Should I Wait Until B.F.?

"Are the sales on Black Friday always the best deal of the season?"

In a word, 'no'.

Don't assume that everything will be at it's lowest price on Black Friday.  If you're looking to keep those purse strings pulled pretty tight this year, it will be worth it to take 20 minutes a week from now going forward to look at the weekly sales flyers.

If you're looking for board games for instance, right now is a great time to get them.  For the past few years Toys R' Us have been having their big game sale prior to Black Friday.  I think last year's game sale was better than this year, but thankfully, last year was my year to buy all of my nieces and nephews (and my boys) games.  There was a game one of my nieces wanted that I picked up for $15 that for the rest of the Christmas shopping season never came below $22 again.

Even if you cancel it on December 23rd, go ahead and sign up at your favorite store's site to have their weekly circular sent to your inbox.  Sit down to paruse the circulars with a nice steamy mug of coffee and by the time you hit the bottom you'll have determined if there is an item or two, or three or four that you can purchase now at a better price than on B.F.  Don't forget to sign up for the B.F. scans.

Next post: "Not your typical place to buy Christmas gifts"