Black Friday. I usually pick a snowy evening and go into all the small local shops rather than the big stores or the mall. Any other gift shopping I try to do online.
I generally try to buy clothes or other small ticket items but this year I bought a car! I needed one within the next month and found the deals to be worth it so I pulled the trigger. Hopefully I have some money left for Cyber Monday!
I shopped the Black Friday deals from the comfort of my couch, in my pj's and slippers, as usual. I got the same deals offered in the stores, plus free shipping, and I didn't have to fight anyone for the last XS sweater dress in Hot Cocoa. :-)
Usually no, but this year I shopped! There were a few things I really needed for gifts that were too good a deal to pass up. I tried to get them online, but no luck, so I headed out at 5am to Sam's Wholesale & then Home Depot. It was worth the effort for the deals I got!
I *like* You on Facebook!
I'm not crazy enough to waste time waiting in line. But I did shop online over the weekend. Turns out Cyber Monday deals really start before Monday!