Ask the Readers: Do You Shop Black Friday Deals?

Editor's Note: Congratulations to Ken, Mark, and Elle for winning this week's contest!

Black Friday is one of the biggest retail events of the year. For many people, it is an event — they scour ads, plan out which stores to hit and what to get at each, and even camp out the night before. For many other people, the low prices aren't worth the chaos...and may instead opt to shop on Cyber Monday.

Do you shop Black Friday deals? What are your strategies for getting the best deals? What do you plan to get this year? If you don't plan to shop on Black Friday, what are your reasons for it?

Tell us whether you shop Black Friday deals and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

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Guest's picture
Mami2jcn

Yes, I plan to shop Black Friday deals...from the comfort of my home computer.

Guest's picture
Gina

I don't shop Black Friday sales. It's too crazy and people are too violent. I relax at home and watch the news reports of the madness. I'm a minimalist so I don't like lots of stuff and neither do my friends or family so the sales don't matter to us. It's also hypocritical to give thanks for the things that you have only to go out the next day and try to buy as much as possible and behave poorly doing it. Thanksgiving weekend is about gratitude and enjoying what you have not getting more things you don't need.

Guest's picture
Aaron

Typically try and find deals just before as there are more items available and I seem to find better deals

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Ben S.

I try to stay away from the craziness of Black Friday. Would rather sit my a cozy fire, with a hot chocolate, my tablet, and Amazon!

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Tiffany Sparks

Yes, I do shop Black Friday deals, but from home. I always check out all ads from different stores and then make a list of what I plan on buying and where. The items I generally go for the most are apparel and toys.

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Jennifer W

No. I try to avoid all attempts to drag me into the shopping mania. I'd rather unplug and relax with family, not go buy more things that will take up more of my time trying to fix and maintain them.

Guest's picture
Jennifer W

No. I try to avoid all attempts to drag me into the shopping mania. I'd rather unplug and relax with family, not go buy more things that will take up more of my time trying to fix and maintain them.

Guest's picture
Tiffany Sparks

Yes, I do shop Black Friday deals, but from home. I always check out all ads from different stores and then make a list of what I plan on buying and where. The items I generally go for the most are apparel and toys.

Guest's picture
Ken

No "Black Friday" shopping for me! The crowds are not worth it, (in my opinion, some people don't mind crowds), plus you can find similar deals throughout the year. Cyber Monday, on the other hand, I do. No crowds and the assistance of coupon code finders via Chrome help make sure the deals are the best possible. Not guaranteed I will purchase anything on Cyber Monday, as I previously mentioned you can find similar deals throughout the year. It is way easier to compare prices online as opposed to driving from store to store to store.

Guest's picture
Trish

Sometimes I venture out. It depends on my mood. I may shop online this year but I feel there are deals to be had all season not just on Black Friday!

Guest's picture
Ben S.

I stay at home next to a cozy fire with a cup of hot coffee, my tablet, and Amazon open! Would much rather enjoy my family time at home then running through isles!

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SKB

I like to get out early and pick up a few good deals. Then we stop for breakfast and afterwards just go home.

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Kelli

Yes but only if it is something that I was going to buy anyway and I can get a better price during the black Friday sale.

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Elena

I don't shop Black Friday deals

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Julie Lundstrom

Yes I do shopping on Black Friday online deals. I do most of my Christmas shopping during Black Friday deals.

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Guest

I shop the online deals

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Tina in NJ

Sometimes. If I go out, I usually go to a fabric store or antique shop. I do not do Black Friday as a contact sport, meaning I avoid malls.

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Susan P.

I usually shop on Cyber Monday rather than fight the crowds on the day after Thanksgiving.

Guest's picture
Emily S.

My mom and I go out on Friday morning, more for tradition than anything. We're not crazy shoppers, but if we find a good deal and it's on our list, we'll pick it up.

Guest's picture
Guest

Nope, it's also National Buy Nothing Day. But I might check to see if the countertops I've been eyeing at Lowes are on sale...

Guest's picture
Jeff

nope, I don't shop on black friday, I just stay home and enjoy the day.

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Donna D

Oh yes, youngest daughter and I have been doing it for years and love it. Great way to spend the day together.

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Catseye

I don't think I've ever shopped on Black Friday, but I sometimes shop later in the weekend. I hate crowds and shopping isn't one of my fave things to do, so Black Friday just doesn't appeal to me. Maybe if there was a big-ticket item that I really wanted/needed, but that hasn't happened yet!

Guest's picture
Mary W

Normally, I do not shop Black Friday. I host Thanksgiving at my house every year. With a house full of family and loved ones all weekend long, I am not going to waste a minute of time away from them. Shopping is always available. Family is not.

