Black Friday

Dear Savvy Stacy,

Do you go out on black Friday? Are the after-thanksgiving deals really worth it? How do you know which store to go to first?

Signed,

All-these-ads-are-driving-me-nuts!

Dear Nuts,

Do I go out on black Friday?!?! Is Shrek green? Is thanksgiving on Thursday?

Yes, yes, yes! How could I call myself Savvy Stacy if I didn’t go out on the biggest shopping day of the year? This year, my shopping starts at midnight after Thanksgiving. A couple of outlet malls in my area are having “Midnight Madness” sales, and I can’t wait to give it a try.

To answer you next question is a little difficult. Are the deals really worth it? Well, it’s all a matter of perspective. Are you one of the thousands of people clamoring to get one of the 10 super deals on the flat screen TV? If so, are you willing to wait outside at 1 a.m. or even earlier at a store that doesn’t open until 5? To me, those deals are not worth it. Electronics go on sale all the time around the holidays, and unless you’re trying to get your hands on a hard-to-find item like a Nintendo Wii, I don’t think it pays to sit out in the cold for hours.

But there are other deals on Black Friday that are definitely worth your while. Just remember, don’t buy just because it’s a good deal. You’ll end up spending more money doing that. Instead, do what Santa does. Make a list and check it twice. Then find good deals for the people on your list. Here are some of my favorite stores to check out on Black Friday:

Target: They really do have good deals, and they seem to stock a good supply. So if you’re looking for a DVD special or toy you saw in their ad, there’s a good chance they’ll have it.

Amazon: You don’t even have to leave you house! Amazon has this really cool promotion called Amazon Customer Vote. You vote on a set of items for each week, choosing the one that you want them to offer at a crazy low price. Then you check back each week to see if you were chosen to buy it. Right now, you can vote for the Nintendo Wii to purchase for only $79!

Kohls: It’s kind of crazy in the store, but this is another good place that offers some of their best deals online. I love shopping in my pajamas.

Do you have any questions for Savvy Stacy? Click on my profile at right and send me an e-mail. I’ll research your question and post it right here.