We interrupt this program for some whining a la me.
Black Friday is a day I often look forward to. One where I can get what I want to get, making my list, checking it twice, getting awesome deals and usually most of my Christmas shopping done in one sha-bang. I’ve become a pro at it, got my master list, hit the stores within the specified time frame, getting the great deals, saving loads of money. I kind of depend upon it, to be able to afford what we can afford. There are usually great deals to get my kids what they need along with some of the things they’d like.
This year that isn’t going to happen.
Here in Fort Polk, LA and the surrounding areas, there is nothing but a Walmart, a Walgreens, a Stage, Game Stop, various Dollar Stores and some other little shops. The nearest city with big stores and a mall is in Alexandria, 40 miles away. So, unless we ate turkey on Thanksgiving, then drive to Alexandria, dragging our full bellies behind us to spend the night in some hotel, there is no getting-up-at-the-buttcrack-of-dawn-to-shop-til-I-fall-over for me this year, sadly.
I’m trying to look at it as a sign, a sign that is telling me I shouldn’t spend a lot this holiday, a sign that I should take and run with. But considering I shouldn’t spend a lot, taking away the one day that helps me save a ton of money is kinda not playing fair, in my opinion. Save money, but don’t shop the biggest sale day of the year to save money. Say wha?
I don’t think I can even shop the stores’ sale prices online, to my knowledge. I believe their only available in stores, from what I’m already seeing of the ads.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, my Army husband, who would normally have had a four-day weekend off for the holiday, announced he has to work Friday, too, so there went any chance of us going to my in-law’s house for Thanksgiving, who live right outside of Dallas. Totally had it all planned out, right up until last week when hubby dropped the “Sorry hon, gotta work” bomb on me.
Even more of a sign, I guess….
*Big, big sigh*
One thing that kills me is the fact that, back in North Carolina, I was involved with a consignment sale twice a year, where I’d outfit my children in tons of like-new clothes, and be able to Christmas shop early, saving loads of money (you have no idea) all-the-while selling our items to boot, so I’d practically break even. Moving here, that’s out the window. I have barely even begun to shop. First time in forever that I’m not already well on my way, having saved so much money, smiling from ear to ear at how frugal I’ve been. I’m so disappointed. Because of that, Black Friday is even more important this year to get the most for what I have to spend, since buying second hand wasn’t available this year.
*More sighing*
To my favorite stores: I can completely understand you not wanting to have your Black Friday ads available on line, like the doorbusters and such, because you think no one would leave their houses to shop in your stores (I still would), but for people like me who don’t have these stores local, it sure would be nice so that I didn’t have to miss out.
I really don’t know what to do at all at this point. You have no idea how much this affects me and how our holiday will shape up. I feel like a deflated balloon.
Any ideas?