Guest's picture
n210ss

Yes, I love to shop on Black Friday. I prefer to shop online instead of a big crowd. Great deals on this day!

Guest's picture
Betty

My holiday shopping is all done, but I'll shop on Black Friday and Cyber Monday for myself. I need a new pocketbook, and my favorite store is having a great sale.

Guest's picture
Ginger

I do not shop Black Friday deals. The crowds, the parking problems and just people being so rude and the fact that there are maybe 15-20 of the sale item for 400+ people. It's just insane. Plus, I'm a saver not a spender.

Guest's picture
J. Pario

No. Our Christmas is pretty home-made.

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Susan Smith

Yes, I plan to shop Black Friday deals.

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clem

I check the online Black Friday deals.

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Guest

I just cannot abide the crass commercialism that has gotten outta hand, so no. I do not shop on black friday.

Guest's picture
Alvin

All my Black Friday shopping has been 100% online for the past few years. It seems like a lot of retailers are marketing their "pre Black Friday" starting as early as Wednesday. Personally I've bought items this Wednesday than I would of thought. Or maybe I just lucked out....

Guest's picture
Michelle D.

I have every year but this year I feel so drained and tired I'm not sure I will. I already bought some clothes from Express online and will probably just do some online shopping for Xmas gifts.

Guest's picture
Carey @ wiserdollar.com

I do not plan to get up at 4 or 5 a.m. on Black Friday; that is one day I can sleep in without an alarm. Sometime during the day, if weather permits, I will go to Ace and use the 50% off coupon I received as a rewards member. Also after comparing Black Friday ads online for True Value, Lowe's and Home Depot I may do some searching for discounted tools at those places as well. This is the best time of the year to get tools! But I am not shopping on Thanksgiving Day and I will definitely avoid the local mall, that is just too crazy!

Guest's picture
R. B. A. Ross

No, I don't shop Black Friday Deals. I've had to work plenty of Black Fridays and I don't really like crowds, so Black Friday doesn't really have any appeal to me.

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Monique

I don't typically shop for Black Friday deals because I'm not fond of the busy-ness of the stores and the general chaos. I also prefer not to just buy things because they're cheap. I prefer to spend the time with friends and family, maybe watching a movie or going hiking.

Guest's picture
Miss kim

Yes! I always go shopping on Black Friday. I Don't wait in line for hours but it's nice to get out and go shopping.

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Ernest S.

I only shop on Black Friday via online. I don't have the patience or motivation to go to the stores!

Guest's picture
Elle

I do but do not go crazy with it. I spend Thursday with family and would never run out to a store to go shopping on that day even though Black Friday sales at a lot of stores start Thursday now. On Friday I go shopping but at my leisure.

Guest's picture
Amanda Sakovitz

I shop online for deals

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Bridgett Wilbur

I always shop for black Friday on my computer.

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Guest

Definitely not - only online shopping Black Friday for me!

Guest's picture
Del

relaxing at home

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Michael K

Yes always!

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Mylene

I shop on black Friday. Though I never go for the "door busters". I guess I'm lucky that I live in an area where the madness REALLY dies down when the door busters are gone. If a store has advertisements of "Sale starts 6pm, 8pm etc" I go a couple of hours after. I buy stocking stuffers, some toys, and things for my home such as sheets, towels, etc. I find that going in the middle of the night is much better than say 7am.

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Happy Love

I shopped Black Friday deals online only.

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mark c

Yes every year and cyber Monday too

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Mandy

I love to shop on BF. I don't have any particular rhyme or reason to my shopping, but I like going out and seeing the crowds.

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BRB

Nope! Usually am flying back from vacation on that day!

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Liisa R

No, I hate crowds and we don't need anything right now.

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Laura J

I do not go and shop black friday anymore. Too many times I went to get something and it was sold out already. I dont bother with it anymore. I do shop online and watch for great deals on Black Friday though!

Guest's picture
Linda

I DO shop black friday deals.

Guest's picture
Kat

I go Black Friday shopping but I don't wake up early. I just like to get out and shop!

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Kris g

I stayed home and shopped through ebates. I got most of my shopping done and earned 7% back from Walmart!

Guest's picture
Guest

I do not shop Black Friday. In fact, because we are trying to get our finances in order, 2 adult full-time college students, we don't shop any of the sales.

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Susan D

I think that Black Friday is an exceptionally good day to stay home. Besides, we've been clearing out our excess stuff and aren't at all eager to refill the refreshed cleared space.

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Sara C

I did not shop on black Friday this year. Too busy doing other stuff with family :)

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Kristin J

Yes I usually buy most of my Xmas gifts on Black Friday

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Thomas Murphy

I don't shop Black Friday deals

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Stephanie G

Yes I love bargain hunting!