Monday's Question of the Day - November 2, 2015

MoochNNoodles · Nov 1, 2015

After Holiday Sales: Do you shop them?

Today my mother and I spent some time going through the children's costumes on clearance at Walmart. We don't celebrate Halloween; but its a good time to find some dress up costumes for the kids. I especially wanted some for my son; since the fairy/ballerina style stuff DD already has is just not his thing.

I found a Minnie Mouse costume, a fairy/dance type costume and a Princess Aurora dress for DD. I tried so hard to find a Sophia the First dress for her; but they were all too small. Not an Anna or Elsa dress to be found either. Or Ariel. DS ended up with a pirate outfit and Olaf. I wanted a Fireman jacket; but it wasn't ringing up on sale and I suspect it was meant to be cheaper but they didn't feel like looking into it.

It was marked on clearance 35% off when everything else was 50% off. I think it was once a 2 piece set but the pants had gone missing so they'd marked the jacket down. It's a shame; because DS is really into fire trucks right now. But I'd already spent more than I planned (even with the great sale prices!) so unfortunately DS didn't get his fireman jacket. If I go back; I might look at the hats and accessories again. I almost got DS a Cowboy/Woody from Toy Story outfit; but it was 1 piece so I didn't think he'd want to bother with it.

I don't usually go crazy to get to other sales; like the day after Christmas sale. I might browse when things calm down; but not that day. When I worked retail during college that day was worse than black Friday! I hated it!!

Winchester · Nov 2, 2015

We used to shop the day after Christmas, but gave it up. Rick might go looking for outdoor lights on sale, but he hasn't really done that the last couple of years.

But we'll be out there on Black Friday!

I refuse to shop on Thanksgiving, but we'll be up bright and early on Friday morning, waiting in line....somewhere.

fyllis · Nov 2, 2015

As a rule - no. At least not intentionally.

Halloween was 2 days ago. If I happen to run out to the grocery later today and see something (candy, decoration?) in the discounted aisle, I might pick it up if the price is right and I really need (want?) it.

Black Friday? Nope! Way too many crazy people out there pushing and shoving and fighting over 'stuff'. Not to mention the pick-pockets and thieves in the Malls and parking lots (car park for those of you in the UK).

After Christmas shopping? Not immediately. Again, way too many people! The return lines are way too long and frustrating.

I tend to shop all year long for Christmas gifts and almost always have everything done by late summer! If I am out and about and see something someone I know would like (at a good price), I will buy it, wrap it, and stick it in the closet until Christmas! I do the same for birthday and other 'special occasion' gifts.

I hate 'last minute' shopping!

swampwitch · Nov 2, 2015

We avoid them. The only exception was two years ago we were buying a sound system for the tv and the sales person told us that we could get 50% off if we waited a few days until Dec 26. So the morning after Christmas we were there shortly after they opened and all the sound systems were sold, so it was nice the sales person had put ours in the back. It was a good deal but we don't like shopping, or crowds.

jenny82 · Nov 2, 2015

Only on Black Friday. My mom and I usually go to Target, Kohl's, and the mall. I've never seen any pushing or any other crazy stuff that you see on the news!

sivyaleah · Nov 2, 2015

No! I avoid shopping this time of year like the plague. Thankfully, cash is king in our house for extended family. And we'd do it online if an actual gift had to be purchased. You couldn't pay me to shop in a store once November hits.

MoochNNoodles · Nov 2, 2015

Apparently this year Thanksgiving will just be DH, the kiddos and I. So no reason to do a big fancy dinner. So maybe I will try some Black Friday shopping. I'd be more likely to do it if I had a shopping buddy. I'm not normally a fan of crowds. But I won't be out super early unless it's a great deal on a big ticket item. I absolutely refuse to shop Thanksgiving day. That's just greed on the retailers part. I have seen a list of stores that are not opening on Thanksgiving. I may send a little note of appreciation to those companies who are local.

larussa · Nov 2, 2015

No, I really dislike the crowds that are shopping at that time plus all the people returning stuff. Anything I do buy as gifts are online buying and I don't do much of that either anymore.

