BLACK FRIDAY FRENZY

Are you a shopper? All the hype about the bargains today! What is Black Friday? A little history- the day after Thanksgiving in the United States that starts the real shopping for Christmas and helps those businesses that were in the red to sell enough that their sales would now be in the black! Many Canadians go across the border to pick up the great sales. In the GTA, many people go to New York state, especially the malls and stores in Buffalo! Well, Canadian businesses have  embraced the idea and want us to stay home to try and get some good buys here. My email account has been full of great bargains to buy  at home and I can even order online. Stores like The Bay and Sears have their own Black Friday sales. There is one idea- if you are a great bargain shopper, there are always lots of sales in January at great reductions too! End of season sales- like buying the children next year's snowsuits in April! However, there is something about a bargain and bragging how much you paid for an item! If you don't like crowds, sitting at your computer in your jammies getting your bargains and free shipping is quite appealing! There is a human element though. Are we still just hunters and gatherers at heart? Has anything changed? Shopping has become a full time activity! Running for a sale does give us a little much needed exercise! What will you be doing today? Oh to shop or not to shop, that is the question?

BLACK FRIDAY-ARE YOU SHOPPING?

Shopping has become a value in our society! Generations have always shopped for a bargain. Why not? Bigger bang for your buck! Here in the GTA many people head to Buffalo for the bargains! But wait-many local stores and online shopping have Black Friday right at home! For the diehard the trip south with the lineups at the border and the duty tax on items on the return home, I am told is worth the effort. Perhaps for the large ticket items but I have never worried about the $8.00 T-shirts being worth the effort. Clearance racks, shopping mid-season and having emails sent to my home with the Wednesday specials have landed me some good bargains- with little effort. If I spend enough online shopping, no shipping charges and it comes right to my door. Actually books are great to buy that way as the trip to the bookstore to find an obscure clinical text is avoided. For me bookstore visits should be to browse and take my time when I am not in a hurry. Or do I just not like to shop with crowds anymore! I am the one if the store opens at 7:00 a.m. in the holiday season to be the first there and finished by 7:30 a.m. I never mind waiting for the door to open- arrive early! Bring a coffee! People watch! So what are you doing Black Friday? Did you find a local bargain or have you travelled south? Hope you found all the bargains you were hoping to find? No matter where you shop today- the economy has a boost!