So how was your Thanksgiving and Black Friday?

November 28, 2011 at 8:00 AM

Black Friday Line

So how was your Thanksgiving? Did you eat way too much turkey, ham, fruit salad, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, and rolls like I did? I had three helpings of lunch on Thursday, and that doesn’t include the trips I made to get me some Chex Mix, chocolate-chip cookies, brownies, and pumpkin pie.

And yet, I still found myself making me some popcorn before I went to bed to tie me over until the next morning.

Still, it was a good day. Got to spend a few hours with my dad’s side of the family (we alternate families each year), including an uncle who survived throat cancer last year. And seeing my grandma is always a highlight. Even got to watch the first-half of the Dallas Cowboys vs. Miami Dolphins game with them (left shortly after third-quarter started in order to beat the traffic home since I live less than a mile from the stadium).

And then there was Black Friday.

My mom and I have been getting out for Black Friday for years now, and this year was no different. No, we didn’t hit the stores opening late Thanksgiving night (go to a Walmart on Thanksgiving night…. Are You Serious?), or even the very early Black Friday openings. Instead, we waited until the late hour of 4 A.M. to drag our lazy selves out of bed.

First stop was Sports Authority, which opened at five. They were giving out Bonus Bucks cards worth $10 – $500 to the first 80 people in line. I got a $25 card this year (first time I’ve gotten anything more than the minimum) and bought a fleece warm-up jacket and pants that were 50% off. Net out-of-pocket: $2.68.

Then we went to Half-Price Books, which opened at seven. As in past years, they give out $5 Gift Cards to the first 100 people in line, with one of the gift cards being worth $100. Didn’t get the $100, again, but I had the previous two years of $5 Gift Cards, giving me $15 to spend. Plus, I had a 40% off one-item coupon to use. Found a box-set of all three Lord of the Rings books, along with a copy of The Hobbit. Net out-of-pocket: $0.63.

Then it was off to the mall to see what the stores were offering. Eventually, mom and I hit Macy’s, where I had $28 left on a Gift Card I had received several years ago. I also had a $10 off $25 purchase coupon, though had extreme difficulties using it. I tried using the coupon in the kitchen area of the store first, but the register refused to take the coupon. So I simply left what I was going to buy behind.

Went into the Men’s Clothing area of the store next to see if anything caught my eye. And I did. Found a long-sleeve John Ashford polo shirt and a Tommy Hilfiger polo shirt that were both more than 50% off. Net out-of-pocket: $0.00 (Gift Card covered it all).

Finally, it was off to Ace Hardware of all places. They had both pocket knives and pocket LED flashlights that are free after rebates, so I got two of each. So of the $17.24 I spent, I’ll get $15.96 back once the rebates come in, leaving me with a net out-of-pocket expense of $1.28. However, I’ll make that back, and then some, selling the extra pocket knife and flashlight at my mom’s next garage sale.

So all totaled, I had net out-of-pocket expenses of $4.59. And I’ll get some, if not all, of that back when my mom has her next garage sale. Which means, when all is said and done, I may get out of this Black Friday with no out-of-pocket expenses.

That just makes my day.

So how was your Thanksgiving and Black Friday? Tell us in the comments below.