Mamanyt1953 · Nov 2, 2015

I've lucked out on that. My sons are in their 30's, and my granddaughter is 14. All three would rather have gift certificates (not cash...they feel like cash should be spent on necessities. Poor dears got that from me), so I go to Amazon.com and get certificates that can be used for just about anything in the universe. My friends and I have a strict "remembrance only" agreement, so a sweet-smelling candle or something like that is perfect, and I grab stuff I know they would like up all during the year. No last minute shopping! The hardest gifts I buy are for the cat. I spend hours and hours deciding between animated toys, catnip mice, climbing trees...it's as bad as when the boys were little!

As far as Black Friday? No, thank you. My walker and I wouldn't fare well. How about a Gray Saturday, when (for a morning or afternoon, at least) sales were limited to those 60 and over, or those with physical disabilities? We don't do well in masses of young, athletic folks fighting for bargains!

micknsnicks2mom · Nov 2, 2015

no, i don't usually shop after holiday sales. i might do some online shopping then, but only if i was really needing something -- which wouldn't generally be the case.

this year, i've decided not to go shopping (at any brick and mortar stores, including grocery stores) between november 21, 2015 and january 2, 2016. i just don't want to deal with the crowds and traffic and such around that time. and i really don't need to go shopping for any christmas gifts at that point either. i'm 99% finished with my christmas shopping now -- just 2 more items for jaspurr from amazon (which i'll order tomorrow) and a couple gift cards. i still have baking to do -- for my SIL and niece and nephew, my mom and aunt, the vet's office, the two post office employees here, and a couple neighbors.

Kat0121 · Nov 2, 2015

No I don't. I might do my regular grocery shopping but I don't go looking for markdown or sale stuff. If I happen to see something that's a good deal I might grab it.

I will not be out on Black Friday unless it's later in the day after all the psycho shoppers are done and gone

Norachan · Nov 3, 2015

No, I don't. I hate shopping, hate crowds, hate hate hate department stores. I rarely buy anything apart from food and toiletries. I'm trying to get rid of stuff at the moment, I don't buy a new item of clothing unless I throw 2 out.

Less is more.

Winchester · Nov 3, 2015

MoochNNoodles said:
Apparently this year Thanksgiving will just be DH, the kiddos and I. So no reason to do a big fancy dinner. So maybe I will try some Black Friday shopping. I'd be more likely to do it if I had a shopping buddy. I'm not normally a fan of crowds. But I won't be out super early unless it's a great deal on a big ticket item. I absolutely refuse to shop Thanksgiving day. That's just greed on the retailers part. I have seen a list of stores that are not opening on Thanksgiving. I may send a little note of appreciation to those companies who are local.

We were grocery shopping last night and I said to Rick that I was thinking of making lasagna for our Christmas dinner this year. Well! That went over like a lead balloon! He stopped dead. In the middle of the cat food aisle at the store. His eyebrows went up to "there". And he said, "You what? No. Just NO! I'll help you. I'll do whatever you need done. Just....please. NO!" There was an elderly woman behind us who, evidently, had heard our conversation. She walked up to Rick and said, "I heard that. You promised to help! Honey, if I was your wife, I would hold you to every word!"

I started snickering. Rick said, "I did. I promised. If she makes her regular Christmas dinner, I'll do whatever it takes."

You don't mess with tradition in this house!

stewball · Nov 3, 2015

No shopping in sales. I hate people.

muffy · Nov 3, 2015

No, I never shop after holiday sales. I hate shopping and all I've ever seen after holiday sales was junk.

handsome kitty · Nov 3, 2015

I shop all year round. I find things on sale or clearance or at a discounted department store. I have 4 grandnieces/nephews that I love to buy Christmas gifts for, then something small for the hoard of nieces and nephews to go with the cash. I save getting things for my kids and Husband until November or December. I used to shop Black Friday, it was fun and I could get things for all the kids, then my daughter would go with me the last couple of years, but they aren't selling anything I want lately. DH is disappointed. It is kind of fun and most people are pleasant. We would stop for breakfast somewhere nice. I avoid the after sales until things are 70% off.

