The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Our favorite shopping time of the year approaches!  Do you realize that it will be November this week? Yeppers.  That means its time for us to start checking out the Black Friday websites.  We've already lost 20% of our retirement, so we definitely need to tighten the ole belt this year.

However there are two electronic items that are on our to-purchase list ~ a digital camera and a camcorder.  True, it's not a big screen television, but they are the priciest things on our list this year.  So we're watching for the sales.  And some of these websites are very consumer-friendly as they leak unveil Black Friday ads early so we can plan our Black Friday shopping.  Planning out your steps in order to get the best bang for your buck - it's an art.

Sears has been posted; Toys R Us has been posted.  Can you just imagine us sitting here rubbing our hands with glee as we review the sales and consult our list?  Yep, that's us.

Despite the flailing economy, this holiday shopping season is going to be tight for another reason - it's going to be shorter than it was last year.  Thanksgiving is late this year - November 27 - which gives shoppers less than one month until Christmas to stock up on those items on their shopping lists.  HEY!  That's just one month from today.  Yippee!

One thing that's apparently not going to happen:  Wal-Mart is not bringing back its layaway program.  Customers have pleaded, but it ain't gonna happen.  The company cites the expense of maintaining the program as well as the losses it takes when it can't sell items that are placed on layaway and then ignored or forgotten by consumers.

So ladies and gentlemen, start your engines.  It's never too early to make sure you have broken in a comfortable pair of shoes and/or work on your endurance levels.  Black Friday is coming soon!

--Contributed by Deb