It has become a tradition for my daughters, my mom, and I to join the madness of Black Friday shopping. The last two years we initiated my niece to come along too. Weeks before we start making our list and checking it twice online for the ad leaks. Thanksgiving night, after dessert, the table gets cleared and the ads are spread out creating a new tablecloth. We create another list of the stores we NEED to get to as well as the stores we’d Like to get to. We compare prices for the best deals and plan our route from city to city. Plan our power nap and Time of attack!

This year I decided I wasn’t going crazy like I usually do. I will get for my girls, son in law, and of course Prince T. There’s my nieces and nephews and our parents. I didn’t need to go to all the stores I usually go to. This year we’re starting at ToyRUs instead of Coach….wow how things change when you have a baby!

At 3:30 am, we roll out of bed, bumping into each other in the hall as we get to the bathroom to at least brush our teeth. This isn’t a fashion night out but I am NOT showering to go fight these crazy women out there in the war zone. Jeans, sneaks, comfy warm shirt, and hair goes up in a clip. OK I’M Ready!!! Let’s go! First stop …COFFEE. My niece knows better than to ask for a hot chocolate. Last year I yelled…NO WARM MILK…You Get Caffeine!!! She’s a newbie, but she’ll be a pro in no time!

When I shop, I like name brands, especially for clothes but I also love a good deal. Here were my favorites this year:

The Childrens Place- The deals were unbelievable. Everything in the store was on sale plus you received 30% off for being an early bird – I spent around $100 and walked out with bags of clothes for Prince T, saving about $150.00

Express- Everything in the store was on sale, we had coupons, plus 40% off for the early bird special. My daughter had to keep running to grab more stuff. Total spent about $300 after the total bill of $1076.

Coach- Everything in store was on sale for 50% off plus early bird special of 20%. I can’t tell everything I bought (they’re surprises) but I did score two make-up bags for $16 each!!!!!

Gap- Everything was on sale plus a vip 10% off. Loved all the baby clothes at such low prices. great place to get gifts for the kiddies who need clothes. Name brand at affordable prices.

PacSun- Everything on sale in the store, 15% off coupon, plus 40% off for the early bird special. Here’s where I get my daughter and the teens done. Bill came to $230 with bags worth around $600

Kohls- You can find something for anyone here. Sales galore, plus a coupon, for 15% off, plus early bird individual sales. Bill came to $133 after ringing up a total of $450

there were a few other stores that had good sales for 1 or 2 things, but the above stores you could get your shopping basically done with great savings!!

Some other stores that we went to

ToysRUs- They had great sales for older kids (I guess) people had their carriages packed high, trying to maneuver thru the crowd. I wasn’t impressed with the sales for Prince T’s age- I was looking for 6 month toys. I did get a couple things

Target– I only had a few specific things to get there and of course Dancing Mickey was out. I did score a Kodak camera for $60

Where did you go? What deals did you get? I need to be prepared for next year- yes I start to think about it now!!!