MoochNNoodles · Nov 3, 2015

Winchester said:
We were grocery shopping last night and I said to Rick that I was thinking of making lasagna for our Christmas dinner this year. Well! That went over like a lead balloon! He stopped dead. In the middle of the cat food aisle at the store. His eyebrows went up to "there". And he said, "You what? No. Just NO! I'll help you. I'll do whatever you need done. Just....please. NO!" There was an elderly woman behind us who, evidently, had heard our conversation. She walked up to Rick and said, "I heard that. You promised to help! Honey, if I was your wife, I would hold you to every word!"

I started snickering. Rick said, "I did. I promised. If she makes her regular Christmas dinner, I'll do whatever it takes."

You don't mess with tradition in this house!

Poor Rick! Even if I never meet that man; I have a good picture of him in my mind based off your posts. Tooo funny!!

I'm serious about not making a fancy dinner! I MIGHT do a ham. We aren't big turkey eaters and the kids aren't big on meat period. DD likes the pre-seasoned in a bag oven roaster chickens that Perdue has; so that is my backup idea. Turkey just doesn't excite us. We'd be looking for a tiny one and eating it just to say we had our turkey. My Mom has always been the gravy maker and she won't be here. So why not do what we all like better? Plus I can do split pea and ham soup with the ham bone. Yummy! My Step-dad is eating mostly vegan these days; so come Christmas we'll probably be having fish or chicken/turkey. This is a good excuse to do a real ham. And I won't be stuck in the kitchen all day. I can keep it simple but still nice and home made. I don't need to do 4 pies this year. I've always done extra because my step-dad requests my apple pies; but I haven't tested the vegan pie crust recipe I found so I may not go there anyway. Actually even just throwing a roast in the crock pot sounds like a good idea right now.

Handsome Kitty said:
I shop all year round. I find things on sale or clearance or at a discounted department store. I have 4 grandnieces/nephews that I love to buy Christmas gifts for, then something small for the hoard of nieces and nephews to go with the cash. I save getting things for my kids and Husband until November or December. I used to shop Black Friday, it was fun and I could get things for all the kids, then my daughter would go with me the last couple of years, but they aren't selling anything I want lately. DH is disappointed. It is kind of fun and most people are pleasant. We would stop for breakfast somewhere nice. I avoid the after sales until things are 70% off.

I do my holiday shopping year round too. Especially for toys. The department stores change out their toy lines in the summer. So I go and find what I can on clearance and hide it till Christmas. I already have 3 or 4 things for DD I think! And a couple for DS. It's a good start! 5 of my nieces and nephews are done too. It really helps spread out the cost.

blueyedgirl5946 · Nov 4, 2015

I once took my friend shopping on Black Friday. She had just been released by the chiropractor for back issues. Well, you guessed it. Somebody pulled out in front of us. I had no time to stop and I hit the other car. That driver was charged, but I messed up my radiator and the front end of my car, and her back again. It cured me from shopping on Black Friday.

Now I tend to shop when they finally get the stuff on real clearance in January and throughout the year. My kids are grown. The son and his wife, we usually buy them a gift card. The youngest grandchildren get a token gift and money in their bank accounts. The daughter is grown, but a kid when it comes to Christmas. She wants presents and she gets them. Still, not too much buying goes on.

In years past, everyone got a Christmas stocking filled to the brim with little wrapped up presents, presents under the tree, etc. Son and daughter always counted to make sure they each had the same amount of presents to open. The house was decorated to the hilt, with lights and wreaths everywhere, two Chrismas trees, Christmas tablecloth, china, too much everywhere. I have seriously quit some of that stuff :nod:

Winchester · Nov 4, 2015

MoochNNoodles said:
Poor Rick! Even if I never meet that man; I have a good picture of him in my mind based off your posts. Tooo funny!!

