BellaOnline Forums Relationships Married No Kids Holiday Shopping

Has anyone ever gotten excited about getting up at 4 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving to shop, fight the hordes and come away with bags full of stuff? I just don't get it. I know some look forward to this ritual but it would give me a royal headache. My family has long ago decided to keep Christmas "small". We exchange little things and I am forever grateful. For my family, Christmas is a way to get together, have a nice meal and enjoy one another's company. But others have it different. They have huge extended families the size of armies and find it obligatory to buy gifts for cousins third removed. Throw in there the number of kids that "can't be left out" and Oh My God. Not too mention the fact that these kids rip open gifts, not even glancing at what they received, before they lunge into the next unopened present. Has anyone else felt my misgivings ?

OK, I couldn't agree more. You couldn't PAY me to go shopping the day after Thanksgiving. Christmas has become so commercialized, and people feel pressure to buy everyone they've ever met a present...it is so sad.

I have always felt that if I see something I think a friend or family member would like, I buy it randomnly and surprise them. I don't see the purpose of being forced to buy presents and look for the "perfect" gift just because it is a holiday.

I prefer internet shopping thanks.
I can't stand the crowds and I have YET to see anything on sale the day after Thanksgiving that I need that badly.
I can't stand crowds, I am not patient enough to stand in lines. I am NORMALLY a reasonably polite person but that kind of stress pushes me to my limits. I prefer to shop when it can be enjoyed.

Oh my, I was just shopping for groceries and getting really aggravated with people blocking the aisles, putting their cart right in the middle, standing in front of what I need because they don't know what they want but I do ... I could NEVER go shopping the day after Thanksgiving! In fact, I tend to avoid sales all together.

My SIL and her SIL just LOVE it though! They are pros, they wear hoodies so that they don't have to bother with pockets (put your wallet in the big pocket in front.) It's so super awesome!

I can't stand going to the grocery store. I am VERY bothered by the same annoyances. Whenever possible, we get our groceries in the early morning or late evening. The fewer people, the better.

I am the SAME way at the grocery store. I walk right up behind someone and stand there and say loudly "excuse me" until they move. I can't believe how people wander around the store like cattle.
I make sure I keep my daughter out of peoples way as well. Nothing is MORE annoying then when a parent CHOOSES to bring a child to the grocery story and then pays no attention to them getting in the way.

I like to shop in bulk so I don't have to do it often. I like Costco and buy large amounts and then freeze them. I have an extra frig in the garage AND an upright freezer that I can fill with food. Not too mention shelves that I buy extras of things I am going to need.

My mother LOVES shopping the day after thanksgiving. When I was a kid she would drag me out that day. Yuck. When I was 18 or so I put my foot down. I hate the mall anyway, but the friday after thanksgiving....no thanks!!!

Years ago I used to manage a Bombay Company store back when they were in the mall and before that a gourmet cooking store also in the mall. I still have post traumatic flashbacks.

It was horrible and I HATED the holidays.
We had this display of dancing Christmas trees near our store, I had fantasies of taking a chainsaw to these fake trees in order to cut down to where the music was so I could destroy that...yea thats a sign its time to get away.

No way would I shop the day after Thanksgiving. I'd rather have my toenails lifted with bamboo shoots.

- I totally agree with you there. I have panic attacks in large crowds, and I would be a guaranteed drooling fool if I tried to face the "Day After" shopping.