I'm serious about not making a fancy dinner! I MIGHT do a ham. We aren't big turkey eaters and the kids aren't big on meat period. DD likes the pre-seasoned in a bag oven roaster chickens that Perdue has; so that is my backup idea. Turkey just doesn't excite us. We'd be looking for a tiny one and eating it just to say we had our turkey. My Mom has always been the gravy maker and she won't be here. So why not do what we all like better? Plus I can do split pea and ham soup with the ham bone. Yummy! My Step-dad is eating mostly vegan these days; so come Christmas we'll probably be having fish or chicken/turkey. This is a good excuse to do a real ham. And I won't be stuck in the kitchen all day. I can keep it simple but still nice and home made. I don't need to do 4 pies this year. I've always done extra because my step-dad requests my apple pies; but I haven't tested the vegan pie crust recipe I found so I may not go there anyway. Actually even just throwing a roast in the crock pot sounds like a good idea right now.

I do my holiday shopping year round too. Especially for toys. The department stores change out their toy lines in the summer. So I go and find what I can on clearance and hide it till Christmas. I already have 3 or 4 things for DD I think! And a couple for DS. It's a good start! 5 of my nieces and nephews are done too. It really helps spread out the cost.

From my posts, it probably sounds like all we do is bicker about stuff.....and actually, that's kind of true in a way. But a lot of our bickering isn't really serious and a lot of times, we'll just argue for the sake of arguing more than anything. It's more good-natured than nasty. I'll be the first one to admit that he does put up with a lot from his wife sometimes. But his wife deals with a lot from him, too, so it probably evens out in the long run. I'd never trade him in. Never. He's a good man, even if he doesn't want lasagna.

But dang! There's nothing wrong with lasagna for Christmas dinner!

As for the shopping, our DIL usually throws me an email with gift suggestions for everybody. I do the same with her. And then when it comes time to start shopping, I usually start by going online for the kids. But Rick and I do enjoy going out to shop, too, so when we're out and about, if we see something we think somebody might like, we'll get it.

Our granddaughter is really into American Girl right now, so we'll be adding to her stash. Grandson is a sports fanatic, but we need some ideas for him. He's also a big Legos fan still, so Lego sets are always OK with him. And part of their present is always a day trip to somewhere. One year, we took them to Inner Harbor, one year, we all went to the Crayola place. Always followed by a dinner in a nice restaurant. We haven't decided what we're going to do this year for a day trip.

MoochNNoodles · Nov 4, 2015

@blueyedgirl5946: i'm at the phase where I do the house up but hate taking it down. When we bought our house I was very excited to "do up" the front door for every holiday. It doesn't always happen; but at least from the street I look on top of things. Except last year when I didn't get the red and white garland off the front porch railing until March sometime. DH said we left it up for Valentines day.

The fact that DD has a January birthday lights a fire under me getting the Christmas things put away. Although I'm sitting here thinking how nice it would be to do her birthday celebration elsewhere this year. I'm always wiped by the time her birthday rolls around! The good thing about it is taking advantage of the Christmas sales or Christmas clearance when I'm shopping for her!

@Winchester ; i doubt anyone thinks you 2 are anything less than star-crossed lovers. Why else would he volunteer to clean, peel apples, shell limas and all that other stuff you do for each other.

I'm loving your lasagna for Christmas idea. Debating it myself now. My mother has done that. But we still end up with a multitude of side dishes. But in the last few years we have chosen to forgo her nice dishes for some sturdy paper plates.

Last year we had a houseful for Thanksgiving and ate buffet style. It was wonderful! This year will feel very different. I wasn't expecting it; but maybe it'll be a good thing.

Monday's Question of the Day - November 2, 2015

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In the kitchen with my cookies

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Rules my home with an iron paw

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In the kitchen with my cookies

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In the kitchen with my cookies

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